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Pearls are precious and fascinating, not just because they’re shiny and attractive, but also because of how they form. These beautiful gems are formed by a completely natural process by creatures that live deep within the sea. Humans have been fascinated with pearls for years, but one other thing we’re starting to learn about them is how big they can get. The biggest pearl in the world, which was found recently, is proof that pearls can grow really big! In 1996, a man in the Philippines found a massive pearl and hid it under his bed as a good luck charm. This post is a genuine account of the “Pearl of Puerto,” the world’s largest pearl.
Discovery of the World’s Biggest Pearl
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Like many beautiful things, this record-breaking pearl was an accidental discovery. While fishing in the sea off Palawan Island, an anonymous Filipino fisherman found a huge clam that caught his attention.
He was in the water to remove the ship’s anchor from the bottom due to an imminent storm. The fisherman retrieved the clam and took it back with him to the surface. He only noticed the enormous pearl while attempting to cook the clam.
Finding pearls in clams this way isn’t strange. In fact, that’s how pearls form naturally. These gems are created when a small amount of debris gets into a clamshell. The clam protects itself by coating the debris with mineral layers to isolate it. Natural pearls formed like this are among the rarest jewels in the world.
Unsurprisingly, the unidentified fisherman kept this treasure under his bed for 10 years after discovering it in 1996. Not knowing its worth, he simply kept the pearl as a good luck charm for fishing days. He believed touching the pearl would provide him with an abundance of fish to catch. Due to a change of residence, the unnamed fisherman decided to hand over the pearl. The true value of the pearl only became known after he gave it to his relative, Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao, who was a tourist officer in Puerto Princesa. Maggay-Amurao posted the pearl on Facebook, inviting gemologists to come to Puerto Princesa to examine it for authenticity. After estimating its value, this pearl was found to be worth $93 million in 2003.
Features of the Biggest Pearl in the World
This enormous, atypically formed pearl currently holds the title of the largest pearl in the world. The Pearl of Puerto is approximately 2.2 feet long and one foot wide. It has an enormous weight of 75 pounds. The 170,000-carat pearl surpasses the previous record-holder, the 14-pound, $35 million Pearl of Lao Tzu, also known as the Pearl of Allah.
The Pearl of Allah was discovered in 1934 off Palawan, Philippines, in the same location as the Pearl of Puerto. It was initially owned by a Filipino diver, was later sold, and has changed hands multiple times since the discovery.
The Location of the Biggest Pearl in the World
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The Pearl of Puerto has not always lived under the bed of the fisherman. It was found on a stormy night in the Palawan waters, located in the western Philippines. This body of water is famous for its clear, turquoise waters and diverse marine life.
The area is also home to a number of coral reefs, including the Tubbatha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the fisherman handed the pearl to his relative, specialists from the University of the Philippines examined the treasure. It was later presented to the city’s mayor and displayed at Puerto Princesa, the capital of the island chain, where it is still on display today.
The “Pearl of Puerto,” a 75-pound pearl, is currently on display as a tourist attraction in the atrium of the New Green City Hall in Puerto Princesa. The pearl is still the fisherman’s property because he hasn’t signed it over to the government, according to the government spokesman for Puerto Princesa.
The Pearl of Puerto and the Pearl of Lao Tzu are both rare, natural pearls that come from large clams found off the coast of the Philippines. Currently valued at over $100 million, the Pearl of Puerto would be a lifelong fortune for the fisherman if it is eventually sold.
Facts About the Biggest Pearl in the World
The Pearl of Puerto is not just the biggest pearl in the world but also the most expensive. The size of the gem is not the only feature that makes it so special. It is also rare since it is a natural pearl. Here are a few facts about natural pearls:
- Natural pearls are extremely rare. The vast majority of pearls on the market today are cultured pearls formed by human intervention.
- Natural pearls are the only gems from living organisms. They form when an irritant, such as a small piece of sand or a parasite, enters the mollusk’s shell. The mollusk secretes a substance called nacre to cover the irritant, eventually forming a pearl.
- The size and shape of natural pearls can vary greatly. They can be round, oval, or irregular, like the Pearl of Puerto.
- The color of the pearl often depends on the type of mollusk that produced it and the water condition in which it lived.
- Like all natural pearls, the Pearl of Puerto’s value is based on unique attributes like size, color, and luster.
- Collectors seek natural pearls because people consider them a symbol of wealth and luxury.
- All recorded giant pearls in the world, including the Pearl of Puerto, came from Palawan Waters. The Palawan is also home to over 600 species of fish, 360 species of coral, and thousands of other marine species.
Conclusion
Just like the unnamed Filipino fisherman who kept the biggest pearl in the world under his bed for 10 years, not many would understand the worth of some of the things they have. The enormous pearl, found off the coast of the Philippines, is valued at close to $100 million! This makes it the most valuable pearl in the world. It is also a testament to the beauty and rarity of nature and serves as a reminder of the hidden treasures that can be found in our oceans.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How Much Is the Pearl of Puerto Worth?
The Pearl of Puerto has an estimated value of $100 million. It is the world’s most valuable pearl.
Who Owns the Pearl of Puerto?
The fisherman who found the Pearl of Puerto is currently anonymous. The largest pearl in the world belongs presently to this fisherman, who remains unnamed and has not sold it or signed it over to the government.
Where Is the Pearl of Puerto Now?
The world’s largest pearl, the Pearl of Puerto, is currently on display at the New Green City Hall in Puerto Princesa as a tourist attraction.
Why Was the Biggest Pearl in the World Hidden?
The fisherman who discovered the Pearl of Puerto kept it under his bed for ten years. He kept it as a good luck charm for many years.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
