A 34-kilogram pearl, uncovered by a fisherman 10 years ago off Palawan Island in the Philippines, could be the largest natural pearl in the world, according to a recent report.

The pearl was discovered after the fisherman’s anchor became stuck on a giant clam on a windy day, a report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer said. The giant pearl remained holed up under his bed for a decade until his aunt, Aileen Cynthia Amurao, a tourism officer at the province, chanced upon it.

The pearl measures 30 centimetres wide (1 foot) and 67 centimetres long (2.2 feet).

According to the report, Amurao earlier mistook the pearl as just another large coral washed ashore, which is a common sight in her province. “I just became aware (of its potential) when I searched the Internet that all giant pearls came from here; sad to know none of those were left in the possession of the city or province,” she was quoted as saying. The pearl has been turned over to authorities, and is now on public display at the Puerto Princesa City Hall.

If gemmologists are able to verify it, the pearl will outdo the current Guinness-record holder, the 6.4-kilogram Pearl of Lao Tzu, also known as the Pearl of Allah, which was also discovered in Palawan in 1939 by a group of divers. The Pearl of Lao Tzu was valued at US$93 million in 2003, the report said.

[Source:- jewellerymonthly]

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