With the Abernethy pearl expected to fetch a high sum at auction, we look at the history of pearls. Besides its legends and myths, this gem also has a dark side. One of the largest freshwater pearls ever found in Scottish history will go to auction on August 21 and is expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000 (€46,946 to €70,426).
It was discovered by pearl diver William Abernethy in 1967 in Scotland's River Tay. Abernethy gained fame as a skilled pearl fisher before the practice was banned in the country in 1998. While it might seem a high price, the pearl is indeed rare.
It is said that only one in every 5,000 mussels found in Scottish rivers has a pearl. The Abernethy pearl was thought to have been growing for 80 years when it was discovered. Pearls are the only gemstones created by a living creature.
They are formed when a hard particle irritates the soft tissue of a mollusk and the mollusk then coats the object with layers of calcium carbonate (or nacre) as a form of self-defense, creating a pearl. Saltwater pearls come from oysters, while freshwater pearls like the Abernethy are found in freshwater mussels. ALSO READ: Their world was the oyster: Oldest pearl town found in UAE Although the sale of this pearl known as "Little Willie" is now making headlines, pearls have been in the spotlight throughout history.
They've adorned the necks and ears of royalty such as Princess Diana or Queen Elizabeth II, featured as legendary objects in myths and played a dark role.