Abernethy pearl

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The Abernethy pearl, with the mussel shell in which it was discovered.

The Abernethy Pearl, also known as the Little Willie Pearl, is a 43.60-grain (2.825 g) freshwater pearl[1] named after William Abernethy (1925–2021), who discovered it in the River Tay in Scotland in 1967.[2][3] It is also known as Bill's Pearl.[1]

The Abernethy Pearl was produced by a mussel belonging to the species Margaritifera margaritifera. It is spherically shaped and coloured white with a slightly pink overtone.[2][4]

The pearl was reportedly valued at £10,000 in 1967 (equivalent to £199,024 in 2023).[5] It was displayed at A&G Cairncross jewellers in Perth[6] before being sold at auction for £93,951 in 2024.[7] It is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland.

References

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  1. ^ a b Manutchehr-Danai, Mohsen, ed. (2009), "Abernethy Pearl", Dictionary of Gems and Gemology, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, p. 2, doi:10.1007/978-3-540-72816-0_36, ISBN 978-3-540-72816-0, retrieved 2024-06-28
  2. ^ a b Larif, Shihaan. "Abernethy Pearl aka Little Willie Pearl - Scottish Freshwater Pearl". Internet Stones.COM Network. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Bill Abernethy obituary". The Times. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  4. ^ Ferguson, Chris (26 November 2021). "Bill Abernethy, who found Scotland's largest freshwater pearl, dies aged 96". The Courier. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Call for a ban on pearl fishing to save endangered river mussels". The Herald. 10 November 1996. Archived from the original on 2021-05-22. Retrieved 22 May 2021. ...the more recent exploits of Mr Bill Abernethy, who discovered the famous Little Willie pearl - valued at #10,000 in 1967 - have inspired hundreds of fortune-seekers.
  6. ^ Farn, Alexander E. (1986). Pearls, natural, cultured, and imitation. London: Butterworths. p. 54. ISBN 9781483162737.
  7. ^ "Abernethy Pearl sold for nearly £94,000 at auction". BBC News. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
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