Abernethy pearl
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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 Perth, Scotland, in the River Tay 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 is now displayed at the A&G Cairncross in Perth.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ 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
- ^ a b Larif, Shihaan. "Abernethy Pearl aka Little Willie Pearl - Scottish Freshwater Pearl". Internet Stones.COM Network. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ "Bill Abernethy obituary". The Times. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ^ Ferguson, Chris (26 November 2021). "Bill Abernethy, who found Scotland's largest freshwater pearl, dies aged 96". The Courier. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Farn, Alexander E. (1986). Pearls, natural, cultured, and imitation. London: Butterworths. p. 54. ISBN 9781483162737.
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