The title of "most expensive pearl" depends on whether you mean a single loose gem or jewelry, but the record-setting Pearl of Lao Tzu (or Giga Pearl), a massive clam pearl valued around $100 million, is the largest and most valuable single pearl found, while Marie Antoinette's Pearl Pendant holds the record for a pearl jewel at $36.8 million at auction. La Peregrina, another famous pearl, sold for $11.8 million as part of a necklace, highlighting how provenance and rarity drive extreme value.
South Sea pearls are often referred to as the Rolls Royce of pearls. They are the largest and most valuable pearls grown today, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters. South Sea pearls grow in a large pearl oyster native to Australia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
A Filipino fisherman found a 34-kg pearl near Palawan and hid it under his bed for ten years. Believing it brought luck, he had no idea it was the world's largest natural pearl, worth $100 million. Discovered only after a fire forced him to move, it proves some treasures don't glitter; they quietly sleep beneath beds.
UK jeweler Queensmith estimated that each of Elizabeth's signature pearl necklaces could be worth over £5,000,000, or $6.6 million, in 2023. The Queen and Princess Elizabeth after the Coronation of George VI, 1937.
Mikimoto pearls are known for their near-perfect roundness, a rarity in natural and cultured pearls. Round pearls are the most difficult to cultivate, making them more expensive. Many pearls from other brands are slightly oval or irregular, but Mikimoto selects only flawlessly round pearls for its high-end jewelry.
She accessorized with Queen Elizabeth's Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, which Kate frequently wears—most recently during the Qatar State Visit and on Remembrance Sunday.
It was Jackie Kennedy who said 'pearls are always appropriate,' meaning that they suit all occasions and all outfits. Indeed pearls are still worn by many brides on their wedding days and feature in most jewellers' windows today.
Here are the ten rarest pearl colors found in nature today.
The future monarch was only 25 years old when she lost her beloved dad, and the pearl necklace that she received from him as a young girl remains a powerful reminder of the special bond they shared. Elizabeth loved the three-strand pearl necklace so much that she had an identical one made.
Black pearls generally fall within a price range of $100 to $10,000 per pearl or more. The variation depends on whether the pearls are natural or cultured, size, and quality. For example, smaller cultured black pearls might cost a few hundred dollars, whereas large, flawless specimens can fetch thousands.
The Giga Pearl is owned by Abraham Reyes, a natural pearl and antiquities collector in Canada, whose great-aunt collected Asian artifacts in the Philippines. The pearl was given to her by Reyes's grandfather, who visited her in Manila and brought a giant clam as a gift or pasalubong, a custom in Filipino culture.
Japan is the acknowledged leader in Akoya pearl production – known to produce the best, most consistently beautiful Akoya pearls in the world.
Natural Black pearls (uncultivated) are extremely rare and are found in about 1 in every 10,000 oysters. In an effort to preserve the species, it is illegal to dive to find natural pearls.
L'Incomparable Diamond Necklace: $55 Million
Valued at $55 million, the necklace features 407.48 carats of diamonds set in 18-carat gold, making it the world's most valuable necklace. It is currently owned by Mouawad, a Swiss and Emirati luxury goods company.
The pearl colours that are rarest in natural pearls are gold and black. Pink, light blue, and lavender coloured natural pearls can also be rarely found. Cultured pearls can come in a range of different, rarely-found colours. These range from pale blue, pale pink, pistachio green through to deep purples.
In English folklore and old wives' tales, pearls were thought to symbolise tears. The idea was that if a bride wore pearls, she'd cry throughout her marriage or experience sadness in her relationship. Some even believed that pearls represented a broken relationship before it even started.
Yes, Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in the same bed, often with their dog Orla, a revelation Prince William shared, highlighting a more modern, relatable approach to royal life compared to past generations who sometimes used separate beds for status or privacy. While they have separate bedrooms for some downtime and might use separate beds when traveling on the royal train due to its layout, their usual arrangement at home is together, with their dog as a regular bedfellow.
She wore a pair of pearl studs and a pearl necklace. The pearl studs were worn by Diana as early as 1975 and were last seen on the princess in 1990 while opening a police station at 462 Fore Street, Edmonton, London. On her 18th birthday, Diana was given a triple-strand pearl choker by the Spencer family.
Australian South Sea Pearls are undoubtedly some of the rarest and most beautiful pearls in the world. These pearls achieve crème-de-la-crème status thanks to their unmatched luster, thick nacre, rich color variety, and size.
Certified Hanadama Akoya pearls are the finest Akoya pearls available; there is no grade above Hanadama, and there are no “levels” within the Hanadama grade. They are all top-notch. Mikimoto, by contrast, offers four different grades of Akoya pearls, with A being the lowest and AAA being the best.
Unfortunately, since Diana's death in 1997, the choker is no longer seen in public, having been inherited by her children. It is thought that the next to wear it will be Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, who already owns the engagement ring and earrings that made a kind of set with the remaining jewel.
“A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls.” - Coco Chanel.
Christopher Anderson: These Few Precious Days: The Final Year of Jack with Jackie. Mirror: “As John F Kennedy lay dying Jackie whispered – I love you Jack, I love you”