Abernethy Pearl: Rare Gem Goes to Auction

One of the largest natural Freshwater pearls to have been fished in Scotland nearly 60 years ago, the Abernethy Pearl is coming up for sale at Edinburgh auctioneers, Lyon & Turnbull, on Wednesday, August 21^st, 2024. It is expected to fetch between £ 40,000 and £ 60,000 at the live/online auction.

What makes the Abernethy Pearl special?

Natural freshwater Scottish pearls are formed in the Margaritifera margaritifera mussel. These are very rare gems. It is said that only one in every 5000 mussels will yield a pearl, which may or may not be of gem quality.

As far as size goes, Scottish Freshwater natural pearls are small, especially when compared to saltwater South Sea pearls. Larger Scottish natural pearls may measure between 7mm and 9mm, but most are smaller.

The Abernethy Pearl in this way is doubly special. First, it is a beautiful pearl. “It has a good lustre, with a smooth surface and a lovely white body colour, with very soft pink-ish overtones” notes Ruth Davis, Head of Jewellery and Silver, Lyon & Turnbull.

By any assessment, the Abernethy Pearl is gem-quality. Discovering round, gem-quality natural pearls is quite rare, which makes a top quality pearl like the Abernethy gold dust.

Second, it is a large pearl, especially by natural Scottish Freshwater pearl standards. The Abernethy Pearl measures over 10 mm (10.5mm x 10.6mm) and weighs approximately 10.91ct./43.6 grains.¹

“The Abernethy Pearl is special not only because of its generous size, but because it has become symbolic of a Scottish pearl fishing tradition that has passed. Pearl fishing in Scottish waters is rightly illegal now, but there’s still romanticism about it,” observes Fiona Lindsay Shen, art historian, Director of the Escalette Permanent Art Collection at Chapman University, and author of “Pearl, Nature’s Perfect Gem.”²

An interesting thing to note about the pearl is that it is being offered alongside the same mussel shell it was discovered in! A little piece of Scottish history and something special for jewellery and pearl lovers.

Why is it called the Abernethy Pearl?

The Abernethy Pearl got its name from William (Bill) Abernethy who discovered this pearl in the River Tay, in 1967. The pearl is affectionately referred to as “Little Willie,” a moniker once again attributed to Bill.

Bill was famously known as Scotland’s last pearl fisherman. He learned how to fish for pearls from his father and had a deep understanding of the Margaritifera margaritifera mussel. “Bill was able to discern from the size and shape of the mussel if it contained a pearl. This enabled him to pick carefully and leave other mussels undisturbed,” remembers wildlife cameraman Doug Allan, who worked with Bill as a pearl diver in the 1970s.

Such was Bill’s understanding of the skyrocketing demand for these nacreous treasures from the Scottish rivers and the dangers of overfishing that he never disclosed the exact location of his discovery of the pearl.

However, Bill kept the pearl safe and sold it to Cairncross of Perth, heritage jewellers who championed Scottish natural river pearls.

An interesting tidbit: Given its size, it is believed that the Abernethy Pearl may have been growing in its mussel for over 80 years before Bill found it. To put this into perspective, this pearl may have been created during the reign of Queen Victoria, a famous lover of Scottish river pearls. 

The Cultural and Historic Significance of the Abernethy Pearl

“Little Willie” is not only a famous Scottish Freshwater pearl, it is also the largest pearl discovered in Scotland, in living history. But it hold a special place in the cultural and historical heritage of Scotland.

“Scotland was historically an important supplier of pearls for European markets. There’s definitely a sense of pearls being part of the country’s cultural and natural heritage,” says Shen.

Even beyond this, the Abernethy Pearl symbolizes more. “Its historical significance is now entirely bound with its environmental importance,” Davis remarks. “Not only is it a rare gemmological specimen, but its unlikely we will see another specimen like it in our time, due to the need to protect the mussels which were in danger of dying out, and the need for conservation work to continue to make sure they, and Scotland’s wider natural landscapes, flourish for future generations.”

“The auctioning of the Abernethy pearl is a reminder of the past, as well as a point of pride, I think, in my country’s successful conservation efforts,” Shen reflects.

The Cairncross Collection

The Cairncross Collection comes from Cairncross of Perth, heritage jewellers established in 1869 by brothers Alexander and George Cairncross.

Cairncross of Perth championed Scottish Freshwater pearls and became famous for crafting one-of-a-kind jewellery set with natural Scottish Freshwater pearls. Over the years, Cairncross built an exceptional collection of Scottish natural pearls.

It’s no wonder then that local Perth fishermen offered Cairncross the first choice in their finds. They knew that they would receive a fair price for them, secure in the knowledge that the pearls would be set in beautiful jewellery, preserving the precious treasures of Scottish rivers for generations.

Cairncross of Perth closed its doors for the final time in July 2023, marking the end of an iridescent era.

“The Cairncross Collection offers a final opportunity to obtain a piece of Perthshire history. As well as antique jewellery, the collection also includes more contemporary pieces, from high-end designers such as Picchiotti and enamelled jewels by Victor Mayer, as well as a selection of Scottish river pearls,” says Davis.

This includes an impressive Scottish Freshwater pearl necklace of graduated white pearls. “To find a strand of graduated pearls of this quality could take decades, and it’s extremely rare,” notes Davis. In addition, the collection also includes a diamond and Scottish Freshwater pearl ‘Toi et Moi’ ring, with the round, brilliant-cut diamond weighing 1.30 cts approximately.

UPDATE: The Abernethy Pearl was sold for for £93, 951 (inclusive of Buyer’s Premium) in the Cairncross Collection Auction at Lyon and Turnbull Auctioneers in Edinburgh, on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024.

1. In terms of size, the Abernethy Pearl is second only to the Kellie Pearl, another famous Scottish Freshwater natural pearl which is set in the Scottish crown ↩︎
2. Today, it is illegal in Scotland to fish for pearls in the rivers, disturb or damage mussel habitats or even possess pearls that were fished after 1998. (Source: “Pearl, Nature’s Perfect Gem” by Fiona Lindsay Shen) ↩︎