The Abernethy Pearl

The Abernethy Pearl, famous as the largest Scottish freshwater pearl found in living history, is a unique piece of Scottish history.

In 2001 the German pearl specialist Elizabeth Strack wrote the finest book published on natural pearls. In this volume she highlights eighteen of the world’s largest and most famous pearls, the Abernethy Pearl being one of these.

In 1967, the Scottish pearl fisherman, Bill Abernethy, found a perfect, high quality natural pearl in the River Tay near Perth, measuring 10.5mm x 10.6mm and weighing 43.6 grams.

The Abernethy Pearl is perfectly spherical, has a high lustre and is the finest pearl ever found in a Scottish river.

It is now illegal to fish for Scottish pearls due to recent legislation which protects the mussel, margaritifera margaritifera, and its pearls.

Until recently the pearl has been exhibited within Cairncross Jewellers in Perth, where it has been a popular feature and has been known as the Abernethy Pearl or ‘Wee Willie’.

In the summer of 2023, Cairncross finally closed its door and the Abernethy Pearl was to be privately sold. As you can imagine, there was interest from museums and collectors all over the world but Wee Willie has a unique cultural attachment to Scotland.

Eventually, it was decided that the pearl would be sold through an open auction at Lyon & Turnbull in August 2024.

I have had an interest in jewellery and gemstones all my life and have run my own business for 40 years. Now retired, I have had a wonderful career buying and dealing in gemstones and travelling all over the world. I felt that this was the opportunity to acquire this fabulous pearl, retain it in Scotland and gift it to the National Museum of Scotland, for all time.

Many Lapidary Club members along with over a hundred enthusiasts attended an evening event when the pearl went on public display. It is now well worth viewing at the National Museum of Scotland, Earth Systems on Chambers Street, in Edinburgh.

Alistir Tait

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