Any saltwater pearl of more than 100 grains is special: a recent report from Gemmological Certification Services, GCS, London, states that this pearl is natural, of unusual symmetrical shape, has an intense lustre and weighs 128 grains.
It may have taken as long as 10 years to grow in the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, the coast of northern Australia or the Panama waters of Venezuela, probably sometime in the 18th century.
Mounted in the late 19th century, and later married to a diamond and platinum Belle Epoque necklace c.1915, it is being offered at auction from a private London collection at Roseberys’ sale of Jewellery & Watches on November 20. “I think it’s safe to say we are handling an exceptional pearl and look forward to seeing what reaction we get,” says jewellery head Mark Bowis.
The estimate is £70,000-100,000.
