Arco Valley Pearl Next to Allah -

Comes in Second

Technically, the Pearl of Allah, not the Arco Valley Pearl is the largest pearl in the world. However, can you really describe the 'Pearl of Allah' as a normal marine Pearl, or is it more of a freak of nature?

The Pearl you see in the above diagram is no small Pearl! The Arco Valley Pearl, as it is called, weighs 575 carats and the color is a pinkish color with slight yellow overtones. It measures 79 x 41 x 34 mm.

During 2007, an UAE collector claimed he bought the Natural Saltwater Pearl from a french owner for 8M US$ but the Wikipedia tells us it is still owned by an European company (August 2008).

The value of the pearl is based on its size, color, weight, rarity factor, history and previous records of what people have been prepared to pay for similar precious items.

It is the biggest Natural Pearl outside a museum and the second biggest ever. Arco Valley wins the title of being the biggest pearl for sale in the world, but not the largest in size. Pearl of Allah is the champion.

Arco valley is believed to have been found in 12th century in Mongolia and was formerly owned by Chinese emperors, Persian kings, the grandson of Genghis Khan and Marco Polo. (www. presstv.ir - Thu, 03 May 2007)

Pearl of Allah

It was found by a diver off the Philippine island of Palawan in 1934 and is housed in a museum in the Philippines.

According to Guinness Book of records, The Pearl of Allah, (Pearl of Lao-Tse) was recovered from a giant clam and the San Francisco Gem Laboratory has valued the pearl at $40 million.

The Muslim diver who found the pearl said its surface bore the image of a turbaned face, and he named it accordingly, "The Pearl of Allah".

This specimen is definitely not in the same category as Mikimoto pearls, and I am not sure whether this pearl can even be described as a marine Pearl.

I have to say, as far as large pearls go, I prefer the Arco Valley Pearl myself, don't you?

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