A Scottish freshwater pearl, believed to be the largest of its kind in living memory, will go up for auction later this month. 

Auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull will offer the Abernethy Pearl, which weighs 43.6 grains, at its August 21 sale, where it is estimated to fetch up to GBP 60,000 ($76,666), the company said last week. Discovered in 1967 by William Abernethy, known as Scotland’s last pearl fisherman, the gem is part of The Cairncross Collection, an auction featuring pieces from renowned Scottish jeweler Cairncross of Perth, which closed last year. 

Abernethy was trained to fish for pearls by his father, Robert, and had a knack for knowing which mussels contained pearls by their size and shape, according to wildlife cameraman Doug Allan, who worked with him as a pearl diver. It’s believed the Abernethy Pearl, known as Little Willie, could have been growing in its mussel for over 80 years, meaning it was created during the reign of Queen Victoria, Lyon & Turnbull noted. 

“The Cairncross Collection offers a final opportunity to obtain a piece of Perthshire history,” said Ruth David, head of jewelry at Lyon & Turnbull. “As well as antique jewelry, including a beautiful pair of diamond-stud earrings weighing over 4 carats, the collection also includes more contemporary pieces from high-end designers such as Picchiotti and enameled jewels by Victor Mayer, as well as a selection of Scottish river pearls. The Abernethy Pearl is, of course, the star of the sale, and we’re excited to see the interest the auction will undoubtedly generate.” 

While the Abernethy Pearl is the largest of its kind in living memory, the Kellie Pearl, set in the Crown of Scotland and dating to the 1540s, still holds the record for the largest Scottish river pearl ever found, Lyon & Turnbull added. 

Image: The Abernathy Pearl. (Lyon & Turnbull/Stewart Attwood)