Natural saltwater pearl of record size

On December 7, 2014, the auction house Rago Auctions put up for sale the largest saltwater pearl ever with a nearly perfectly round shape. The previous record-breaking specimen was sold for more than $1.3 million.

Putilov's pearl brooch

Pearl Identification Report No. 2165503254 prepared by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) describes the Putilov pearl as a natural saltwater pearl with a drilled hole, originating from an oyster of the Pinctada species, measuring 19.08 x 18.88 x 16.50 mm, with no signs of tampering, almost perfectly round, white in color with oriental tones. The pearl has a hollow hole with iridescent plugs, one of which is currently removed.

Dating from the 19th century, the oval brooch in which the pearl is set measures 2" x 1 5/8". The pearl is surrounded by 16 near-colorless older brilliant cut diamonds, weighing a total of approximately 28 carats, in a cut setting and numerous smaller rosette cut diamonds set in silver plated gold. The removable safety pin clasp can be set vertically or horizontally. There are KAM and N677 symbols of unknown significance on the setting. The brooch weighs 19.7 pennyweights (approximately 30.6 grams).

Story of Putilov's pearl brooch (origin of the name)

Alexei Putilov, a Russian financier and industrialist, brought the brooch from Russia to Paris in the spring of 1918. Before the revolution, Putilov was a very influential man in Russia, and his family founded the Putilov metal works. In France, Alexei Putilov pursued a career in banking under a name with a Gallicized twist. The auction was initiated by Putilov's great-grandson.

Former record breaking  pearl

The almost perfectly round saltwater pearl, which has so far been called the largest in the world and now ranks second in size, was sold at the UK auction house Woolley & Wallis on May 1, 2014 for £ 811,000 (1˙368 $ 075). According to a report from the Swiss laboratory SSEF, this natural white saltwater pearl measures 17.44 x 16.51 mm, weighs 33.147 carats (132.59 grams), is oval in shape and has a half-drilled hole.

The product of the longest and shortest diameter is 287.93 mm sq.

The product of the longest and shortest diameters of the Putilov pearl is 314.82 sq. mm, which is about 8 percent more than the pearl that was sold at Woolley and Wallis.

Pricing for serious bidders

Rago Auction House charges a $100,000 deposit from each person interested in participating in the auction.

Source: biznes.interia.pl