Giga Pearl
{{Short description|Largest non-nacreous pearl in the world}}
File:The Giga Pearl with Octopus 2018.jpg
The Giga Pearl{{Cite web|title=The Giga Pearl|url=https://www.gigapearl.com/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=the giga pearl|language=en-US}} holds the Guinness World Record as the largest certified pearl in the world.{{Cite web|title=Largest natural non-nacreous pearl|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/576447-largest-natural-non-nacreous-pearl|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-GB}} The pearl weighs in at {{convert|27.65|kg|lb oz|abbr=on}} and measures {{convert|39.37|x|22.86|x|20.95|cm|in|abbr=on}},{{Cite web|title=GIA - Report Check|url=https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=1182009623|access-date=2021-05-26|website=www.gia.edu}} which is four times larger than the Pearl of Lao Tzu (formerly the Pearl of Allah) which weighs 6.4 kg.{{Cite web|last=Wu|first=Anthony|date=2019-06-29|title=Introducing the Giga Pearl - the World's Largest Natural Pearl!|url=https://www.anthonywuart.com/post/2019/06/29/introducing-the-giga-pearl-the-worlds-largest-natural-pearl|access-date=2021-05-26|website=anthony-wu-art|language=en}} There have been claims of "the world's largest pearl" in recent years,{{Cite web|last=Naas|first=Roberta|title=This $100 Million Pearl Is the Largest and Most Expensive in the World|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertanaas/2016/08/23/100-million-pearl-hidden-under-bed-sets-world-record-as-largest-most-expensive-pearl-in-the-world/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Forbes|language=en}} however, only the Giga Pearl holds the title on record as the world's largest GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified natural blister pearl, making it indisputably the largest in the world.
Origin
The Giga Pearl is owned by Abraham Reyes, a natural pearl and antiquities collector in Canada.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-11|title=The World's Largest Pearl Is Owned By This Filipino|url=https://mega.onemega.com/filipino-largest-pearl-world/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=MEGA|language=en-US}} Reyes comes from the rank of avid collectors. His late great aunt was a major collector of Asian artifacts in the Philippines. The pearl was given to her by his grandfather who came to visit her in Manila and brought a giant clam as a gift or pasalubong, a custom in Filipino culture.
The Giga Pearl was formed by a Tridacna gigas which is the largest extant bivalve. These giant clams can grow up to approximately {{convert|4+1/2|ft|m|spell=in}} wide and can weigh up to approximately {{convert|550|lb|kg}}.{{Cite web|title=Giant Clam|url=https://oceana.org/marine-life/corals-and-other-invertebrates/giant-clam|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Oceana|language=en}} They are found in the eastern Indian Ocean and west Pacific Ocean, from Thailand and western Australia eastward to Micronesia.{{Cite web|last=Fatherree|first=James W.|title=A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna gigas|url=https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-invertebrates-a-look-at-the-giant-clam-tridacna-gigas/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Reefs.com|date=15 November 2010|language=en-US}}
Value
The Giga Pearl is valued at $140 million CAD.{{Cite news |last=Cheese |first=Tyler |date=February 14, 2025 |title=World's largest pearl, valued at $140M, returns to Toronto |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/giga-pearl-exhibit-1.7458643 |access-date=2021-05-26 |work=CBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Mississauga, Ont., man's been hiding what could be the world's largest pearl — now he wants to show it off|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/largest-pearl-giga-1.5073708|website=CBC}}{{Cite web|date=2019-05-30|title=Heirloom surprise: Fil-Canadian finds out he owns multi-million dollar pearl|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/30/19/heirloom-surprise-fil-canadian-finds-out-he-owns-multi-million-pearl|access-date=2021-05-26|website=ABS-CBN News|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-04-04|title=Canadian Man Inherits 61-Pound 'Giga Pearl' — One of the Largest in the World|url=https://www.dia-designs.com/canadian-man-inherits-61-pound-giga-pearl-one-of-the-largest-in-the-world/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Diamond Designs {{!}} Orange, CT Jewelry Store|language=en-US}} The pearl is currently being displayed in an octopus sculpture gilded in 22k gold by artist Bethany Krull.{{Cite web|title=The Giga Pearl|url=https://www.gigapearl.com/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=the giga pearl|language=en-US}}