Abernethy pearl explained

The Abernethy pearl, also known as the Little Willie pearl, is a 43.6gr freshwater pearl named after William Abernethy (1925–2021), who discovered it in Perth, Scotland, in the River Tay in 1967.^{[1] [2]} It is also known as Bill's pearl.

The Abernethy pearl was produced by a mussel belonging to the species Margaritifera margaritifera. It is spherically shaped and coloured white with a slightly pink overtone.^[3]

The pearl was reportedly valued at £10,000 in 1967 .^[4] It is now displayed at the A&G Cairncross in Perth.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Larif . Shihaan . Abernethy Pearl aka Little Willie Pearl - Scottish Freshwater Pearl. Internet Stones.COM Network. 25 March 2017.
2. News: Bill Abernethy obituary . 4 December 2021 . The Times . 4 December 2021.
3. News: Ferguson . Chris . Bill Abernethy, who found Scotland's largest freshwater pearl, dies aged 96 . 4 December 2021 . The Courier . 26 November 2021.
4. News: 10 November 1996 . Call for a ban on pearl fishing to save endangered river mussels . https://web.archive.org/web/20210522135101/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12079212.call-for-a-ban-on-pearl-fishing-to-save-endangered-river-mussels/ . 2021-05-22 . 22 May 2021 . . ...the more recent exploits of Mr Bill Abernethy, who discovered the famous Little Willie pearl - valued at #10,000 in 1967 - have inspired hundreds of fortune-seekers..
5. Book: Farn . Alexander E. . Pearls, natural, cultured, and imitation . 1986 . Butterworths . London . 9781483162737 . 54 .