The Abernethy Pearl, a Scottish freshwater pearl, recently sold at auction for an impressive £93,951 ($123,000), setting a new record price. Lyon & Turnbull’s Cairncross Collection auction featured this remarkable gem as its star lot on August 21. Surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $77,000, the pearl—one of the largest ever discovered in Scotland—will remain in Scottish hands. The collection originated from Cairncross of Perth, a renowned jeweler exclusively licensed to sell Scottish freshwater pearls. After a century and a half in business, Cairncross closed its doors in 2023. Notably, all 173 lots in the auction found buyers, achieving a total of $317,000.
Ruth Davis, the auction house’s head of jewelry, expressed delight: “The world record price for the Abernethy Pearl and the success of the entire Cairncross Collection will leave a lasting legacy. We’re thrilled that the Abernethy pearl has found a wonderful home with its new buyer, ensuring it remains in Scotland.”
Discovered in 1967 by William Abernethy—an esteemed Scottish pearl fisherman who passed away in 2021—the Abernethy Pearl weighs 43.6 grains. Abernethy, considered the last great master pearl fisherman and affectionately nicknamed the pearl “Little Willie,” is estimated having a growth span of 80 years places it during Queen Victoria’s reign.
The pearl set a record for a Scottish freshwater pearl. 2024. Courtesy of Stewart Attwood
William Abernethy, a legendary Scottish pearl fisherman, honed his pearl-fishing skills under his father’s guidance. He spent much of his working life navigating Scotland’s rivers on foot or in small boats. Remarkably, Abernethy could assess whether a mussel contained a pearl simply by observing its size and shape.
In 1967, Abernethy discovered “Little Willie” in the River Tay. To protect it from scratches, he wrapped the pearl in a dock leaf and carried it to Cairncross, an east-coast Scottish city. Curiously, he never disclosed the exact location of his find, perhaps to prevent others from exploring the spot.
The sale of the Abernethy Pearl, coupled with Abernethy’s passing, signifies the end of an era for Scottish freshwater pearls. In 1998, due to overfishing endangering Scottish freshwater mussels, the government imposed a pearl fishing ban. Disturbing or harming mussels is now illegal. Abernethy also attributed the decline of Scotland’s freshwater mussels to human pollution. He lamented, “All these different sprays and chemicals running into the rivers are killing life; there’s no doubt. I see no improvement.”
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
The Abernethy Pearl. Courtesy Lyon and Turnbull
The Abernethy Pearl, a Scottish freshwater pearl, recently sold at auction for an impressive £93,951 ($123,000), setting a new record price. Lyon & Turnbull’s Cairncross Collection auction featured this remarkable gem as its star lot on August 21. Surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $77,000, the pearl—one of the largest ever discovered in Scotland—will remain in Scottish hands. The collection originated from Cairncross of Perth, a renowned jeweler exclusively licensed to sell Scottish freshwater pearls. After a century and a half in business, Cairncross closed its doors in 2023. Notably, all 173 lots in the auction found buyers, achieving a total of $317,000.
Ruth Davis, the auction house’s head of jewelry, expressed delight: “The world record price for the Abernethy Pearl and the success of the entire Cairncross Collection will leave a lasting legacy. We’re thrilled that the Abernethy pearl has found a wonderful home with its new buyer, ensuring it remains in Scotland.”
Discovered in 1967 by William Abernethy—an esteemed Scottish pearl fisherman who passed away in 2021—the Abernethy Pearl weighs 43.6 grains. Abernethy, considered the last great master pearl fisherman and affectionately nicknamed the pearl “Little Willie,” is estimated having a growth span of 80 years places it during Queen Victoria’s reign.
The pearl set a record for a Scottish freshwater pearl. 2024. Courtesy of Stewart Attwood
William Abernethy, a legendary Scottish pearl fisherman, honed his pearl-fishing skills under his father’s guidance. He spent much of his working life navigating Scotland’s rivers on foot or in small boats. Remarkably, Abernethy could assess whether a mussel contained a pearl simply by observing its size and shape.
In 1967, Abernethy discovered “Little Willie” in the River Tay. To protect it from scratches, he wrapped the pearl in a dock leaf and carried it to Cairncross, an east-coast Scottish city. Curiously, he never disclosed the exact location of his find, perhaps to prevent others from exploring the spot.
The sale of the Abernethy Pearl, coupled with Abernethy’s passing, signifies the end of an era for Scottish freshwater pearls. In 1998, due to overfishing endangering Scottish freshwater mussels, the government imposed a pearl fishing ban. Disturbing or harming mussels is now illegal. Abernethy also attributed the decline of Scotland’s freshwater mussels to human pollution. He lamented, “All these different sprays and chemicals running into the rivers are killing life; there’s no doubt. I see no improvement.”
