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---
title: Philippines: This Could Be the Word's Biggest Pearl
description: If confirmed to be authentic, a giant pearl kept hidden for a decade in the Philippines, could have a value of more than $100 million
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author: Amanda Calvo
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article:published_time: 2016-08-24T09:16:55.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T06:44:05.518Z
og:title: This Could Be the Largest Pearl Ever Found
og:description: If confirmed to be authentic, it could have a value of more than $100 million
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og:image:alt: A pearl of 34 kilogram awaiting certification as the biggest in the world
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twitter:description: If confirmed to be authentic, it could have a value of more than $100 million
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta976880781f31626/6988a36ee20a87c80fa92216/h_52982056.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Giant Pearl Kept Under a Fisherman's Bed for Ten Years Could Be the World's Largest

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JEfU2czt.m3u8" -->
## Video: Pearl Hidden Under Man's Bed for 10 Years Could Be World's Largest

[Watch (HLS stream): Pearl Hidden Under Man's Bed for 10 Years Could Be World's Largest](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JEfU2czt.m3u8) (0:42)

![Pearl Hidden Under Man's Bed for 10 Years Could Be World's Largest](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/JEfU2czt/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2016-08-24. A fisherman off the coast of Palawan Island in the Philippines may have uncovered the largest pearl._


by 

[Amanda Calvo](https://time.com/author/amanda-calvo/)


## Amanda Calvo


Aug 24, 2016 9:16 AM UTC

by 

[Amanda Calvo](https://time.com/author/amanda-calvo/)


## Amanda Calvo


Aug 24, 2016 9:16 AM UTC

What may be the world’s largest natural pearl was given to authorities last week after serving as a Filipino fisherman’s good luck charm for [more than a decade](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/24/fisherman-hands-in-giant-pearl-he-tossed-under-the-bed-10-years-ago).

The giant pearl measures in at 1 ft. wide, 2.2 ft. long and weighs 75 lb. If confirmed to be authentic, it could have a value of more than $100 million, according to the _Guardian_. The pearl was [discovered](http://palawan-news.com/potentially-worlds-biggest-natural-pearl-turned-puerto-princesa-city-tourism-office/) off Palawan Island in the Philippines after the fisherman’s anchor became lodged on a giant clam. Unaware of its potential worth, the pearl remained tucked away under his bed for good luck.

Ten years later the man’s aunt, a local tourism officer, entrusted it to the city’s mayor to serve as an attraction, and it is currently exhibited at New Green City Hall in Puerto Princesa. She is seeking gemologists to authenticate the enormous jewel.

“So far based on our research in the web we cannot find any recorded article about this kind and as big as this size,” the aunt, Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao said.

If the pearl is authentic, it would be much larger than the current record holder, which was found in 1939, also in Palawan waters.

\[[_Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/24/fisherman-hands-in-giant-pearl-he-tossed-under-the-bed-10-years-ago)\]

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