Origin of Name :-
The "Palawan Princess" weighing 5 pounds (2.27 kg or
11,340 carats) is the second largest non-nacreous baroque pearl
discovered from the giant clam Tridacna gigas, off the coast of the
Island of Palawan, in the Philippines, a natural habitat of the giant
clam. The largest ever non-nacreous baroque pearl discovered from the
giant clam, weighing 14.1 pounds (6.395 kg or 31,978 carats) was also
discovered
from the same habitat off the coast of Palawan, in 1934, and is
popularly known as the "Pearl of Allah" based on Wilburn Cobb's legend
of the "Pearl of Allah" published in the magazine "Natural History" of
New York's American Museum of Natural History, in November 1939, which
is now believed to be a fabrication. According to this legend the "Pearl
of Allah" was discovered by a Muslim diver off the coast of Palawan,
whose hands were trapped when the valves of the clam snapped shut, and
thus met with his untimely death, a story that is scientifically untenable.
The pearl was presented to the chief of the native Dayaks, who is said
to have named it the "Pearl of Allah" because human-like features on the
pearl was believed to be a miraculous representation of the Prophet
Muhammad, the messenger of Allah. Doubts, have been cast by historians
about the truth of this story, as most of the inhabitants of Palawan at
the time the pearl was discovered, were Christians, who were evangelized
by the Spanish missionaries in the 19th-century. The Dayak Chief gave
the so-called "Pearl of Allah" to Wilburn Cobb, as an appreciation for
saving his son's life, who had contracted Malaria, something he would
not have done if the pearl had any religious significance associated
with it. Thus the name "Pearl of Allah" is purely derived from the
unsubstantiated story appearing in the "Natural History" magazine of
November 1939.
It is not known how the name "Palawan Princess"
originated. The pearl is said to have been discovered by a professional
diver, who did not meet with an unfortunate accident as the ill-fated
diver who discovered the "Pearl of Allah" did. The pearl has a striking
resemblance to the Cerebrum of the human brain. Even certain regions of
the "Pearl of Allah" has such similarities. The "Palawan Princess" has
no human features like the "Pearl of Allah." Hence the name "Palawan
Princess" cannot be attributed to any human features on the pearl, like
the "Pearl of Allah." The name undoubtedly reflects the
place of origin of the pearl, Palawan Islands in the Philippines, which
has also earned the unique distinction of being the location where the
largest pearl in the world, the "Pearl of Allah" was discovered. Thus
the Palawan Islands have now earned the double-distinction of being
the location where not only the largest pearl in the world was
discovered, but also the second largest pearl, the "Palawan Princess."
The largest pearl, the "Pearl of Allah" is undoubtedly the "King" or
"Prince" of all pearls. In this sense the name "Palawan Princess" is
quite appropriate for the second largest pearl, also discovered from the
same region.
Characteristics of
the Pearl
The diameter of the
pearl and the size of the shell
The "Palawan Princess" which has an uncanny
resemblance to the human brain, is a non-nacreous blister pearl having an approximate diameter of 6 inches
(15.2 cm). In comparison the "Pearl of Allah" has a length of 9.5 inches
(24 cm). The "Palawan Princess" which has been put up for sale, by
international auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields at their Natural
History Auction, on Sunday, December 6, 2009, under Lot No. :- 2377, is
accompanied by the lower valve of the original giant clam shell in which
the pearl was discovered, showing the point-of-attachment where this
blister pearl developed. This valve measures 19 by 13 by 6.5 inches (48
cm by 33 cm by 16.5 cm). The size of the shell is small in comparison to
some giant clams that measure 1.2 meters (120 cm) across, and weigh as
much as 200 kg. Scientists believe that the smaller size of the clam is
associated with the large blister pearl growing inside the clam, showing
that the clam used most of its energy for the growth of the blister
pearl, rather than the growth of its shell.
The Palawan Princess Pearl
©
Bonhams
The weight, color,
surface characteristics and porcellaneous appearance of the pearl
The weight of the pearl is 5 pounds which is
equivalent to 2.27 kg or 11,340 carats. The color of the pearl is white,
the color of the microcrystalline calcite fibers that form
the nacre-like substance of the pearl. Being non-nacreous the pearl does
not have the luster and brilliance of nacreous pearls, but instead the
matte-like appearance of porcelain, commonly referred to as porcellaneous. The surface of the pearl has markings similar to the
gyrations or fissures of the human brain.
Palawan Princess With The Original Shell In Which It
Was Found
©
Bonhams
Comments by
gemologists and appraisers of renowned laboratories
The pearl was examined and authenticated by
gemologists of the European Gem Laboratories, USA, in New York, whose
director Mitch Jacubovich said, "This is an once-in-a-lifetime look
at one of nature's most unique treasures. A pearl this size is not only
one of the largest ones we have ever seen, it is among the largest pearl
ever seen anywhere." Another gemologist and senior appraiser
of the Universal Gemological Services called the pearl, "clearly one
of the most valuable pearls of its kind in the world today."
Other facts
associated with non-nacreous pearls
The difference
between nacreous and non-nacreous pearls
The "Palawan Princess" is a non-nacreous pearl,
produced by the giant clam, Tridacna gigas. From a biological point of
view, the "Palawan Princess" is considered a kind of pearl, being the
natural product of a shelled mollusk, the giant clam. However, from a
gemological point of view, the "Palawan Princess is said to be a
non-nacreous pearl, also known as a calcareous concretion, lacking the
luster and iridescence of "true pearls." The differences between
nacreous and non-nacreous pearls are outlined in the table below.
Difference between
Nacreous and Non-Nacreous Pearls
| S/N |
Nacreous Pearls |
Non-Nacreous Pearls |
| 1 |
Produced by bivalve mollusks such as
saltwater oysters and freshwater mussels |
Produced by bivalve mollusks such as giant
clams, quahog clams and scallops and gastropod mollusks such as the
queen conch, horse conch and melo-melo sea-snail |
| 2 |
Pearl formation is a defensive response to
an irritant, which is covered by layers of nacre. |
Pearl formation is a defensive response to
an irritant, which is covered by a nacre-like substance. |
| 3 |
Pearls have an attractive luster and
iridescence caused by nacre. |
Pearls have a matte-like luster of porcelain
and are known as porcellaneous. They lack the luster and iridescence of
nacreous pearls. |
| 4 |
Nacreous pearls are known as "true pearls" |
Non-nacreous pearls are known as calcareous
concretions. |
| 5 |
Nacre is made up of conchiolin and the
crystalline form of calcium carbonate known as aragonite. |
The nacre-like substance is made up of
conchiolin and the crystalline form of calcium carbonate known as
calcite. |
| 6 |
Aragonite is laid down as tiny hexagonal
platelets, with a width of 10-20µm and
thickness of 0.5µm. |
Calcite is laid down as fibers or needles,
forming bundles of microcrystalline fibers. |
| 7 |
The thickness of the aragonite platelets is
comparable to the wavelength of light, and causes the scattering of
light known as iridescence. |
The bundles of microcrystalline fibers do
not cause the scattering of light. Hence the lack of iridescence in
non-nacreous pearls. |
| 8 |
No chatoyant effect like a "flame structure"
seen in true pearls. |
In some non-nacreous pearls such as conch
pearls and quahog pearls, the calcite microcrystalline fibers, cause a
type of chatoyancy, a flame-like shimmering effect, known as the "flame
structure" which is sometimes spectacular, that some gemologists think
that conch pearls should be re-classified as "true pearls." |
The natural habitat
of the giant clam, Tridacna gigas
The natural habitat of Tridacna gigas are the shallow
coral reefs of the South Pacific and the Indian Oceans. Two of the
common habitats of the giant clam, are the Great Barrier Reef off the
coast of Queensland in northeast Australia, the largest coral reef
system in the world, and the coral reefs off the Philippine Islands.
Little wonder then, that two of the largest giant clam pearls were
discovered from the same habitat, off the coast of Palawan Islands.
The rarity of
non-nacreous giant clam pearls
In keeping with their large size, which can sometimes
reach as much as 1.4 meters and a weight of 250 kg, giant clams can
produce pearls of enormous sizes. However, the occurrence of such pearls
is extremely rare. An indication of its rarity can be obtained, just by
considering the year of discovery of the two largest recorded giant clam
pearls, the "Pearl of Allah" and the "Palawan Princess." While the
"Pearl of Allah" was discovered in 1934, the "Palawan Princess" was
discovered recently (exact year not known). Assuming that the "Palawan
Princess" was discovered in the year 2000, it has taken 66 years
for the second largest giant clam pearl to make its appearance, after
the discovery of the largest giant clam pearl in 1934. This gives an
indication as to the extent of its rarity, which greatly enhances the
value of the pearl. Hence the comment by Mitch Jacubovich, that it was a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to look at one of nature's most unique
treasures.
How long would it
have taken for the "Palawan Princess" to develop inside the giant clam ?
If the growth rates of giant clam pearls are known we
can make an estimate as to how long it would have taken for the pearl to
develop inside the clam. But, unfortunately, growth rates of giant clam
pearls are not known, even though the growth rate of the giant clams
themselves in captivity are well known. The growth rate of giant clams
has been estimated at 2 inches (5 cm) per year in young individuals.
Growth rate slows down in older clams. Their life span is quite long but
uncertain. Estimates of the life span vary from 50 to 100 years. The
rate of deposition of nacre in oysters and mussels, producing nacreous
pearls is very slow, and in most species it's about 0.6 mm per year. If
we apply this rate to the "Palawan Princess" having a diameter of 6 ins
(15.2 cm); assuming that the pearl is spherical and the growth is even
right round the pearl, centered around a point in the middle; the time
taken for 7.6 cm of nacre to be deposited at the rate of 0.3 mm would be
76/0.3 = 253 years. This is much above the average life span of a giant
clam, which is 50-100 years. If the rate of deposition is double that of
nacreous pearls - 1.2 mm per year - the time taken would be 76/0.6 = 126
years, which is still higher than the average life span of giant clams.
If the rate of deposition is three times that of nacreous pearls - 1.8
mm per year - the time taken would be 76/0.9 = 84 years, which falls
within the average life span of 50-100 years for giant clams. Thus a
deposition rate of 1.5-3.0 mm per year would give an average life span
of 50-100 years.
Thus assuming that the "Palawan Princess" was formed
in a giant clam with an average life span, at the growth rate of 1.5-3.0
mm per year, the pearl would have taken somewhere between 50 to 100
years to develop. But, given the fact that the size of the clam shell is
smaller (48 by 33 by 16 cm), believed to be associated with the growing
pearl inside the shell, the energy of the living clam being expended
more for the growth of the pearl than the shell, the estimation of the time taken for the
development of the pearl would necessarily be more complicated, and much less than 50-100 years. The same
nacre deposition rate applied to the "Pearl of Allah" gives a period of
approximately 80 years as the time taken for its formation. The above
calculations it must be noted however, are based on several assumptions,
and may not reflect an accurate picture of pearl formation in giant
clams under natural conditions.
The value of
non-nacreous pearls
Non-nacreous pearls have relatively less commercial
value than nacreous pearls, despite the fact that some non-nacreous
pearls like quahog pearls and conch pearls, with their "flame structure"
and stunning beauty even surpasses the beauty of most low-grade nacreous
pearls. The value of non-nacreous pearls seem to be unfairly tied down
to the definition of "true pearls." This is one reason that has prompted
gemologists like Kenneth Scarrat, the director of GIA in Bangkok to
suggest that some non-nacreous pearls, like conch pearls, be elevated to
the status of "true pearls." The extremely rare and beautiful purple
quahog pearls seem to suffer from the same fate as conch pearls.
The value of
calcareous concretions like the "Pearl of Allah" and the "Palawan
Princess"
However, massive calcareous concretions like the
"Pearl of Allah" and the "Palawan Princess" have a value of their own,
not driven by any ornamental considerations, but other factors, such as
:-
1) Their extreme rarity
2) Their enormous sizes, going on record as the first
and second largest natural pearls produced by a bivalve mollusk.
3) The long time taken for the pearls to develop,
which may be as long as their mature life time.
4) Their natural provenance.
5) The collectors value associated with such
extremely rare creations of nature, both for private collectors and
well-established museums.
When Wilburn Cobb the owner of the "Pearl of Allah"
died in 1980, his estate including the giant pearl was disposed of by
public auction. The "Pearl of Allah" was purchased by Peter
Hoffmann and Victor Barbish for $200,000. This was the highest price
ever realized by the "Pearl of Allah" that has gone down on record, even
though there had been staggering estimates of the pearl, ranging from
$3.5 million to $93 million. In this context the pre-sale estimate of
$300,000 to $400,000, placed on the "Palawan Princess" by the auction
house Bonhams & Butterfields is a very realistic value
The "Palawan
Princess" comes up for sale at a Bonhams auction on December 6, 2009 at
Los Angeles
The world's second largest pearl, the "Palawan
Princess" is due to come up for sale on Sunday, December 6, 2009, at the
annual holiday auction of Natural History, organized by the renowned
international auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields. The pearl has been
listed in the auction catalogue under Lot No. 2377 and is referred to as
a - Rare and Immense Natural Non-Nacreous Pearl - "The Palawan
Princess." A pre-sale estimate of $300,000 to $400,000 has been placed
on the pearl, which is in keeping with previous prices obtained for such
pearls. However, depending on factors laid out above, such as the
extreme rarity of the pearl, its enormous size, its natural provenance,
and above all the collectors value associated with the pearl, it would
not be surprising if the successful bid exceeds the pre-sale estimate.
The annual holiday auction also features a variety of
distinctive and high-quality mineral specimens, exceptional fossils,
gold nuggets, and unusual jewelry, including a selection of high-quality
gems and lapidary works of art.
You are welcome to discuss this
post/related topics with Dr Shihaan and other experts from around the
world in our
FORUMS (forums.internetstones.com)
Related :-
1) Pearl of Allah - Pearl of Lao Tzu
2)
Tarantula Brooch
3)
Queen Mary Conch Pearl Brooch
4)
Golash Quahog Pearl Brooch
External Links :-
Sale 17535 - Natural History, 6 Dec 2009.
www.bonhams.com
References :-
1) Bonhams - Sale 17535 - Natural History, 6 Dec
2009. Lot No. 2377. Rare & Immense Natural Non-Nacreous Pearl - "The
Palawan Princess." www.bonhams.com
2) Bonhams - Merry & Bright - Gold, Gemstones and
Jewelry Shine at Holiday Natural History Auction at Bonhams &
Butterfields. www,bonhams.com
3) Animal Encyclopedia : Giant Clam. www.answers.com
