AuctionsOct 03, 2024
Dame Shirley Bassey’s Diamonds Are Ready for Their EncoreAuctionsAug 19, 2024
Scotland’s Famed Abernethy Pearl Is Up for Sale
Known as “Little Willie,” it’s the largest freshwater pearl found in recent history in Scotland and is notable for its shape and color.
PHOTO Ruth Davis, FGA DGA, the head of jewelry at Scottish auction house Lyon & Turnbull, poses with the Abernethy Pearl in a shell. The pearl is expected to be the highlight of Lyon & Turnbull’s “The Cairncross Collection” jewelry auction, scheduled to take place this Wednesday, Aug. 21. (Photo credit: Lyon & Turnbull/Stewart Attwood)
PHOTO The Abernethy Pearl in loose form. William Abernethy found the pearl that bears his name in 1967. It could have been growing in its mussel shell for more than 80 years prior to its discovery, meaning it began forming sometime during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). (Photo credit: Lyon & Turnbull/Alex Robson)
Edinburgh, Scotland—A large pearl fished out of a river in Scotland 57 years ago and nicknamed “Little Willie” is going up for auction this week.
On Wednesday, Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull will offer the Abernethy Pearl, a Scottish freshwater pearl named after the man who discovered it, the late William (Bill) Abernethy.
Trained as a pearl fisherman by his father and known as a master of the craft, Abernethy found the gemstone that bears his name in a mussel shell in 1967, though he never publicly disclosed where in Scotland he found it.
He took it to renowned family jeweler Cairncross of Perth, where it has remained ever since.
The natural freshwater pearl weighs 10.91 carats and is 10.5-10.6 mm in size, according to its report from The Gem & Pearl Laboratory in London.
It is the largest Scottish pearl recovered in recent history, though it is not the largest of all time, the auction house noted. That honor belongs to the Kellie Pearl set in the Crown of Scotland, which dates to the 1540s and is one of the oldest surviving crowns in Europe.
In a video made for the Lyon & Turnbull YouTube channel, Head of Jewellery Ruth Davis explains why the Abernethy Pearl was such a rare find.
“Scottish pearls are often very varied in color and shape. They display a cream to brownish, sometimes more whiteish colors, and the shape itself is often very misshapen—sometimes ovoid, sometimes round, sometimes completely baroque,” she said.
“To have a large example of perfect spherical form with a fantastic luster and beautiful color is very unusual.”
Watch: Ruth Davis Praises the Abernethy Pearl
On Wednesday, Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull will offer the Abernethy Pearl, a Scottish freshwater pearl named after the man who discovered it, the late William (Bill) Abernethy.
Trained as a pearl fisherman by his father and known as a master of the craft, Abernethy found the gemstone that bears his name in a mussel shell in 1967, though he never publicly disclosed where in Scotland he found it.
He took it to renowned family jeweler Cairncross of Perth, where it has remained ever since.
The natural freshwater pearl weighs 10.91 carats and is 10.5-10.6 mm in size, according to its report from The Gem & Pearl Laboratory in London.
It is the largest Scottish pearl recovered in recent history, though it is not the largest of all time, the auction house noted. That honor belongs to the Kellie Pearl set in the Crown of Scotland, which dates to the 1540s and is one of the oldest surviving crowns in Europe.
In a video made for the Lyon & Turnbull YouTube channel, Head of Jewellery Ruth Davis explains why the Abernethy Pearl was such a rare find.
“Scottish pearls are often very varied in color and shape. They display a cream to brownish, sometimes more whiteish colors, and the shape itself is often very misshapen—sometimes ovoid, sometimes round, sometimes completely baroque,” she said.
“To have a large example of perfect spherical form with a fantastic luster and beautiful color is very unusual.”
Watch: Ruth Davis Praises the Abernethy Pearl
Adding to the pearl’s rarity is the fact that pearl fishing has been banned in the country since 1998.
The ban was put in place because mussels were in danger of becoming extinct from Scotland’s rivers, partly due to over-fishing and partly due to higher rates of pollution, Davis said to National Jeweler via email.
“Traditional and highly experienced fishers were careful and trained to take only mussels that were likely to contain pearls; many could partially open the mussel and replace if it was empty, protecting the stock and therefore their livelihood,” she explained.
“However, there was an influx in less scrupulous [and/or] inexperienced fishers who took the mussels indiscriminately, and so stock became dangerously low.”
Through conservation work, Scotland’s mussel population seems to be slowly recovering, Davis added.
The Abernethy Pearl is expected to sell for £40,000-£60,000 (approximately $52,000-$78,000), plus fees.
It is the highlight of Lyon & Turnbull’s upcoming “The Cairncross Collection” auction featuring pieces from the renowned Scottish jewelers.
Opened in 1869 by brothers Alexander and George Cairncross, Cairncross of Perth was a family-owned jewelry store on St. John Street known for its strands of Scottish pearls and floral brooches.
The retailer championed Scottish pearls as a scarce natural resource and became the leader in the market, so much so that, according to Lyon & Turnbull, local pearl fishers, like Abernethy, brought their finds to Cairncross of Perth first.
Alistair Cairncross and his brother, Jimmy Cairncross, were the last member of the Cairncross family to own the store.
Scottish businesswoman Flora Rennie took over the shop in the late 1980s, and it stayed in business until July 2023. Its closure after 154 years marked the “end of an era,” the auction house said.
“The Cairncross Collection offers a final opportunity to obtain a piece of Perthshire history,” Davis said.
“As well as antique jewelry, including a beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings, weighing over 4 carats, the collection also includes more contemporary pieces, from high-end designers such as Picchiotti and enameled jewels by Victor Mayer, as well as a selection of Scottish river pearls.
“The Abernethy Pearl is, of course, the star of the sale and we’re excited to see the interest the auction will undoubtedly generate.”
The auction of the Cairncross Collection is scheduled to take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. EDT live in Edinburgh and online.
Read more about the auction, browse the lots, and bid on the Lyon & Turnbull website.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
IndependentsApr 01, 2025
Bergman Jewelers in Omaha Closing After 137 YearsThe independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.
MajorsApr 01, 2025
QVC Group to Cut 900 Jobs in the U.S.The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
U.S. Antique Shows Adds Fall Show in FloridaThe debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
TJS to Host Discussion on Jewelry Industry’s Labor ShortageThe roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.
Weekly QuizMar 27, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 01, 2025
Monica Rich Kosann Says ‘Good Grief’ in Peanuts Jewelry CollectionThe “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.
Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2025
Watch: What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Recycled’ Gold?Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean MoreNatural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.
TrendsMar 31, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Dripping in DiamondsDiamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.
MajorsMar 31, 2025
Lashbrook Expands Into Luxury Golf Gifts With AcquisitionThe Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.
WatchesMar 31, 2025
Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Will Also Head LVMH WatchesThe longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.
CrimeMar 28, 2025
2 Suspects Arrested in $1.7M Smash-and-Grab Robbery of NY Jewelry StoreAuthorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in EnglishLotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ RingThe ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ OutlookThe Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand AmbassadorThe Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.
IndependentsMar 26, 2025
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Acquires Fellow NC Independent JewelerThe family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
WatchesMar 26, 2025
Bulova Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Art Deco WatchesThe “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.
MajorsMar 26, 2025
QVC Group Appoints New PresidentAlex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2025
Jewelers of America Announces New Funding Initiative The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.
CrimeMar 25, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Earrings Swallowed Following Grab-and-Run Theft RecoveredThe two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.
ColumnistsMar 25, 2025
The Smart Lab: Using Short-Form Videos to Sell More JewelryThe time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.
CollectionsMar 24, 2025
Pomellato’s Latest ‘Nudo’ Collections Revamp its Classic DesignFrom striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.
MajorsMar 24, 2025
4 Top Executives to Depart Signet Jewelers Amid TurnaroundThe jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.
WatchesMar 24, 2025
Sotheby's Now Offers Watch Repair ServicesThe auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.
FinancialsMar 21, 2025
Swarovski Says Its Lab-Grown Diamond Sales Doubled in 2024The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.
