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
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the CounterSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearFrom shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.
CollectionsNov 05, 2026
Judi Powers, Russell Jones Unleash Joy With New CollaborationThe designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to SellWith customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.
Weekly QuizNov 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday ServicesThe lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia AirportA Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on DesignNew collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.
Events & AwardsNov 04, 2026
NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition YetThe citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New PresidentLanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet GiveawayTo enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
David Yurman Gem Awards Grant Opens 2027 ApplicationsThe grant recipient will be awarded $50,000 as well as mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman and other industry executives.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Name 2026 Scholarship WinnersThe winners include a non-NAJA member seeking training, a member beginning NAJA courses, and a member becoming a Certified Master Appraiser.
CrimeNov 02, 2026
Customs Seizes More Than 400 Fake Audemars Piguet WatchesIt is one of several seizures of counterfeit jewelry and watches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Louisville this year.
MajorsNov 02, 2026
Lawrence Bock, Caryl Capeci, Amanda Coleman-Phelps Join JA Board Jewelers of America announced the additions to its board of directors following its annual general meeting, held last week.
CollectionsNov 02, 2026
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, Heller Jewelers Expand ‘Always Dream’ CollectionThe jewelry collection supports Yamaguchi’s Always Dream foundation, which provides reading and educational resources to families in need.
Events & AwardsOct 30, 2026
Illuminating Carved Paraiba Pendant, Suite of Moonstones Wow at Spectrum AwardsSpectrum’s “Best of Show” honors went to a 101-carat Paraiba carved to look like Medusa that has a magnet-activated LED light.
TrendsOct 30, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Pendants Say ‘Eye’m Watching You’Our Halloween Pieces of the Week are four “Eye” pendants, each set with colorful gemstones.
MajorsOct 30, 2026
The RealReal Hires Former eBay Exec as New Chief Merchandising OfficerAlexis Hoopes expanded eBay’s “Authenticity Guarantee” program during her tenure.
WatchesOct 29, 2026
Bucherer Opens Rolex Boutique in Washington StateThe Rolex-owned retailer’s new 4,700-square-foot store’s façade honors the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen forests.
TrendsOct 29, 2026
Amanda's Style File: All Treats, No Tricks Get into the Halloween spirit with this roundup of 13 spooky jewels.
MajorsOct 29, 2026
Gesswein Hires Longtime Bench Jeweler, Educator Ann CahoonCahoon was appointed strategic account and educational program manager at Gesswein, which recently joined Continental Buying Group.
MajorsOct 29, 2026
Amanda Seyfried Stars In Tiffany & Co.’s Holiday CampaignTiffany & Co.’s latest ambassador makes her debut in its “Love Is a Gift” holiday campaign.
EditorsOct 28, 2026
These Wicked Jewels Will Cast a Spell on YouFor her annual Halloween story, Senior Editor Lenore Fedow highlights bewitching jewels fit for a witch that go from day to unholy night.
