The most famous and largest pearls in the world

In the world there are many gems that have, as people names. Usually their trail runs on the history through the ages and countries. People collect jewels and stones "collect" hosts. Some boast a very decent set of historical celebrities. In this collection the story of the largest and most famous pearls in the world.

Pellegrin (Pellegrin)

This jewel is one of the most mysterious in the history, its location is not known today. Unique jewelry has always been called "sister" another famous pearls - "Peregrine." Because of the similarity of names and forms (both have an almost perfect pear) they are still often confused. Pellegrin was a real "gem" collections of the Yusupov family. It is known that at one time it was owned by the Spanish King Philip IV, who in the 17th century gave it to his daughter Maria Theresa. There is a legend that Grigory Rasputin asked once Prince Felix of his two incomparable pearls - his wife Irina and Pellegrino, and that, allegedly, it was under this pretext, he was invited to the palace of Yusupov.

The Princess Zinaida Yusupova and family jewel Pellegrin in the portrait of Francois Flamengo and photos

Most likely, after the revolution Yusupov managed to take this jewel abroad, and in 1953 the pearl was sold to Prince Felix Geneva jeweler Jean Lombard.

Felix and Irina Yusupov in Paris Photo 1960

Peregrine ( "Wandering Pearl" or "Wanderer")

"Wanderer" - older sister Yusupov "Pelegrin" can undoubtedly be considered the most famous historical pearl. She was found in the XVI century off the coast of Panama. According to legend, a servant who is so lucky was rewarded freedom. The first owner of the rarity became King Philip II of Spain. Then the pearl several times changed their kings and queens, Mary Tudor, Margaret of Austria, Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte and Napoleon III of, wife of Hamilton ... is a story about the fact that the latter lost treasure twice - at a ball at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle on the couch. They explain this by the fact that the pearl was too heavy and just falls out of all frames.

Portrait of Mary Tudor with a pearl "Peregrine"

Then the times have changed and the Queen - in the XX century pearl owned by Elizabeth Taylor. It is, incidentally, also once lost a jewel in the hotel room "Caesars-Palace". I found a historic gem in the mouth of her beloved puppy. After that film star I decided not to risk it. Along with the jewelry house Cartier itself Elizabeth came up with a unique design pearl diamond necklace, the main decoration of which is La Peregrina. After the death of the actress, in 2011, this beauty was sold under the hammer for 11.8 million dollars.

Elizabeth Taylor and the famous necklace with pearl "Peregrine"

The Pearl Gogibusa

A shining jewel that has not quite correct pear-shaped, but very big - it weighs about 130 carats. His name she received in honor of the brave merchant Francois Gogibusa, who acquired it in the West Indies, and brought back to Spain in 1620. According to legend, the merchant has put in the treasure all his fortune, and offered to buy her the Spanish King Philip IV. When the king asked the traveler, how he was not afraid to spend all your savings on a single stone, he replied: "Because I knew that the King of Spain have to buy it from me." Philip had no choice but how to pay for curiosity and paste it into your crown.

This jewel is considered the largest pearl in Europe, while in the XVIII century was not lost. However, in 2010, she suddenly showed up on eBay and sold for $ 3 million.

God Pearl (Pearl of Lao Tzu)

This is a unique creation of nature was found relatively recently - in 1934, but it is already overgrown with legends no worse than most of the historical jewels. If you collect all that thought out of her, it turns out that this is the jewel, which tried a couple of thousand years ago to grow the famous founder of Taoism Lao Tzu. He allegedly put into the shell-pearl jade amulet with a picture of three faces: Confucius, Buddha, and his own, to get a unique gem, and commanded his disciples to follow this process. Those transferred pearl as sprouting all into larger shells, but then the jewel had been lost at sea during a storm. However, scientists who have studied a rarity, does not support this version, since, according to them, this jewel of not more than 600 years.

The next round is already legends associated with our time. A huge pearl was found near the Philippines, and allegedly cost the lives of a young diver. Giant clam clams shut, his hand ached. When the locals found the body pulled from the sea and a huge sink inside found a pearl weighing almost 6, 5 kilograms. Mullah of local mosque saw in her intricate irregular shape of human head in a turban and called the "Pearl of Allah". Despite the fact that the pearl is not a conventional pearl luster, its value today is estimated at $ 40 million. The exact storage location of the treasure is not known, there is only evidence that it is in New York.

The new record holder

But the 6-pound "sea tears" - is not the limit. Several years ago, The Daily Mail reported that in the same place, in the Philippines, the pearl was found weighing 34 kg! The dimensions of the new record holder are 67 cm long and 30 cm wide. This natural wonder, supposedly, had been taken from a fisherman for about 10 years ago. This person is probably not inclined to money-grubbing, just kept her house as a talisman. We saw her only other people in a fire in the house of the lucky ones. Jewel left in the city, where it is available for inspection until the examination is being conducted. its cost can be $ 100 million.