The famous Scottish Abernethy Pearl at 14 carat will be auctioned off on August 21, 2024 by Lyon & Turnbull auction house.

This August, Lyon & Turnbull presents The Cairncross Collection. The Abernethy Pearl from renowned Scottish Jewellers Cairncross of Perth.

I took this photo of the Abernethy pearl when I saw in at Cairncross jewelry store in Perth, Scotland.

Abernethy pearl - photo by Kari

Established in 1869, Cairncross of Perth quickly gained a reputation as a family jeweller, known for their fine quality jewellery and bespoke commissions. They became synonymous with Scottish pearl jewellery, sourcing an unparalleled collection over the years. The Abernethy Pearl, famous as the largest Scottish freshwater pearl found in living history, is a unique piece of Scottish history. Discovered in 1967 by Bill Abernethy, and affectionately known as ‘Little Willie’, alongside antique and contemporary jewellery The Cairncross Collection offers a final opportunity to obtain a piece of Perthshire, or indeed Scottish, history.

Here's a link to the official Lyon & Turnbull auction website and where you can register to bid: https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/auctions/the-cairncross-collection-796

If you browse through the sale catalog, you'll see starting on page 31 several other Scottish pearl jewelry pieces including two strands of Natural Scottish River Pearls.

You can read about my visit to see this pearl in person here: https://www.karipearls.com/scottish-natural-pearl-little-willie-abernethy-pearl.html

Also on that page are two short videos about Bill Abernethy who found this historic pearl.

John Lochtie, at Cairncross, also showed me this necklace he has been putting together of special round Scottish pearls and said he'd never finish it because no more Scottish pearls are being found.

Scottish River Pearls - photos by Kari

Perhaps these are now in the strands for sale.

More information about the Abernethy pearl is on this page on my site: https://www.karipearls.com/abernathy-pearl.html

I know the spelling of Abernethy is incorrect on this page but I had already built it long before I realized that and then discovered that sometimes folks search for a misspelling anyway, so decided to leave it as is with a few corrections in parentheses.

I'm glad I can share with you the possibility to own this famous pearl.

Maybe one of you will be the new owner.

God bless and thank you for being a part of KariPearls.