34kg pearl found in Philippines 'is world's biggest'
- Published
Philippine officials believe they may have recovered the biggest natural giant clam pearl in the world - weighing a whopping 34kg (5.2 stone).
The pearl was found 10 years ago by a fisherman who was unaware of its value and kept it as a good luck charm, Palawan official Aileen Amurao said.
"We were amazed when he brought it to us," she told local media.
Officials are awaiting confirmation from gemologists that the find is indeed the world's largest pearl.
The pearl is 1ft (30.5cm) wide and 2.2ft long and, if confirmed, will easily beat the current record holder, the Pearl of Lao Tzu, which weighs 6.4kg.
Giant clams can weigh up to 400kg
Things that weigh about as much as the newly discovered pearl
1. An Afghan hound
Afghan hounds should weigh between 26-34kg
2. An Olympic gymnast
Japan's Asuka Teramoto weighed in at 37kg in Rio
3. A really big cheese
A wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese normally weighs about 38kg