World's largest pearl, valued at $140M, returns to Toronto

This Family Day long weekend, a one-of-a-kind gemstone will be on display in Toronto for the first time in years.

The Giga Pearl is the world's largest natural pearl, as certified by the Gemological Institute of America, and worth more than $140 million.

Abraham Reyes, who lives in Toronto, owns the pearl, which was passed to him in 2019 as a family heirloom from his great aunt, who was gifted the giant clam containing the pearl by Reyes's grandfather, who in turn bought it from a fisherman in the Philippines. 

It was given as part of the Filipino custom of "pasalubong," Reyes told CBC Toronto.

"It's like a souvenir," he said. "Tokens that you bring to us … (My great aunt's) requests were these giant clams. They were normally used in gardens back in the day for decorations or even as planters."

At 27.65 kilograms and 138,254 carats, the Giga Pearl holds the Guinness World Record as the largest natural pearl composed of calcite. Reyes's inherited the pearl in 2019, bringing it home from the Philippines to Mississauga, where he lived at the time. After that he took the Giga Pearl to the U.S. where it remained while it was appraised and authenticated. Now's it's back in the GTA to be displayed at a private show on Feb. 15.

"I wanted to educate people about it," Reyes said. "A lot of people don't know that these giant clams exist because they're endemic in the South Pacific. So this is something fascinating for people here in Toronto."

Viewing the Giga Pearl is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Katherine Thatcher, an art appraiser and jewelry-maker based in Scottsdale, Arizona, told CBC Toronto.

"It's a one of one specimen," she said. " I would be surprised if there's another one even being developed right now, naturally." 

Thatcher was hired to appraise the pearl in 2022. The process involved researching the value of all kinds of pearls, including those known for their size or otherwise famous to the public. She also looked into the value of other natural history items, including the largest dinosaur skeleton, gold nugget and meteorite.

"That was a big research project … because when you're appraising a natural history specimen like that, that's one-of-a-kind, you need to look at every angle," Thatcher said.

The private showing of the Giga Pearl also serves as the launch of an exhibit created by Reyes, titled Beneath the Surface. 

The artworks showcased in the exhibit were created by Reyes, who crafted them from natural gems and pearls that he inherited from family or has collected himself.  

"It highlights themes of natural and cultural complexity, exploring the intersection of history, resilience, and the forces that define what is rare and valuable," Reyes said.