The Abernethy pearl, also known as the Little Willie pearl, is a freshwater pearl discovered in the River Tay of

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

, Scotland in 1967. The pearl is named after its discoverer, William Abernethy (1925–2021). It was previously known as Bill's pearl. The Abernethy pearl was produced by a mussel belonging to the species ''

Margaritifera margaritifera The freshwater pearl mussel (''Margaritifera margaritifera'') is an endangered species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Margaritiferidae. Although the name "freshwater pearl mussel" is often used for this species, ...

''. It is spherically shaped and coloured white with a slightly pink overtone. The pearl was reportedly valued at £10,000 in 1967 (). It is now displayed at the A&G Cairncross in Perth.

References

{{Mineral-stub Individual pearls