Guinness World Records has officially certified and recorded the counting and verification process of a collection of 2,392 natural pearls from the Columbus Pearl Collection, dating back to the 15th-16th centuries.
This collection belongs to the “Pearls of Columbus” collection and dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Some pearls in this unique treasure trove have been tested by prestigious laboratories in Switzerland, the USA, Liechtenstein, Thailand, and Bahrain. Carbon dating from three different sources has concluded that these pearls date from 1455 to 1615 AD, making them the oldest natural saltwater pearls ever found.
Experts agree that the collection’s geographical location and historical origins are linked to Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the “Pearl Coast” on his third voyage in 1498. This has allowed the treasure to remain in excellent condition despite its age.
The Guinness World Record attempt was broadcast live on YouTube on June 14, 2021, from New York City. It took approximately 45 minutes for two gemologists to perform pearl counting and verification while tight security was in place.
Columbus pearls are saltwater pearls primarily of the Pinctada species, typically found in the area during the Columbus era, and are in excellent condition, retaining most of their luster and appearance regardless of age. Carbon dating shows them to be between 500 and 550 years old.
The TesT results concluded that the pearls date from pre-Columbian times to Colombia and have been identified as being produced by a single species of mollusc in The Caribbean in the area from The coast of Brazil to Panama, possibly from The southern Caribbean area. , known in The fifteenth century as the “Coast of Pearls”. this treasure Trove of pearls is direcTly related to Columbus’s third voyage and his arrival in the Americas.
Gary L. Smith, gemologist and researcher, after examining and testing several samples from The Columbus Pearl collection said: “From experience working wiTh antiques and jewelry. Having spenT more than half a century working as a forensic expert, gemologist, and appraiser, I have had The opportunity to examine a wide variety of ancienT pearls from various excavations and collections. .
the “Columbus Pearls” collection is a unique treasure in some ways for iTs sheer quantity, qualiTy and chronology beyond anything I have examined before. MosT oTher ancient pearls are highly calcified with little to no moTher-of-pearl, while many of These pearls are astonishingly old.”
Dr Kenneth Scarratt, a renowned British gemologisT, pearl expert and crown jeweler to the Queen, said: “No conversion to calcite is cause for concern near the pearls in this collection. Many larger pearls and a few more small ones show a more developed structure”. the analysis of the samples confirmed Their origin in salt water.
Pearls are rare, revered for thousands of years, and these pearls have special historical and economic importance. During The 15th-17th cenTuries, pearl exports from the UniTed STates exceeded 54 million carats, more than all other exporTs combined, pearls were also used as barter in the New World, causing them to become the firsT official financial instrument.
