The earliest mention of pearls comes over 4,000 years ago in Chinese history books. There is no official date of when the first pearl was taken from a shell but they are mentioned in nearly every culture's history. Because this is one of the oldest gemstones known to man, it comes as no surprise that some pearls have managed to stand above the rest and make their own footprint in the history books. Some of these famous pearls are known because of their size, who wore them or who discovered them. All of the pearls remembered in history have something unique that gives them legendary status.

One of the first famous pearls is the Abernathy Pearl. It was found in 1967 in the River Tay in Scotland by Bill Abernathy. Abernathy was a professional pearl diver and was in the river doing just that. The River Tay is known for very odd shaped mussels which can create very beautiful pearls. The people of Scotland scoured their rivers for centuries trying to find pearls. Many freshwater pearls were found but none quite like the Abernathy Pearl. The pearl that Bill Abernathy pulled out of the river was 44 grains or about 14 carats. A natural freshwater pearl of this size is an extremely rare find.

Another pearl that history notes is Big Pink Pearl. This pearl was found by a diver in California's Salt Point State Park. This pearl is listed by the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest natural abalone pearl ever found. Abalone pearls are often considered some of the most beautiful pearls in the world. They are very asymmetrical and have an intense luster with a multitude of colors. The Big Pink Pearl weighs an incredible 470 carats and was valued at $4.7 million dollars in 1991.

Perhaps one of the most famous freshwater pearls is the Hope Pearl. It is the largest saltwater pearl ever discovered weighing in at 450 carats. The Hope Pearl is a white drop-shaped pearl measuring an astonishing 2 inches by 4 inches. This pearl is named for Henry Philip Hope who acquired this pearl sometime in the 19th century. He was also the one-time owner of the magnificent Hope Diamond. The Hope Pearl is currently on display at the British Museum of Natural History.

A pearl found off the coast of Panama in the 16th century makes its own mark in history. Known as La Peregrina or “The Pilgrim” this pearl was at one time, one of the most celebrated gemstones. Weighing about 65 carats, La Peregrina was known not only for its size but its gorgeous white coloring and near perfect and unique pear shape. After the gem was discovered it was taken directly to King Phillip II who gave it to his bride, Queen Mary of Spain, as a wedding gift. Throughout the years this pearl was passed down by royalty until 1969 when Richard Burton purchased the pearl as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor, who is a known pearl lover and one who actively popularized Tahitian pearls, owns La Peregrina still today.