World's largest freshwater pearl worth $632,000

The world's largest freshwater pearl is set to go up for sale at the Venduehuis auction house in The Hague, Netherlands on May 31, according toCNN. Named "Sleeping Lion" due to its unique shape, this rare natural pearl weighs nearly 120 grams and is 7 centimeters long. The Sleeping Lion has an estimated value of $632,000.

In addition to its size and lion-like shape, the pearl is also famous for its 300-year history, passing through the hands of many European merchants, nobles and royalty. The Sleeping Lion originated in China, and is believed to have been formed between 1700 and 1760 during the Qing Dynasty, according to Venduehuis. After discovering the pearl, Dutch merchants brought it to Batavia, now Jakarta, and then shipped it to Europe.

The Sleeping Lion was first sold at auction in 1778 after the death of its wealthy owner, a merchant from the Dutch East India Company, and was acquired by Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. The pearl resurfaced in Poland in the mid-19th century and was purchased by a jeweler working for Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy.

After passing through the hands of several European jewelers, the pearl came to the Amsterdam Pearl Society in 1979. "What makes this object even more interesting is that it has come a long way since the 18th century," said Peter Meefout, director of the Venduehuis auction house.

In recent decades, the pearl has become the subject of study by both historians and gemologists. A 2014 study published in the journal Gemology found that while the Sleeping Lion’s size and shape are unusual, its internal layering is consistent with naturally occurring freshwater pearls.