The world's largest freshwater pearl is valued at $632,000.

The world's largest freshwater pearl is set to be auctioned at the Venduehuis auction house in The Hague, Netherlands, on May 31, according to reports.CNNNamed "Sleeping Lion" due to its unique shape, this rare natural pearl weighs nearly 120 grams and is 7 cm long. Sleeping Lion is estimated to be worth $632,000.

Besides its lion-like size and shape, the pearl is also famous for its 300-year history, having passed through the hands of many European merchants, nobles, and royalty. The Sleeping Lion originates from China, believed to have formed between 1700 and 1760 during the Qing Dynasty, according to Venduehuis. After its discovery, Dutch merchants brought it to Batavia (present-day Jakarta) and then transported it to Europe.

The Sleeping Lion pearl was first auctioned in 1778 after the death of its owner, a wealthy merchant from the Dutch East India Company, and fell into the hands of Catherine the Great, the Russian empress. The pearl reappeared in Poland in the mid-19th century and was acquired by a jeweler who worked for Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy.

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

In recent decades, pearls have become the subject of study for both historians and gemologists. Research published in 2014 in the journal Gemology found that although the Sleeping Lion pearl's size and shape were quite unusual, its internal layering was consistent with naturally formed freshwater pearls.