Fan of clam chowder? You will be after reading this!
Clams are known for the popular soup mentioned above, as well as their production of pearls. One lucky police officer got a dose of both when he found a rare lavender quahog pearl in his chowder.
Just how rare are these pearls? Only four other quahog pearls are known to have been found since 2002, all found accidentally while eating or cleaning clams. They are lustrous, lavender and big enough to mount on a ring.
This particular saltwater pearl is 6.22 carats, measuring 11.43 x 8.36 mm. It was found several years ago, but sold earlier this year to a Japanese collector for $16,500.
Courtesy of Kovels and Antique Trader