When a Palawan island fisherman decided to move house he gave his Aunt, Aileen Cynthia Amurao, his belongings for safekeeping.
Ms Amurao, who works as a tourism officer for Puerto Princesa city, kept her nephew's charm on a bench at home for several weeks until she decided to check the internet to see what it might be.
After some research she discovered the 34kg, 67cm long object was the largest natural pearl ever recorded, and worth a phenomenal sum.
In the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pearl previously was a 718.50-carat baroque abalone pearl, 14cm long, 8cm wide and 4cm tall.
The fisherman had come into possession of the mammoth pearl while the anchor of his fishing boat dredged up a giant clam during a storm. On finding the huge pearl inside, he kept it under his bed in a wooden home and would touch it every morning before he went out fishing.
He decided against selling it and making him rich beyond his wildest dreams, instead he donated it to the mayor to put on display in order to attract tourists to the city.
In the interview, Ms Amurao said: “We were amazed when he brought it to us. We now need help from gemologists to fully certify it. We're waiting for authentication from Gemologist Institute and other international authorities.
“But we believe Puerto Princesca is likely [to] earn another prestigious title and a record breaker for having the world's biggest natural giant pearl from a giant clam."