Couple Finds Rare Pearl in Clam Dinner

Purple pearl at local restaurant could be worth thousands
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 2, 2008 4:00 AM CST
Couple Finds Rare Pearl in Clam Dinner
Leslie and George Brock pose with a rare purple pearl found while eating a plate of steamed clams at Dave's Last Resort in Lake Worth, Fla. Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. At least one expert said the find could be worth thousands of dollars. (AP Photo/The Post, Bruce R. Bennett)   (Associated Press)

A Florida couple found an extremely rare purple pearl in their steamed clam dinner that could turn out to be worth thousands of dollars. The two stopped for seafood at a local restaurant when the man bit down on something hard in one of his middleneck clams. When cleaned off, it turned out to be a small purple pearl.

Purple clam pearls are exceedingly unusual and some have been valued as high as $25,000, though an expert guesses this one is worth more like $1,000-$1,500, based on a photo of the find. The diners are having their pearl appraised and say if it's valuable they'll sell it and use the money to retire early or help animals. (More pearls stories.)

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