The Giga Pearl - The World's Largest Natural Pearl - Resurfaces in Toronto

It's been a while since I last wrote about the Giga Pearl! To be exact, my last blog was in July of 2019 after the Giga Pearl was unveiled to the public. Because of the attention through the Toronto newsfeeds, the Giga Pearl quickly got picked up by the international media like the BBC.

For those who are not familiar with the Giga Pearl, it is the world's largest GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) certified natural pearl. It weighs an incredible 27.65 Kg (61 lbs) and sits in a custom-made bronze octopus mount created by Buffalo-based artist Bethany Krull. The Giga Pearl's owner is Mr. Abraham Reyes, and it was passed down to him as a family heirloom. Over the years, I have been assisting Mr. Reyes as an art advisor.

But of course after the Giga Pearl's introduction to the world, the pandemic occurred and this massive specimen had to go into hibernation for a couple of years. (Note: the Giga Pearl did end up getting its own wikipedia page and got certified in the 2021 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest non-nacreous pearl!)

As friends of Mr. Reyes would know, he has a profound love for collecting pearls, gemstones and Asian art. During the pandemic years, he developed himself as an artist that combines each of these elements.

So in 2025, Mr. Reyes produced his first solo exhibtion titled 'Beneath the Surface' which runs from February 18 to March 18 at Avante Garde (by private appointment only). This show contains artwork that Mr. Reyes created during and after the pandemic years.

In the exhibition, the focus is to allow the viewer 'to reconsider what we often define as rare and valuable'. Based on his love for pearls and gemstones, including diamonds, sapphires and rubies, Mr. Reyes uses these natural wonders of the world and applies them directly to his works. In addition to the objects' obvious intrinsic worth, he attempts to showcase their innate beauty and imperfections as well.

Image 1. The introduction to 'Beneath the Surface' with Mr. Reyes' work 'Eruption' (2022) which is made of 100 natural pearls, rubies, emeralds, multicolour tourmaline and glass shards.

Image 2. A view of the gallery with a whole series of works encrusted by pearls and precious gemstones. (Photo courtesy of George Pimentel)

Image 3. 'Sacred Beauty Series' (2022) which is made of natural pearls, rubies, natural crushed diamonds and metalwork. (Photo courtesy of George Pimentel) These works are a dialogue between the sacrifice and violence of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

Image 4. A group of natural pearls from Mr. Reye's collection. (Photo courtesy of George Pimentel)

Image 5. A group of Sung Dynasty Vessels. These objects are from Mr. Reye's private collection and are in fact historical objects from China's Sung (Song) Dynasty (AD 960-1279). These were exported throughout Southeast Asia as daily utilitarian wares.

Mr Reyes added some gold leaf to one of these vessels to transform what would be a common household item into a contemporary work of art.

Image 6a. An 'artsy' photo of myself taking a photo with 'Forbidden' (2024).

Image 6b. 'Forbidden' (2024) is constructed of thorns, rough and faceted rubies, cabochon garnets, and glass shards. This work plays on the dichotomies of desire and restraint.

Image 7a. Another 'artsy' photo of myself taking a photo with 'Belief' (2022).

Image 7b. 'Belief' (2022) is made of a natural blister pearl, natural pearls, rubies, amethyst, and metalwork. This work is the focal point of the 'Sacred Beauty Series'.

Image 8a. And finally, the focal point of the 'Beneath the Surface' exhibtion is the Giga Pearl! (Photo courtesy of George Pimentel) This shot was taken by the professional photographer prior to the exhibition's opening.

Image 8b. A photo of myself taking a photo of the Giga Pearl amidst the heavy security presence. Those are actual Toronto police officers!

Image 8c. A photo of myself and Mr. Abraham Reyes with the Giga Pearl.

Since 'Beneath the Surface' started, there were numerous Toronto online articles about Mr. Reyes and his artwork. But of course most of the attention is focused on the Giga Pearl! Some of these include (with current updates):

• CBC, February 14, 2025 'World's Largest Pearl', Valued at $140M, Returns to Toronto'

• Breakfast Television, February 18, 2025 'This Toronto-based Art Exhibit Showcases a Pearl Worth $140M'

• CTV News, March 3, 2025 '$140 Million, 1,000-Year-Old Pearl Returns to Toronto'

• Toronto Star, April 5, 2025 'World's Largest Natural Pearl Was Part of Toronto Art Opening'

So what's next for the Giga Pearl? I asked Mr. Reyes about this and he says he is trying to make up for lost time because of the pandemic. In addition to showcasing the Giga Pearl, he intends to present his artwork to a global audience. So hopefully there will be more opportunities for his wonderful artwork and the Giga Pearl to be showcased over the coming months and years!

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog and if you haven't done so, please follow me on my Instagram feed @anthonywuart. You can also read more about Mr. Reyes' artwork on his website Abraham Reyes Art.