34kg pearl found in Philippines 'is world's biggest'

The giant pearl is said to weigh 34kg (74lb)Aileen Cynthia Amurao/SWNS.com

Philippine officials believe they may have recovered the biggest natural giant clam pearl in the world - weighing a whopping 34kg (5.2 stone).

The pearl was found 10 years ago by a fisherman who was unaware of its value and kept it as a good luck charm, Palawan official Aileen Amurao said.

"We were amazed when he brought it to us," she told local media.

Officials are awaiting confirmation from gemologists that the find is indeed the world's largest pearl.

The pearl is 1ft (30.5cm) wide and 2.2ft long and, if confirmed, will easily beat the current record holder, the Pearl of Lao Tzu, which weighs 6.4kg.

Tridacna Gigas, or Giant Clams spew water in a small sanctuary on January 23, 2004 near Bolinao in the Northern Philippines.Getty Images

Giant clams can weigh up to 400kg

Things that weigh about as much as the newly discovered pearl

1. An Afghan hound

An Afghan Hound is led on the third day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 7, 2015 in Birmingham, EnglandGetty Images

Afghan hounds should weigh between 26-34kg

2. An Olympic gymnast

Asuka Teramato performing at the Rio OlympicsEPA

Japan's Asuka Teramoto weighed in at 37kg in Rio

3. A really big cheese

A picture taken on February 15, 2008 shows a worker checking a wheel of seasoned Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in a factory in Valestra, near Reggio EmiliaAFP

A wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese normally weighs about 38kg