Last August a family vacationing in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware found an extremely rare purple pearl while eating in the restaurant Salt Air.

Was this a hoax?

"This is a natural, saltwater, non-nacreous pearl produced from a northern quahog clam. So natural pearls are always rare, especially for gem quality ones with attractive color and symmetrical shapes." said the Senior Manger of Pearl Identification at the Gemological Institute of America, Chunhui Zhou.

Pearls are grown in oysters, clams, and mussels, but are rarely seen in clams. Clams produce non nacreous pearls. They are composed of calcite rather than nacre and aragonite as are oyster (saltwater) and mussel (freshwater) pearls. Their surface has a porcelain sheen, not the luster of other nacreous pearls. They are most rare because they cannot be cultivated, as are 95% of nacreous pearls. 

GIA confirmed that Scott Overland had found a natural clam pearl. Joshua Hyman, a fourth generation jeweler and owner of Philadelphia Jewelry Appraisers, valued the pearl at $4071.. This price is several thousand dollars above which clam pearls usually sell. This bright lavender pearl appraised highly for its gem quality beauty.

Scott says that he will keep the pearl for now.

My brother owns a sister restaurant to Salt Air in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware called Sazio. He would be delighted if you had some clams with him...