THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — The world’s largest known freshwater pearl, which once belonged to Catherine the Great, was sold Thursday in the Netherlands for 320,000 euros ($374,000), auction house Venduehuis said. Known as the Sleeping Lion pearl due to its distinctive shape, the pearl was likely formed in the first half of the 18th century in Chinese waters, possibly even the Pearl River. The auctioneers said the jewel weighs some 120 grams (around 4.2 […]





