Kublai Khan could fetch £4m at auction

The world’s largest natural pearl on the market is expected to fetch up to £4m (€5.85m) when it is auctioned at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace today.

More than three inches long, the Arco Valley Pearl has been passed down for 800 years, from Chinese emperors to Marco Polo. The name of its current owner is a secret. But today, hundreds of people will get the chance to buy in Abu Dhabi and on the internet

The 575-carat pearl from 12th century Mongolia once belonged to Chinese emperors, Persian kings, the grandson of Genghis Khan and Marco Polo.

The value of the saltwater pearl is based on its size, colour, weight, exclusivity, history and records of what people have been prepared to pay for similar precious items.

“It’s 800 years old and it still takes your breath away,” said Khaled al-Sayegh, 35, a jeweller from Abu Dhabi and chairman of the organising committee for the auction.

Arco Valley is only the biggest pearl up for sale in the world.

The 9.45-inch Pearl of Allah is the world’s largest. It was found by a diver off the Philippine island of Palawan in 1934 and is stored in a museum in that country.

The Arco Valley pearl, named after a previous owner from Austria’s Arco Valley family dynasty, is white with a touch of blue, mixed with pink and cream colours on its sides. It has been drilled three times: to fit among the jewels of an unknown woman’s tiara, to go with a ceremonial mandarin suit and to fit a crown or turban decorated with precious stones belonging to a Persian king. It has since been restored to its original shape.

Court documents prove the pearl was owned by Kublai Khan, the 13th century emperor of China and grandson of Genghis Khan. Experts believe Kublai Khan gave the pearl to Marco Polo as a gift.

At least 400 bidders from the Emirates, Gulf countries, China, India, Britain, the US and Tahiti are expected to attend the auction.