Parelvisserij in Panama

In the 16th century Panama and other Central American countries played an important role in pearl-diving. The most famous specimen found was the Peregrina, a large pearl in droplet form. It was handed over and herited in royal and noble families from the early 16th century until it was bought in 1969 by the film actor Richard Burton for his wife Elizabeth Taylor. Shortly after 2011 for US $10.5 billion the pearl went into anonymous possession. In the early 20th century pearl-fishing in Panama was succeeded by fishing the shells of pearl oysters for the pearl button industry. This activity has now become extinct.