["News and Notes", Geraldton Guardian (WA), Thursday 07 February 1918, page 2]
...
A Valuable Pearl.
Recently some particulars were published regarding a wonderful pearl discovered on the North West coast of this State and exhibited in Melbourne. The pearl has been named "The Star of the West." Mr. James Clarke of the well known pearling firm of James Clarke & Coy are the finders of the pearl, stated in an interview that it was taken from the pearling grounds about three miles south of Broome, about three months ago, by one of hi luggers. It was sent to him at Brisbane and that is how the people of the East were the first to hear of the discovery. The pearl, which he says is from three quarters of an inch to an inch in length, was extracted from a young shell and for that reason the lustre was of a particular brilliance. In fact, Mr. Clarke says that in all his 37 years' experience he has not seen a pearl of equal lustre. But it has a fault, and that fault is sufficiet to detract from its value. One end has been cut of so that it is possible to stand the gem upright. This is sufficient to spoil, to a very large degree, what would otherwise have been a very remarkable and exceedingly valuable gem. Mr Clarke says that the reports of its valuable[sic] have been exaggerated, but that it would be very hard to place a value upon it. However, as he admits it is not for sale, the value is not causing him much concern at the present time.
