Pearls Hidden for Centuries

by Dave Hunt
(The Times-Union)

Even by a conservative estimate, pearls hidden for centuries in the ocean in a small lead box have helped a Jacksonville native's $1 million discovery double in value.

Keith Webb said he was amazed at the box's contents. The 1973 Englewood High School grad, who keeps residences in Clay County and the Keys, is owner of Blue Water Ventures, a company that found the treasure last weekend offshore from Key West.

"Man, once we opened it up - black pearls, white pearls, pearls as big as a grape," Webb said.

The lead box was among gold and artifacts Webb's crew unloaded Thursday. The booty, initially valued at $1 million, was collected at the wreck site of the Santa Margarita, a Spanish ship that went down during a hurricane in 1622.

Mathewson said the pearls likely were brought aboard off the coast of Venezuela before the Santa Margarita's captain piloted the ship toward Havana to rendezvous with the fleet.



Read entire article and see photos here.

Francisqui Island, Los Roques National Park, Venezuela
Framed Photographic Print

Sanford, Eric


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