An Antiques Roadshow guest was left in tears after discovering the true value of a family jewellery set she had long believed was just “cheap ruby.”
During Sunday’s episode of the BBC show, jewellery expert Susan Rumfitt examined two necklaces, a pair of earrings, and a matching brooch.
Admiring the collection, Susan said: “I love it when I see two boxes and be able to reveal inside two beautiful necklaces, and this one includes a pair of earrings and a brooch.”
She then asked the guest: “How did they come into your family collection?”
Admiring the collection, Susan said: 'I love it when I see two boxes and be able to reveal inside two beautiful necklaces'
BBC
The guest explained: “When I was 18 years old, my maternal grandmother gave me this. She took me to the jeweller’s to have my ears pierced, to my mother’s horror. That was for the necklace and earrings.”
Susan responded: “How wonderful. That’s quite a present isn’t it?”
Believing the jewellery to be nothing more than costume pieces, the guest admitted: “It was just costume jewellery, that’s what she told me.”
Turning her attention to the other necklace, she continued: “That’s my mother’s. I think she inherited it, possibly. I can’t really remember.”
Susan, pointing to the purple necklace, asked: “So you’re thinking that this is costume jewellery. What do you think the stones are in this one?”
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Believing the jewellery to be nothing more than costume pieces, the guest admitted: 'It was just costume jewellery, that’s what she told me'
BBC
The guest guessed: “I’m assuming it’s amethyst.”
Susan confirmed: “You’re absolutely right. Amethysts are the purple stones, and the white stones are white topaz.”
Then came the real surprise. Revealing the true value of the items, Susan said: “Values - the amethyst and white topaz necklace, if this came up for auction, an auction estimate of between £1,000 and £1,500.”
She added: “As for the garnet parure, a set of jewellery, absolutely lovely. At auction, because of the popularity of Georgian jewellery at the moment, auction estimates of £3,000 to £5,000.”
Stunned by the news, the guest gasped: “Oh my goodness, I didn’t know I was wearing anything like that.”
Stunned by the news, the guest gasped: 'Oh my goodness, I didn’t know I was wearing anything like that'
BBC
Susan continued: “Well, collectively, we’ve got an auction estimate of £4,000 to £6,500.”
Overcome with emotion, the guest began to cry, exclaiming: “Am I in a dream here? I don’t believe it’s true.”
Susan smiled and said: “We love to make dreams come true.”
Reflecting on the experience, the guest told the camera: “I didn’t even realise what costume jewellery was. I didn’t think about jewellery, I wasn’t into jewellery.”
She added: “In hindsight now, maybe she genuinely thought it was costume jewellery. I’ve no idea. I don’t know.”
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