Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest gets a staggering valuation for jewelry that her mom never even wore (marketrealist.com)
A Surprise Inheritance on Antiques Roadshow
A recent episode of the BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow” featured a guest who received a stunning valuation for two pieces of jewelry she inherited from her mother – one of which her mother had never even worn!
The first item was a beautiful locket adorned with blue enamel, diamonds, and a central ruby. The guest confessed she loved wearing the piece, unaware of its potential value.
Experts identified it as an 18th-century revival piece, estimating its worth between $6,100 and $6,800. The guest was pleasantly surprised, admitting she hadn’t realized its significance.
The real showstopper, however, was a jeweled insect brooch. Passed down through the family, the guest believed it was originally purchased for her grandmother in the 1890s.
Experts confirmed its Victorian era origins, identifying it as a bumblebee brooch by renowned maker Lacloche Freres, a competitor of Cartier. The brooch, complete with its original box, featured a large sapphire, diamonds, and ruby eyes.
While the guest had previously appraised the brooch at $5,400, the “Antiques Roadshow” expert gave a jaw-dropping updated valuation of $13,000, leaving the guest speechless. The expert explained the significant increase in value was due to the brooch’s maker, the quality of the gemstones, and its overall desirability among collectors.