Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘oh my word’ after expert revealed the value of her Tiffany necklace (marketrealist.com)
Local Woman’s Heirloom Necklace Turns Out to be $100,000 Tiffany Treasure
A local woman received the shock of a lifetime on PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” when her great-grandmother’s necklace, passed down for generations, was appraised for a staggering $40,000. The stunning piece, which the owner had treasured for over 35 years, was ultimately revealed to be the work of famed jeweler Louis Comfort Tiffany and later sold for an astounding $100,000.
The guest, whose name was not disclosed, brought the necklace and a painted portrait of her great-grandmother wearing it to the show. She shared with appraiser Jill Burgum that her great-grandmother lived from 1864 to 1926 and was believed to be quite wealthy at the time. Beyond that, the owner knew little about the necklace’s origins.
Burgum identified the necklace as a rare and beautiful piece from the early 1900s, likely between 1900 and 1908. She highlighted the exquisite detail on both the front and back of the necklace, drawing attention to the striking black opal centerpiece.
Burgum explained that black opals are considerably rarer and more expensive than the more common white opals. She also noted the presence of Russian demantoid garnets, the rarest form of green garnet.
Burgum initially appraised the necklace at $8,000 to $10,000 as a piece of historic jewelry, leaving the owner in stunned silence. The appraisal climbed to $15,000 to $20,000 with the possibility of it being a Tiffany creation.
To confirm its provenance, Burgum recommended sending the necklace to the Tiffany archives for authentication. A positive identification, she explained, would increase the value to $30,000 to $40,000.
In a heartwarming update, the show later revealed that the necklace was indeed confirmed as a Tiffany & Co. piece, although no similar item existed in their archives. While the archives offered to purchase the necklace for $25,000, the owner initially declined. Through further research and with Burgum’s assistance, the necklace was definitively attributed to Louis Comfort Tiffany himself.
The necklace was eventually sold in 2013 in a heated bidding war that drove the final price up to an incredible $100,000. This remarkable story highlights the hidden treasures that can be found within families and the importance of expert appraisal.