Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says she ‘won’t wear’ her jewelry anymore after finding out its value (marketrealist.com)
A “priceless” piece of jewelry just got a whole lot more precious! An Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned to learn the true value of a necklace she inherited, a necklace she admitted to wearing frequently.
The necklace, composed of various glass pieces strung together, initially impressed experts with its 18th-century craftsmanship. However, the real shock came when they identified the glass pieces themselves as relics from the Roman Empire, dating back to the 1st century AD.
The guest, who inherited the necklace from her mother, knew little of its history beyond its passage through her family. Experts explained that the glass fragments originated from Roman bowls, jugs, and other vessels, likely excavated and later repolished by collectors.
This repolishing technique, mirroring Roman practices, brought out the vibrant colors within the glass, a method lost after the fall of the Roman Empire and rediscovered only in the 19th century. The expert emphasized the rarity and value of such complete Roman glass pieces, many of which are now prized museum artifacts.
The necklace’s appraisal left the guest speechless. Estimated to be worth between $7,955 and $13,260, the once-casual accessory now holds a significant value. Overwhelmed, the guest declared, “I definitely won’t wear it now!”