BBC Antiques Roadshow expert reduces guest to tears as she slaps unexpected five-figure value on family heirloom
A guest on this Sunday’s Antiques Roadshow broke down as her treasured family heirloom was considered worth an incredible five-figure sum.
This Sunday, the Roadshow travelled to the Botanic Gardens in Belfast to appraise the treasures brought to them by guests.
Jewellery expert Susan Rumfitt’s eye was caught by two “beautiful” pieces of jewellery, a cut diamond brooch and a pearl pendant accompanied by a photograph of a woman.
“Little bit of magic here today. Pearls in the pendant, diamonds in the brooch, and a rather glamorous lady. Tell me about her,” the expert began excitedly.
The guest answered: “She’s my grandmother, her name was Irene Picks, and she married my grandfather before the First World War, and he was killed in France at the very, very beginning of the war.”
Tragedy turned to happiness for the guest’s elegant “theatre girl” grandmother as she returned to England to marry a man named Robin Buxton.
“He probably gave her these jewels, and then my father gave them to me after my grandmother died,” the guest explained.
The charming origin was only a part of the pieces’ appeal to Rumfitt, who glowed about the “absolutely gorgeous” brooch.
The guest revealed she does not like to wear the brooch “too often” as it is “too flashy”.
Rumfitt conceded the piece was a “big, bold statement” but added: “It’s so pretty with the delicate flower, the gorgeous cut diamonds.”
Despite having no maker’s mark, the expert could tell the brooch had been made by a “good jeweller”.
However, it was the two-drop “Lavaliere” pearl pendant that really drew Rumfitt’s trained eye.
She identified the piece used valuable natural pearls because of their differing size, shape and “beautiful lustre”.
To the guest’s surprise, Rumfitt revealed the pearls could additionally be unclipped and used as earrings.
The expert also suspected the piece had been made for a “special royal occasion” because of the silver coronet featured on the necklace.
When it came to appraising the pieces, the brooch was revealed to be worth between £5,000 and £7,000.
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“Wow… right. I wasn’t expecting that. Not at all,” the guest exclaimed happily.
However, Rumfitt grinned as she revealed the astonishing £20,000 to £30,000 value of the pearl necklace.
The crowd erupted in gasps and applause while the guest recoiled in shock.
“Oh my god. Never entered my head,” she uttered, holding back tears.
Rumfitt offered an arm to comfort the guest as she began to weep tears of joy and thank the expert for the joyous appraisal.