BBC Antiques Roadshow expert warns item could spark ‘mad’ bidding war as he slaps 5-figure value on jewel collection
John Benjamin struggled to contain his excitement when he joined Fiona Bruce and the rest of the Antiques Roadshow team back in 2023.
During the show, a wide range of items were brought to the team against the seaside backdrop, but it was a trio of diamond and sapphire jewels that piqued Benjamin’s interest.
In the classic instalment of Antiques Roadshow that will air once again this weekend, Benjamin was keen to learn more about the jewels – although he hit a brick wall when the owner admitted they had no idea about any of them.
“My father brought them for my mother sometime between the late-50s (or) early-70s,” the jewels’ owner explained before saying the only hunch she had was that the ring was Cartier.
Alongside the ring was a brooch and a clip, which Benjamin soon provided the backstory for.
“What you’ve brought along are three really wonderful pieces of 20th-century jewellery,” Benjamin praised as he began.
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Perusing each item individually, he continued: “This one here, the clip, (is from) the 1920s. This much bigger brooch is much more of the ’30s or maybe even the ’40s.
“This ring to me, that looks like it could be ’40s to ’50s period,” he added before delving further: “Shall we talk about the stones?
“The clip (is) aquamarine and diamond. You’ve got this rather geometric-looking front, old-cut diamond, and these aquamarines set in the frame.
“You turn it over and the clip itself which is hinged and lifts up, has got this wonderful pierced fretwork design.”
Next up was the brooch: “The double-clip brooch is worth turning over and looking at the back of it and you see you’ve got a mechanism for splitting out each of the individual clips to be worn on each lapel on your jacket… which is very much a style that was popular in the Deco era.
“But let’s just marvel at the content of that brooch,” he said in adoration. “Look at these beautifully matched sapphires, brilliantly cut diamonds in a stylised, continuous ribbon bow design. That is what is called a very grown-up piece of jewellery.”
Benjamin’s compliment prompted a joke from the owner who replied: “I’ll have to grow up then.”
After sharing a laugh, Benjamin turned his attention to the ring as he picked it up and confirmed it was indeed Cartier, made with 18-carat gold and complete with a platinum and diamond cluster at the front.
“That is the mark of one of the top jewellers in the world,” Benjamin praised before teasing: “And do you want some good news?”
“Do I need a chair?” the owner joked as she prepared for Benjamin’s evaluation.
“It’s very, very, very commercial today. So do you want some values?” he asked again, prompting the guest to reply: “I suppose I’d better had.”
Delivering his verdict, Benjamin said: “The aqua and diamond clip, certainly £3,000-4,000.
“The Cartier diamond and gold ring… do you know I think that’s going to go mad if people were to bid on that. I’m going to say at auction certainly between £4,000-6,000 for that one there.”
As the owner was visibly taken aback, Benjamin commented: “I haven’t quite finished…And then the sapphire and diamond brooch… £8,000-10,000!”
“Gosh. I had absolutely no idea,” the stunned owner admitted as Benjamin signed off: “I think we’re looking at £15,000-20,000 easy-peasy. Easy-peasy.”
Speaking to the camera after the appraisal, the owner revealed her future plans for the items.
“I had no idea that they were of that value. I may not sell the aquamarine and diamond, and I won’t sell the ring, but I will probably sell the brooch that breaks into two because I don’t wear that. What a good day,” she said.