BBC Antiques Roadshow’s Joanna Hardy sparks gasps from crowd as she slaps huge price tag on family brooch
BBC Antiques Roadshow’s Joanna Hardy elicited gasps from onlookers after revealing a huge price tag on a family brooch.
The exciting news was announced in an episode from March 2024, scheduled to be repeated on Sunday evening.
“There’s nothing better to brighten up a rainy day than by bringing me a beautiful brooch,” Hardy beamed as she greeted the guest on the BBC Antiques Roadshow.
The woman explained the origins of the brooch. stating: “I inherited it from my grandmother in 2003 when she passed away. Gran had had a gold ring – a Roman ring – which was unfortunately stolen from her house in Dublin in the mid-1960s.
“She received some insurance money, and at the time, my mum was at school with a girl called Madeline Grima. So she suggested to Granny, ‘Why don’t you think about perhaps buying a piece of Grima jewellery?’
“Granny bought this piece, wore it often, and when she died, she left it to me.”
Hardy’s face lit up as she began to explain the jewel’s history.
“Andrew Grima was a very important person in the 60s – he was sort of like the godfather of the modern jewellery world. Up until 1960, jewellery had been quite tired; there was no innovation, it was very samey, very dull.
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“Andrew Grima joined his father-in-law’s workshop, HJ and Co, in the late 40s. Then one day in the early 60s, these Brazilian gemstone dealers came into the workshop, opened their suitcase, and had these amazing big rocks from Brazil – all natural stones.
“Andrew saw these incredible stones and thought, ‘Why don’t we just use them as they are, rather than cutting them into various traditional cuts?’”
Hardy explained that Grima was known for his “free-spirited” designs, gushing over the beauty of the original piece.
She continued, admiring the brooch: “This piece is made in 18-carat yellow gold, and you’ve got platinum down the center here with a line of brilliant-cut diamonds, beautifully set. You can see how it’s all undulating—there’s so much movement in the brooch.
“On the back, we have hallmarks for HJ and Co, Andrew’s father-in-law’s workshop, and it’s got the date letter for 1965.
“It’s really, really quite stunning; it’s very beautiful. It’s always such a thrill to be able to see a Grima jewel.”
The woman also brought a photograph, sparking curiosity from Hardy.
“That’s my grandmother,” the woman explained, “This was taken in their house in Mayo in 1970.”
Hardy observed: “I love the way she’s wearing the brooch—it’s quite high up.”
Then she made a revelation, surprising the crowd that had gathered around them beneath their umbrellas.
“I would say at auction you’re probably looking at around five to seven thousand pounds,” Hardy said, sparking audible “ooh’s” from the onlookers.
The woman looked visibly shocked, uttering a quiet “Okay… wow.”