Antiques Roadshow gem leaves shaking guest speechless | UK News

An Antiques Roadshow guest was left totally speechless after she learnt the true worth of her attractive hidden gem. The BBC antiques weekend program is cherished up and down the nation and rapidly turned a mainstay following its debut in 1979. The beloved show later spawned an American spin-off sequence for followers across the pond.

During a throwback episode, one loyal viewer introduced along a attractive diamond and sapphire brooch following the tragic death of a member of the family. She advised the jewellery skilled how she fell in love with the piece after she inherited it in her mom’s will.

She defined: “My mum passed away in 2009 and that when I inherited it. It was given to her by her mother, and I think it might have been my great-great-grandmother’s also. But otherwise, I don’t know anything about it.”

It was at this level that the skilled gave viewers an insight into the attractive brooch and it’s stunning hidden function. Expert Kaitlin defined: “It’s in the form of a star, and that form was very popular in the late 19th century.

“It was probably made about 1880. Now, the star form was common, what’s not common is all these colours used. That pink stone in the middle is a sapphire. A lot of people think that sapphires only come in blue, but it’s a really beautiful punk sapphire, one of the better ones that I’ve seen.

“And then it gets even better than that pink sapphire, they have put yellow diamonds inside it and then around those are white diamonds.” The intrigued skilled went on to share how the brooch could be worn as a pendant necklace with a stunning latch hidden at the back of the piece.

She revealed: “Also, what I like about his piece of jewelry is the back because it’s not just a brooch. It has a little retractable pendant loop that you can push up, and if you’ve ever noticed that pinwheel shape in the back, if you twist that, it unscrews the whole brooch fitting so that you can wear it as a pendant without the brooch part poking you.

“It’s a really great piece, and it’s an unusual piece and my suspicion is that it is American.” It was at this level that she revealed the eye-watering worth of the attractive piece, which left the proprietor “shaking”.

They introduced: “At auction, this would be estimated in the $30,000 (£22,533) to $50,000 (£37,555) range.” Completely shocked, the proprietor requested: “Oh my goodness, really? I am totally surprised. Oh my goodness, that’s amazing. How much did you say?”

The auctioneer pushed the worth up one other $30,000 and really useful that the doting mum take out insurance coverage on the once-in-a-lifetime piece.

She continued: “At public sale $30,000 (£22,533) to $50,000 (£37,555). If you’re going to insure it, I’d most likely insure it around $80,000 (£60,088)” as the owner confessed: “I’m shaking. Wow, Kaitlin, that’s wonderful. Thank you, oh my God, I can’t wait to inform my daughter.”