DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Antiques Roadshow guest screams ‘oh my goodness!’ as she learns life-changing value of jewellery
This Antiques Roadshow guest received a life-changing gift in the form of diamonds
DURING an episode of the American version of Antiques Roadshow on PBS, jewellery expert Kevin Zavian was thrilled to see two expensive pieces of sparkly bling in the former of a diamond bracelet and diamond encrusted pearl ring.
The owner of the jewellery let out a scream after Kevin gave her a life-changing valuation much higher than she was expecting.
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The guest explained to Kevin that her husband was a rabbi and after officiating the funeral for the husband of a woman outside his congregation in Los Angeles; the pair became friendly with her.
They ended up having dinner together every Sunday night for 12 years until the woman sadly passed away. But she left a parting gift, bequeathing the woman two pieces of jewellery, a diamond bracelet and a pearl ring mounted on small diamonds.
Explaining that the ring held more sentimental value, the guest believed that it was the bracelet which held a bigger monetary value. She had previously had it valued for $10,000, however, was shocked to learn when the 18 carat accessory was worth far more than that.
“Today if I had to reappraise that for auction, I would tell you that bracelet would be $15,000 to $20,000,” Kevin said of the classic 1940s-style bracelet.
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“Wow, that’s quite a gift!” the owner said excitedly.
But Kevin cut her off. “I’m not here for the bracelet, I’m here for the ring,” he said, taking a closer look at the other item.
“I love pearls. The pearl in the middle is about 14mm, it’s a little bit of a button pearl,” he gushed before honing in on the six carat diamond setting and platinum band.
Kevin explained that after conferring with his colleagues on the U.S. show, it’s likely the ring was made in the early 60s.
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He continued to disclose more about its origin, saying: “When we turn the ring around and we pull it off, over here is where the magic starts to happen. We can see right over here, it is signed. V.C.A.”
Knowing what that meant, the guest interjected: “Van Cleef & Arpels! Holy moly, she said something about Van Cleef & Arpels. I always thought it was the bracelet.”
But as it turns out, the ring is much more valuable than the unsigned bracelet.
“This is the kicker,” Kevin revealed, “if this ring came up for sale, I feel very strongly for it, at auction, for $20,000 to £30,000.”
The guest was completely shocked by Kevin’s valuation, and he added that he believed her ring would meet the higher end of that value.
“As Shirley Temple would say, ‘Oh my goodness!’” she exclaimed in response.
Meanwhile, on the U.K.’s latest instalment of Antiques Roadshow, expert Clive Farahar revealed the staggering value of a poster announcing J. F. Kennedy’s death, which a couple almost put in the bin.
It simply read: “Kennedy Dead” and was from the London Evening Standard on November 22, 1963.
Clive said: “I mean, this is absolutely shocking. With news like that... Evening Standard London newspaper. Where did you find this?”
The man replied: “Well, growing up in London in the 1950s, my parents had some utility furniture, and one of the items was a sideboard, which I inherited.”
His wife interjected, saying that it had been gathering dust for years: “It nearly went in the recycling bin. He came out of the garage and he was like, ‘Look at this’ and I was like, ‘Get it in the recycling bin.’”
Her comments made Clive laugh, and he said: “But instead you bought it to have it valued on the Antiques Roadshow.”
He then made them both gasp as he added: “I could put £1,000 on this.”
Covering her mouth in shock, the lady replied: “What? My god!”
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Clive joked back: “You nearly got rid of it and you nearly dismantled it.”
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Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
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