Zoe was browsing her local Age UK in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, when a pair of earrings caught her eye. Her first instinct was that they looked "tacky" – but something made her pick them up anyway.
On closer inspection, she noticed the backs were covered in clean, precise stamps, the kind that do not usually appear on cheap costume jewellery.
A £4.50 impulse buy with a possible £1,200 return
Zoe, who posts on TikTok as @zoescharitytreasures, revealed she was "internally screaming" at the prospect that the earrings, bought for £4.50, could be authentic Chanel. She told her followers she was "truly gobsmacked" if they turned out to be genuine, adding: "They are very clean-cut stamps."
She then shared a screenshot from 1st Dibs, where the same pair of earrings had sold for £1,206.05. That meant she could make over £1,200 profit if they were authenticated. Commenters were quick to congratulate her, with one saying she "smashed it" and declaring it a "good find."
Official authentication delivers the answer
In a follow-up video, Zoe explained that the earrings had been sent off for authentication. When asked about the results, she responded: "I don't have an answer for anyone, yet haha, they were sent off so just waiting for results. It can take a while."
But she later posted an update with the answer. "I am happy to say that my earrings are indeed real," she said, delighted that her sharp eye for designer pieces had paid off.
