An Antiques Roadshow guest was left gobsmacked when an expert revealed the true value of her inherited jewellery collection at over £30,000. The BBC programme aired on Sunday evening (July 5) from Powis Castle and Garden in Wales, where specialist Geoffrey Munn examined a modest collection of brooches featuring rubies and diamonds dating back to the 1700s.
Collection of Heirlooms
The visitor explained that the pieces were given to her by her father and grandmother. "The two diamond brooches were given to me by my father. The bow on my wedding day, the flower one came a little bit later, and the ruby bow was inherited from my grandmother. My father was into the antiques world; it's something that I've grown up with," she said.
Despite their 18th-century origins, the brooches remained in immaculate condition, which impressed Munn. He remarked, "Well, it's the most superb piece of jewellery set with rubies and diamonds set in silver, probably backed in gold."
Hidden Symbolism Revealed
Munn highlighted the deeper meaning of the bow brooch, calling it "a true lover's knot because the harder it is pulled, the tighter it becomes, and then the diamonds are forever." The guest was unaware of this concealed symbolism and was taken aback by the revelation.
The expert also speculated on the origins of the floral brooch, saying, "I would like to think it was Russian, and that would be very, very exciting. The Russian Crown Jewels were sold in London after the revolution to raise funds for the new regime. And it's just possible that that is a Russian jewel."
Valuation and Reaction
Munn valued the smaller brooch at £8,000, prompting a stunned response from its owner: "Gosh, I had no idea." He estimated the butterfly brooch at between £8,000 and £10,000, and the final piece at £15,000, leaving the guest utterly speechless. The total collection was valued at over £30,000.
"They're marvellous things, they're not showy, they're utterly beautiful expressions of an era gone by and that's what we're looking for really," Munn concluded. The episode is available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.
