An Antiques Roadshow guest was left speechless when she discovered her inherited diamond brooch was worth £20,000.
During a repeat episode broadcast on Sunday, August 2, jewellery expert Susan Rumfitt was filming at Brodie Castle and Estate in Morayshire when she examined the heirloom for its owner. The guest had no idea of the remarkable value of the piece.
A brooch from the art deco era
Susan Rumfitt opened the appraisal by calling the piece "a magnificent brooch". The guest said she wore it in the evening when going out, describing it as "the star of the show" among her jewellery. The brooch had come down through her family from her grandmother, a farmer's wife who dressed up in the evening.
Susan explained that the brooch dated from the 1930s, "the height of the art deco period". She noted that despite the Wall Street crash and the Depression, diamonds remained a focus when Chanel collaborated with De Beers. Admiring the "beautiful sparkle" of the brooch, she remarked: "It's quite unusual, it's one brooch, so that again, is pretty stunning."
From 3 carats to 14
The guest had estimated the brooch weighed around 3 carats, but was astounded to learn it could be closer to 14. Her astonishment grew when Susan revealed the brooch could fetch around £20,000.
Momentarily lost for words, the guest responded: "It's taken my breath away." She added: "It brings tears to my eyes. That is a shock." She later told the camera: "It was a really, really big surprise. I’m still quaking a bit at the moment." She pledged to keep wearing the brooch.
Susan said: "It’s been wonderful, been fantastic to find it. And to make somebody’s day as well when they had no idea it was going to be worth as much as it was. It’s just stunning, fantastic."
Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
