WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An guest was left chuckling as the true worth of her late mother’s jewellery was revealed.
The daytime show visited Bishop’s Palace, Wells, where expert Joanna Hardy met a guest who brought along a citrine pair of earrings and a brooch.
From the outset, it was clear that Hardy was impressed. She began by saying: “People often ask me what I look for in jewellery. Of course, it’s craftsmanship and it’s good design but sometimes a jewel will give me that immediate head rush of excitement.
“That’s what these jewels have done to me and the fact that they have come in very well known red boxes.
“The impact that this brooch and these earrings have together, I think is just absolutely gorgeous. So how did you acquire these fabulous jewels?”
The guest went on to explain: “My mother died last year and she left them to me. I’d seen her wear them but I didn’t really know what they were and then when I got them home, I realised what they were, because [of] the red box with the Cartier signature inside.”
Antiques Roadshow expert admits wanting to ‘run away’ with guest’s late mum’s jewellery (Image: BBC)
Antiques Roadshow expert Joanna Hardy wanted to ‘run away’ with a pair of Cartier earrings and brooch. (Image: BBC)
She further explained that her late mother adored her jewellery and had received these specific items from her father in the 1970s.
“She used to wear them on a suit usually. My father had race horses and they used to go racing a lot and she’d often wear them on her lapel on her suit or something like that.”
Hardy was available to provide more information about both pieces.
“You say they were bought in the 1970s, whereas in fact they are 1940s jewels.
“Because of the austerity years obviously with the war, you couldn’t get the diamonds and the rubies and emeralds and sapphires and so other stones took over with these citrines, amethysts, topaz, aquamarines.
“And they really dominated the jewellery of this period. When I turned these over, they have been altered.
“They didn’t start off pierced which they are now. They’re now for pierced ears and you can see here the ring around it and that is indicating to me that there would have been a clip that would have fitted in there exactly.
“It’s Cartier London and they’re in 18 karat gold. These citrines came in a variety of colours.
“As you can see this great lovely graduation of these very rich lovely graduation of these very rich golden brown colours.”
Antiques Roadshow guests were amazed at the five-figure valuation given to their Cartier jewellery. (Image: BBC)
Evaluating the first of the two items, she declared: “The earrings, because they’ve been altered, you’d be looking in a region of about £10,000, even though they’re altered.”
The guest’s husband was visibly taken aback as his jaw dropped at the figure, while the owner herself gasped: “Lord.”
However, Hardy wasn’t finished: “And this brooch, which I would run away with, I just think it’s spectacular, I love it.
“I love the colours. At auction, I could see there would be a little bit of a fight over this.
“I would say you’re probably looking in the region of about £30,000.”
The guest chuckled in surprise, exclaiming: “Goodness me. That is a lot more than I thought”, while Hardy affirmed: “They’re very special jewels.”
Following this revelation, the guest’s husband affectionately wrapped his arm around her, and they both enjoyed a light-hearted moment together.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on One and iPlayer.