Antiques Roadshow Expert Stuns Guest with Brooch Valuation
A guest on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow received a surprising appraisal when an expert advised her to “strap yourself into your seat” before revealing the substantial value of her inherited brooch.
The episode, a revisit to a 1998 recording in Hull, featured Geoffrey Munn’s assessment of a family heirloom, leaving its owner astonished by its history and estimated worth.
Initial Examination and Family History
Munn initiated the appraisal by expressing admiration for the piece. “Wow, what a marvelous brooch, my goodness me,” he remarked. “Is it a family piece?”
The guest confirmed its familial provenance, explaining, “Yes, it came from my great-grandmother, to my nana, to my mum, and then it’s been passed down.”
Upon questioning its age, the owner admitted, “I haven’t got a clue,” prompting Munn to encourage her to guess its period.
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She speculated it originated from the 18th century, but Munn corrected her, stating, “No, absolutely not 18th at all. This is actually a 20th Century brooch, so maybe the stories got a little bit embellished.”
Art Deco Design and Diamond Details
Munn elaborated on the brooch’s characteristics. “The key aspect is its 20th Century design,” he explained, “it’s a very art deco design, a very ‘Odin’ style object. Observing it closely, it evokes the elaborate decorations found in grand cinemas, particularly the ceiling ornamentation.”
He further emphasized the quality of the gemstones: “What makes it even more remarkable is that the diamonds incorporated in its construction are of modern cut.”
Munn highlighted the desirability of this feature, noting, “It’s generally considered unfavorable to discover older cut diamonds repurposed from past jewelry in such a piece.”
He continued, “This is certainly not the situation here. These elongated diamonds, known as baguette diamonds, are employed to great effect, creating a rather geometric design that, surprisingly, draws some inspiration from Mexican aesthetics.”
He then drew attention to the central stone: “And here in the middle, we have a rather significant brilliant cut diamond -“.
The guest interjected, questioning, “-So it is a diamond?” to which Munn affirmed, “Oh, it is a diamond.”
She responded with surprise, “I didn’t think it was. No, no.”
Munn further clarified diamond identification: “Indeed, it is quite a good one. Interestingly, when quickly assessing whether a diamond is genuine, it’s often the imperfections within that instantly confirm its authenticity.”
He described a key feature: “Deep within the diamond, almost undetectable without magnification, is a black deposit – a piece of carbon that has not crystallized.”
He provided a basic gemological explanation. “Diamonds are fundamentally crystallized carbon, an element manifesting in this particular form due to immense heat and pressure over millions of years.”
Valuation and Guest’s Reaction
Munn pointed out a minor flaw: “There are some minor issues with it. I noticed upon turning it over that it is slightly out of true.”
He reassured her that the damage was not severe: “Had that damage been more considerable, it would have been a serious concern, but thankfully it is not. It simply requires cleaning and a minor adjustment.”
Transitioning to the valuation, Munn prepared the guest: “And you understand the direction this is heading, don’t you? That this is a truly substantial and valuable item. Establishing a provenance or maker’s name would enhance its value further.”
He then delivered the valuation with a memorable phrase: “But you must brace yourself, strap yourself into the seat, because we have a genuinely exceptional piece here.”
He revealed the estimated retail replacement value: “If you were to purchase a comparable object in a West End shop, it is plausible that they would ask you for £12,000.”
The guest reacted with visible shock, eyes widening, exclaiming, “Good God! Dear me. I didn’t think it was worth much, we didn’t realize these were diamonds.”
Munn concluded, “Indeed, they are diamonds, all of them are diamonds, and you possess a truly valuable brooch,” before expressing his gratitude to the owner for bringing the item.
Watch Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow is available for viewing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.