WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest’s necklace may have been appraised for thousands but he made it clear that he was “not selling”.
Taking a trip to the Pitzhanger Manor in London, the BBC daytime series saw the show’s experts meet with guests who couldn’t wait to show off their treasured belongings.
One of them was a man who presented a “beautiful” necklace for specialist Joanna Hardy to take a closer look at.
She said: “Do you know, I think the jewellery world, you can never tire of it, because it is always so diverse in its manufacture and its designs and you came along with this fabulous jewel to top it all. Tell me, how did you get this?”
He then explained: “I love this piece. As a very little boy, I remember my grandmother wearing it and then obviously my mother wearing it and then in 2021, shortly before she passed, she gave it to me so my wife could enjoy it.”
“I understand that it was originally bought by my great-grandfather for his wife.
“We have the jeweller’s instructions at home and it can also be turned into a single pendant and also into a brooch as well.”
“Well he certainly, clearly had a very good eye for detail, because this really is a very, very beautiful jewel”, Joanna remarked.
“1900, absolutely quintessentially 1900. It is made of platinum, you could really work it to a very fine sharpness and so it’s very light but strong.
“You can see here, we call them knife wife edges, between the links of the diamonds there, very fine sheet wire which is so indicative of this period.
“It’s British and you can see here these lovely little bows and wreaths, and festoons of wreaths here.
“And you’ve got the diamond clusters, each set with milgrain setting which is very indicative of the Edwardian period.”
Taking in what Joanna said, the guest replied: “It’s fascinating to hear it’s made of platinum, because we’ve never polished it but it’s never tarnished.”
Turning to the visitor’s wife, Joanna said: “Well you’re very, very lucky to have it and I’m sure you really enjoy wearing it”, to which she smiled: “Immensely!”
The expert then summarised: “At auction, something like this, in this condition, which is just superb, would be in the region of £8,000.”
Clearly surprised, the guest reacted: “Wow. Thank you very much. I mean, it goes without saying, we’re not selling it! But it’s very nice to know, thank you.”
Joanna then laughed: “You know, I think I believe you as well.”
In a separate interview, the guest shared: “I felt absolutely thrilled. Joey’s feedback was really, really gorgeous and I think my mum, her mum and great-grandma will all be looking down and saying ‘wonderful, really wonderful.’
“And my mum would be saying ‘I thought it was worth more than that!’ But I’m very happy.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.