AN Antiques Roadshow expert delivered a jaw dropping valuation of jewels, despite his doubts over their ‘royal connection’.
During the episode at Ham House in Richmond, one of the BBC show’s experts, John Benjamin met a guest who had brought in some stunning vintage jewellery.
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He said: “What an absolutely fantastic garnet bracelet that is,” before admiring the accompanying items of a brooch and a pair of earrings.
He then asked the guest where they had come from and she replied: “Apparently my great-great-grandmother was left it by her mother-in-law.”
She added that a member of her family had apparently bought them from the Swedish Royal Family in the 19th Century.
She joked: “They’ve become known as the crown jewels in our family.”
John explained the jewels contained garnets, and said: “Now that gemstone, the garnet, is quite a popular stone in the 19th Century.
“You get it in jewellery in Germany, in Czechoslovakia, and it would be quite normal to assume that you could also get this kind of stone set in jewellery in perhaps Stockholm, you know, in Sweden.”
But he added: “We can’t confirm for certain about the Royal connection, can we? It’s family hearsay.”
This didn’t stop John from giving them a staggering valuation though, as he told the lady: “Total value for this set – £4000-£5000.”
The guest was thrilled, replying: “That’s fantastic – wonderful! Thank you very much.”
She had previously admitted she had never worn them, telling John: “I’ve never had an occasion where I’ve needed something that splendid.”
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Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
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