An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned when expert Geoffrey Munn revealed that her three inherited brooches were worth a combined five-figure sum. The BBC show visited Powis Castle and Garden in Wales on Sunday evening (July 5), where Munn examined a small collection of ruby and diamond jewellery dating from the 1700s, describing it as "of the highest quality."
Brooches Held Hidden Wedding Message
The guest explained that the two diamond brooches were gifts from her father: "The bow on my wedding day, the flower one came a little bit later, and the ruby bow was inherited from my grandmother. My father was into the antiques world; it's something that I've grown up with." Munn noted that the bow brooch was actually a true lover's knot, symbolising that the harder it is pulled, the tighter it becomes, with diamonds representing forever—a subtle message the owner had not realised.
Russian Crown Jewels Connection Possible
Munn suggested the floral brooch might be Russian, noting that after the Russian Revolution, crown jewels were sold in London to raise funds. "It's just possible that that is a Russian jewel," he said, adding that it would be "marvellous" if it came from the Russian Crown Jewels. The expert valued the smaller brooch at £8,000, the butterfly brooch between £8,000 and £10,000, and the final piece at £15,000, leaving the guest exclaiming, "Gosh, I had no idea."
Expert Praises Timeless Beauty
Geoffrey concluded: "They're marvellous things, they're not showy, they're utterly beautiful expressions of an era gone by, and that's what we're looking for really." Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
