A guest on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow was left utterly speechless after learning the staggering auction value of her personal jewellery collection, for which she paid a mere £60.
From Sentimental Value to Small Fortune
The remarkable moment occurred during an episode filmed at Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing, west London, which originally aired in 2024. A woman, who introduced herself as 'chatty Anne', presented her collection to fine jewellery specialist Joanna Hardy. The assortment included a necklace, a bracelet, a chain with a Pisces pendant, and a ring, each with its own personal story of acquisition from friends, an ex-partner, and a personal purchase.
Expert Joanna Hardy was immediately impressed by the quality of the pieces, noting their substantial weight and confirming they were all crafted from 18-carat gold. She highlighted the central diamond in the ring, a beautifully set stone of nearly two carats, and remarked on the current soaring price of gold.
The Jaw-Dropping Valuation
When asked for a valuation, Hardy delivered the astonishing news. "I am going to do a global valuation here. At auction they would go for around £14,000!" she declared.
The guest was rendered momentarily silent, managing only a whispered "Wow" as the studio audience gasped in unison. Recovering her composure, she exclaimed, "I'm known as chatty Anne, maybe this time I'm a little bit dumbfounded. I didn't think they would be quite as valuable!" She reflected on the lovely memories and provenance of the pieces, realising how special they were as part of her personal history.
Other Roadshow Treasures Surprise Owners
This was not the only shocking valuation in recent episodes. In a separate instalment filmed at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, a woman presented a Chinese tea set she had rescued from being donated to charity.
The set, originally belonging to a family member named Margaret, had been stored in an attic for an estimated 80 years and was believed to be worth no more than £100. Expert Serhat Ahmet examined the ornate red and white china set, complete with its original 1947 packaging and newspaper. He explained it was a high-end piece from Shanghai, decorated with intricate Ching dragons.
Ahmet's valuation left the owner in disbelief: £1,500 to £2,500. She laughed in shock, responding, "Really? You're not serious!... That's outrageous!"
Furthermore, another guest was amazed to learn that a solid silver cucumber cutter, commissioned for her parents' silver wedding anniversary, was valued between £1,000 and £1,500 by expert Gordon Foster, who admitted he had never seen one made from solid silver before.
These episodes demonstrate the hidden fortunes that may be lurking in British homes, awaiting discovery by the experts of the Antiques Roadshow. The series continues to air on BBC One and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
