Antiques Roadshow guest stunned to learn huge price tag of jewellery

A guest on Sunday’s episode of Antiques Roadshow was stunned to learn the value of her 19th century jewels collection.

As the Roadshow stopped at Powis Castle in Wales, expert Geoffrey Munn inspected a number of pieces featuring rubies and diamonds dating from the 1700s.

Explaining how the jewellery came to be in her possession, the guest said: ‘Well, the two diamond brooches were given to me by my father.  

‘[The bow] on my wedding day. And [the flower emblazoned 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.’

Cashing in: A guest on Sunday’s episode of Antiques Roadshow was stunned to learn the value of her 19th century jewels collection, as valued by expert Geoffrey Munn (pictured)

On the road: As the Roadshow stopped at Powis Castle in Wales, expert Geoffrey inspected a number of pieces featuring rubies and diamonds dating from the 1700s (guest pictured)

Having inspected the items, Geoffrey told her: ‘Well, it’s the most superb piece of jewellery set with rubies and diamonds set in silver, probably backed in gold.

‘The one on the left here is a very sweet little bow. The bow is not simply a bow, it’s a true lovers knot because the harder it is pulled, the tighter it becomes.

‘And then the diamonds are forever, so this little subliminal message for your wedding was perfectly well chosen.’

Geoffrey went on to say how he thought the pieces were most likely from Spain or Portugal while the bow was from Britain.

He continued: ‘I would like to think [the floral brooch] was Russian, and that would be very, very exciting. 

‘The Russian Crown Jewels were sold in London, after the revolution to raise funds for the new regime. 

‘And it’s just possible that that is a Russian jewel and wouldn’t it be marvellous, if it came from the Russian Crown Jewels.’

He warned: ‘We can work on that but not here right now. 

Big money: The antiques expert went on to value the collection, pricing the smaller brooch at £8,000, the butterfly brooch at £10,000 and the final item at £15,000

‘But, what we can work is that these are very valuable to you because they have sentimental values.’

The antiques expert went on to value the collection, pricing the smaller brooch at £8,000, the butterfly brooch at £10,000 and the final item at £15,000.

Geoffrey told the guest: ‘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 continues on BBC One next Sunday at 8pm.