An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned when her £15 costume jewelery was worth a staggering three-figure sum.
During the last episode of the show, woman expert Judith Miller brought a necklace with a striking green emerald.
The piece was purchased many years ago, as the guest revealed that she bought it with her very first paycheck when she was just 16 years old.
Showing off the impressive necklace, Judith said: ‘Now I love fantasy jewellery. I always have and I’m completely in love with it. Why did you love it?’
The guest joked: ‘It was a combination, the color, the simplicity, it’s very daring and it really appealed.
Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned when her £15 costume jewelery was worth a staggering three-figure sum
During the last episode of the show, woman expert Judith Miller brought a necklace with a striking green emerald
“It was actually in a dark corner and I actually loved it straight away,” leaving Miller even more intrigued by asking where she found it.
‘A small antique shop in a small alley in Wollongong, Australia. I had just started my very first job.
‘And I decided to treat myself to something a little special. I spent part of my first paycheck on it. I was 16.’
Judith attempted to provide an expert analysis of the piece, but the history of jewelry lacked the maker’s mark.
She said: ‘It’s really high quality costume jewellery. Because jewelry comes in all levels, I mean, there’s cheap jewelry, there’s extremely expensive jewelry, and it’s just incredibly well made.
‘It’s beautifully designed and I think it’s French. Just looking at the quality makes me think of a couture collection.
“You don’t see this detail on every piece of costume jewelry, it’s definitely the 1950s.”
The piece was bought many years ago, as the guest revealed she bought it for £15 with her very first paycheck when she was just 16 years old.
Stunned by the small price she paid, Judith estimated the item at between £400 and £500.
The shocked guest replied: ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe it! Wow, good choice! Thank you!’
“Absolutely timeless, do you remember what you paid for it?”
The guest revealed, “Actually, yes. It was $30, Australian, so I don’t know, maybe £15 to £20.”
Stunned by the small price she paid, Judith estimated the item at between £400 and £500.
She said: ‘I think that was quite a good bargain at the time as I would value this at £400 to £500 today.’
Other treasures included a series of stained glass windows decorated with mermaids, a richly decorated mandolin hidden in an old cupboard, a device used to make penicillin, a silver milk jug from Kashmir and a huge bell from a Japanese Temple.
The shocked guest replied: ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe it! Wow, good choice! Thank you!’
“I’m absolutely blown away, I’m just so impressed that I, I mean 16, had no idea what I was doing, I bought something that I loved,” she added.
“I’m really excited to hear that it’s worth something beyond my emotional attachment to it, so it’s beautiful. Trust your gut, that’s fine with me, buy things you love.’
Other treasures included a series of stained glass windows decorated with mermaids, a richly decorated mandolin hidden in an old cupboard, a device used to make penicillin, a silver milk jug from Kashmir and a huge bell from a Japanese Temple.