A CARER on Antiques Roadshow fought back tears after she learned the truth behind a brooch she inherited from a patient.
In the classic episode of the BBC show, expert Geoffrey Munn met a lady who had brought in a stunning diamond and ruby brooch.
She explained how she had received it from an elderly lady she used to care for, saying: “I looked after her for eight years and when she passed away she left me the contents of her house in her will. And amongst the contents was this brooch.”
Geoffrey replied: “Well that’s a huge tribute to you in every possible way and to the way you cared for her.
“She must have loved you very much to do that because it’s a very handsome request indeed isn’t it?
“There are no prizes for already knowing who made it, I think you know who made it don’t you?”
The guest said she had been told it was by Cartier, and he replied: “It is Cartier and in the world of jewellery, perhaps Cartier is possibly the strongest name to drop.
“Perhaps Cartier is the most famous jeweller of them all.”
He then revealed it was made around 1900 in Paris and had a special meaning, which the guest knew nothing about.
Geoffrey explained the rubies were Chinese which collides with elements of Ancient Greece.
He said: “The reason why that has happened is that it’s got a message which actually suits your relationship with this lady very much because this brooch, like so many of the things we find in jewellery, is a message of love – and it’s a very intense one.”
The lady was taken aback and said: “That’s so nice to hear” before Geoffrey said rubies signify love in jewellery, while diamonds represent forever, making the brooch a symbol of ‘forever love’.
Geoffrey then turned his attention to the value and said if the item was part of a specialist Cartier sale, it could fetch £10,000.
The emotional guest said: “Wow. She really loved me and I loved her too.”
Antiques Roadshow is available on BBC iPlayer.
