AN ANTIQUES Roadshow guest opened up on the heartbreaking tale of her turquoise, sapphire and diamond ring before being told of it’s huge financial worth.
The lady travelled to Culzean Castle in Ayrshire to present her stunning jewellery, which she had been told had been handed down from the Belgian Royal Family.
The BBC One show guest, wrapped up in a blue coat, informed expert Susan Rumfitt: “When the German army advanced in spring of 1940 invading Belgium and the Netherlands the family gave it to a Jewish family who was also fleeing from the Germans.
“They brought it across to this country, it then came into the hands of our family doctor and your family doctor in these days was a friend of the family and he gave it to my father who wanted to give it to my mother.”
Susan appeared enchanted with the story, and hailed the item a “glorious work of art.”
Continuing to heap praise on the sparkler, which sat on a blue velvet cloth, she continued: “An absolutely sumptuous ring.
“Is it something that you would wear a lot is it your taste?”
The guest replied: “I wore it in my young days, we had lots of big dinner dances and annual balls.”
This prompted the Antiques Roadshow regular to remark: “Well I can tell it hasn’t been worn that much recently because it’s in such pristine condition, it’s absolutely wonderful.”
She then estimated it was created in 1860 or 1870.
Despite hailing the ring as an “abundance of love and sentiment” – partially due to its diamond star guiding the way, Susan told how its history couldn’t be taken for granted.
The Goldsmiths Hall lecturer warned: “So obviously we can’t add the royal provenance to the value of it today.
“So if it came up in an auction I would expect it to fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.”
The ring owner, clearly proud of her possession, said: “That’s very nice, lovely.”
Earlier in the BBC episode, expert Susan detailed the relevance of the gemstones selected for the ring.
She revealed: “The sapphires themselves represent, in the language of stones, devotion and turquoise is the true colour of the forget-me-not flower.
“So we have that hidden meaning as well of forget-me-not so the whole thing is about this wonderful love coming together and romance.”
Previously, a show expert spotted something “completely wrong” with a dazzling Cartier watch that had come in for analysis.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://thecelebreport.com/television/susanna-reid-cancels-her-gmb-holiday-to-return-to-the-studio-to-pay-tribute-to-prince-philip
