Antiques Roadshow: 'Really rare!' Expert gobsmacked at valuation of giant Aquamarine jewel
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW was back and while tonight's episode got off to a slow start, it ended with a whopping valuation. Expert John Benjamin couldn't contain his excitement when he was faced with valuation a ginormous Aquamarine and diamond brooch - but how much did the rare jewel from Brazil fetch?
Antiques Roadshow: Expert values aquamarine brooch at £20,000
Antiques Roadshow headed to Morden Hall Park in South London tonight as Fiona Bruce and the team were taking a closer look at what the residents of the area had to offer. Towards the end of the episode, jewellery expert John Benjamin was lost for words when one guest presented a humungous blue stone.
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“Working in the jewellery you are expected to do a course in gemstones,” he began explaining.
“One of the stones which I think perhaps has the most vivid sense of its own significance and importance and beauty of its colour is Aquamarine.
“Now, this is a brooch clip mounted with an absolutely massive, Aquamarine.
“It is really very rare to come across an Aquamarine this size, this colour, this beauty. So, now tell me, where did it come from?” The expert eagerly enquired.
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“My husband’s grandfather went out to Brazil in the 1920s, 1930s and he bought this as a loose stone and it had come from the Santa Maria Aquamarine, which was the biggest Aquamarine ever found in Brazil,” the owner explained.
“My husband’s father had it mounted with all the diamonds and things around it, and I think my mother-in-law wore it once or twice and then I wore it for my daughter’s wedding. Apart from that, I don’t know anything about it really!”
John then took his time to examine the piece of jewellery more closely and revealed how the frame was made of “18 carat white gold with a flame shape cluster of diamonds” which meant it was from the 1960s.
“I’ll be honest with you, if I can be candid, I don’t like the frame very much!” He added.
“It’s screamingly 60s abstract look. And while I do accept it is a vehicle for showing this Aquamarine off, I would like to think something [wonderful] could be done with it,” John continued.
“Because this Aquamarine, this Brazilian Aquamarine is as the top, it’s the pinnacle of quality and size.
“Do you know how much I think it weighs?” John quizzed and after the lady said “no” he revealed it to be a whopping 75 carats.
“That’s huge!” The owner exclaimed.
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“Which is very grown-up for an Aquamarine,” the expert said.
As for how much the jewel would fetch if it went to auction, John explained: “If you were ever to put it on the market, first of all it has to be said a lot of Aquamarine’s are treated to make their colour a little more saturated, a deeper blue.
“I would like to think if it was actually cut from this sort of mother rock, going back, it’s actually its true colour - it goes to an independent laboratory report who confirms it is natural Aquamarine, natural colour.
“Right, ok, shall we talk a little bit about what it’s worth?
“I can’t emphasise enough that the size of it is really quite startling and we don’t see these on the market.
“At auction, I would like to think we are looking at the best part of £20,000 for it,” John stated.
“£20,000? My god! I need a gin and tonic after this!” The owner exclaimed.
Antiques Roadshow airs every Sunday night at 8pm on BBC One.
