Copyright dailyrecord
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow. An Antiques Roadshow guest was absolutely delighted when her family's supposed "glass" ring turned out to be worth an eye-watering sum. The beloved BBC programme made its way to Stephens House and Gardens in London where jewellery specialist Joanna Hardy was ready to meet visitors and examine their treasured possessions. Amongst the guests was a lady who'd brought along a selection of jewellery that had belonged to her mother-in-law, though only two pieces caught Joanna's particular attention. The visitor revealed: "When she moved a couple of years ago, there was a box of trinkets and kind of costume jewellery. "A gentleman came round to do clearance and he rifled through the box and he picked it out and he said 'I think this might be real.'" Speaking about the second ring, she went on: "And this other one, again from her family, and didn't know anything about it. "And I did take it round the corner to a jeweller and she said she thought it was glass, like a sort of blue glass." Joanna explained that the first ring featured a "large" rose-cut diamond dating from either the 18th or 19th Century, complete with natural inclusions and a yellowish hue. "It has that age to it, it has that character which you just can't manufacture," Joanna revealed. The specialist's focus then shifted to the second ring which the guest had previously been told was merely glass. "And then I looked at this one here and I've given it a bit of a clean because it was a bit dirty. "And I looked and looked and I can find two feather inclusions and that, to me, indicates that it is a Sri Lankan sapphire. "And it is a beautiful colour. It almost might be a colour-change sapphire. I'd like to look at it in a different light source because it's sort of got that violet-y light blue quality about it. "I think it is such a beautiful colour. And when I saw those veil inclusions, I thought 'yes, it's not glass.'" Joanna continued to reveal that this second ring featured approximately a 12 carat sapphire set in platinum, with the guest believing it had belonged to her mother-in-law's mother. Revealing their value, Joanna started: "So, at auction, I would say that this diamond would be around £5,000, the trinket, the one that was found in the costume jewellery box." Regarding the second ring, the expert declared: "And this sapphire, I would say that's going to be between £9.000 and £12,000." The guest couldn't contain her excitement as she whispered: "Oh my gosh! Wow. That's amazing, not just glass then." Joanna confirmed: "Not just glass. And thank you very much for bringing them in." When questioned about her future plans for the stunning pieces, the visitor responded: "Oh my gosh. I'm sure they will go to the grandchildren and stay in the family, I'm sure. Wow. Thank you." Antiques Roadshow can be viewed on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
