“Antiques Roadshow” Guest Learns Wedding Necklace Is Worth $250K

In addition to selecting the wedding dress for your big day, you’ll need to carefully consider which accessories you’ll want to add to your look. For example, if you want to channel a royal bride, you may decide to secure a cathedral-length veil to a dramatic updo. If you’re searching for a way to add a sentimental touch to your ensemble, you may opt to wear an heirloom piece, such as a necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings, from a beloved family member for the festivities. That’s precisely what one former bride did for her nuptials, donning a necklace given to her by her mother for the occasion. However, while the woman knew that the accessory was valuable, on a past episode of Antiques Roadshow, she was shocked to learn its current worth from an expert appraiser.

“It was my grandmother’s,” the guest said in an Instagram clip posted by the show. “Her family is from Atlanta. This was late 1800s, and she married my grandfather. They moved to New Jersey, and I know that my father inherited it from her, and then, he married my mother. It was hers, and then, when she passed away in 1988, I inherited it.” Shortly after coming into possession of the heirloom piece, she said an appraiser told her it was worth $10,000. Over the past few decades, she’s only opted to wear it on one special occasion: her wedding day. “Other than that, it lives in the safe deposit box,” she told the expert.

When examining the treasured piece on the show, the appraiser pointed out that the necklace features both diamonds and natural pearls. The jeweled accessory was crafted by Phelps & Perry of Maiden Lane in New York. “Maiden Lane still exists,” the expert noted. “It’s in the Wall Street stock market area. This is an area that’s always been populated with jewelers servicing the stock market industry, where men made and lost fortunes.” He notes that the financial-focused neighborhood was likely where the guest’s grandfather went to buy the piece.

In determining the current price of the piece, the appraiser noted the size of the jewels. “The pendant bottom diamond center is five carats or more,” he said. “The two diamond is close to two carats. At retail, this piece should bring $250,000 in the marketplace, and that’s a conservative estimate because of the volatility of the diamond market.” His evaluation, which was 25 times more than the original appraisal, shocked the guest. “Oh boy, thank you so very much,” she told the expert. “That’s amazing.”