Antiques Roadshow viewers were left gobsmacked as a guest learned the true value of her inherited gold brooch.
The BBC programme, filmed at Ebrington Square in Derry, featured expert Joanna Hardy examining an array of captivating items brought in by visitors.
One item that particularly piqued her interest was a brooch brought in by a woman who had inherited it from her grandmother in 2003, the Express reports.
Hardy commented: “There’s nothing better to brighten up a rainy day than by bringing me a beautiful brooch”.
The guest explained: “I inherited it from my grandmother in 2003 when she passed away.
“Gran had had a gold ring, a Roman ring, which had been unfortunately stolen from her house in Dublin in the mid 1960s and she had received some insurance money.”
“And, at the time, my mum was in school with a girl called Madeleine Grima. So she suggested to Granny that why doesn’t she think about perhaps buying a piece of Grima jewellery.”
“Granny bought this piece and wore it often and then when she died, she left it to me.”
Hardy noted that Grima was a “very important person in the 1960s”, often referred to as the “godfather of the modern jewellery world”.
She added: “Up until 1960, jewellery had been quite sort of tired, there was no innovation, it was very samey, it was very dull”.
Andrew Grima, who joined his father-in-law’s workshop HJ and Company in the late 1940s, was inspired by a visit from Brazilian gemstone dealers in the early 1960s.
Hardy explained: “These dealers came into the workshop and opened their suitcases to reveal these amazing big rocks from Brazil, all sort of natural stones.”
Struck by the sheer beauty of the raw gems, Grima opted to incorporate them into his craft as they were, eschewing traditional cutting for creating his distinct, “free-spirited jewellery designs”.
The jewel in question was a stunning 18-carat yellow gold brooch, featuring platinum down its spine and adorned with brilliant-cut diamonds. On its reverse side, it boasted the hallmarks of HJ and Company from 1965.
Viewing the piece, Hardy couldn’t help but express his admiration: “It is really, really quite stunning. It’s very beautiful and it’s always such a thrill to be able to see a Grima jewel.”
She appraised its auction value between £5,000 and £7,000, which noticeably excited the onlookers. The owner, surprised by this valuation, exclaimed: “OK. Wow.”
Hardy wrapped up saying, “Well, thank you so much for brightening up this day by bringing me a Grima jewel.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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