Discover the most gorgeous jewelry pendants ever seen on Antiques Roadshow! From rare gemstones to royal heirlooms and iconic designer masterpieces, these stunning pendants shocked appraisers with their beauty, craftsmanship, and unbelievable value. In this video, we explore the most expensive pendants and valuable jewelry treasures that appeared on Antiques Roadshow — including vintage gold pendants, Art Deco diamond pendants, Victorian jewelry, rare gemstone pieces, and hidden family heirlooms worth a fortune. If you love luxury jewelry, history, and unbelievable Roadshow appraisals, this is a must-watch! See how ordinary people unknowingly owned million-dollar pendants that turned into life-changing discoveries on Antiques Roadshow!
GUEST My husband inherited it from his aunt.
I had brought it to a jeweler in Saratoga, and he told me that the chain is platinum,
and he wasn't sure what it was worth, but he thought it was very nice, and he said about
$10,000.
APPRAISER $10,000.
GUEST And I had no idea if that was high or low, or if he was just being nice.
APPRAISER Well, it's a family piece, you weren't looking to sell it, but...
GUEST No.
APPRAISER You want to know what you inherited.
GUEST Yes.
Could I wear it to work, bicycling, or only for special days?
In the center of this delicate platinum setting lies a sapphire with a reputation unlike any
other.
It hails from the mist-covered slopes of the West Himalayas, Kashmir.
For a brief moment in the late 19th century, a legendary deposit of sapphire was discovered
there.
The gems pulled from those mountains were so extraordinary, so vividly blue, that the
world quickly ran out of words to describe them.
The perfect blue became the standard, and every other sapphire has chased that ideal
ever since.
But the mine's life was short.
By the early 20th century, supply dwindled, leaving only a handful of stones to ever reach
jewelry stores or royal families.
Fast forward to the 1930s, when a second, smaller pocket of Kashmir gems was uncovered,
and that's when this pendant sapphire was likely cut.
Around four carats of silky, velvety blue, framed by shimmering diamonds, a rare survivor
from a forgotten chapter of gem history.
APPRAISER There's only a few gem labs in the world that have experts that can give you
documents that tell you that the stone comes from Kashmir.
We're very confident that it does.
All of us are just floored with the depth and intensity of the color.
At retail, in a fine jewelry store, a stone this size, in its setting, will bring between
$40,000 and $50,000.
GUEST Oh, that's lovely.
Between $40,000 and $50,000.
APPRAISER $40,000 to $50,000.
GUEST Yes, I think I'll take very good care of it.
APPRAISER I'm sure you will.
GUEST It's lovely.
APPRAISER We got this piece of jewelry that my dad had, and he inherited it from his sister.
She got this from a man in Colorado.
She had a peach orchard, I believe it was, and this gentleman bought it, and he paid
her cash for some of it, and then gave her this pendant for the other part.
GUEST How big was the peach orchard?
APPRAISER Gee, I don't know.
I really don't know how big it was back.
This happened probably late 30s.
One story I heard that this gentleman might have made it, I don't know.
Passed down through generations, this pendant arrived at Antiques Roadshow carrying mystery
along with its shine.
Who crafted it?
Was it made by the same man who bought that land, or was it something far more refined?
The moment the pendant was examined, any doubt melted away.
This wasn't a backyard project.
It was the work of a master.
Built in platinum, adorned with diamonds and a vivid sapphire, it represents a moment of
transition in jewelry history.
Look closely.
The lacy, delicate details echo the final breaths of the Edwardian era, a time known
for ornamental elegance.
Yet its strong shapes and structured geometry announce the rising age of art deco, bold,
modern, and sophisticated.
Around 1920, New York City became a global hub for jewelers pushing design forward.
Though the artist behind this piece didn't sign their name, the craftsmanship speaks
loud enough.
Fine mill-grain borders, precision piercing, and perfectly set stones, every element suggests
it was born in a high-end workshop among the best of the best.
In a retail store, you would probably expect to pay between $15,000 and $20,000 for it.
Really?
Yeah.
Holy smokes.
My wife will go crazy.
Now she'll never work.
Well, don't do that.
She shouldn't enjoy it, but yeah, it's beautifully made.
It's a really nice thing.
I brought this diamond cross that my mother gave to me.
My mother got it from her mother-in-law when she was leaving Cuba.
She left in 1961, right during the time that Castro took over, and my father wanted my
brother and I to leave because he was worried about us and my mother's safety, so we came
to the U.S.
It's been in our family for four generations.
Wow.
My mother-in-law got it from my grandfather, whose father was an import exporter, and he
traveled a lot to Europe, and unfortunately, on his last trip, he died on the Titanic.
Oh my gosh.
This is something that my mom thought was very important to save and keep.
This pendant was one of the few treasures saved, not for its value at the time, but
for what it represented, heritage, memory, and hope.
Crafted around 1890, the cross is built from rich 18-carat gold and set with diamonds from
two distinct eras of cutting.
The larger stones are classic old mine cuts, the ancestors of modern diamonds, full of
warmth and fire.
Rose-cut accents add antique charm at the base.
All told, about 3.5 carats of sparkling history remain intact, despite one tiny missing detail
after more than a century of being worn, loved, and protected.
It's really amazing to see something this old still intact, because usually someone
would sell it, or they would break it apart, make earrings, a small ring, and it's amazing
to know that your mother, no matter what, kept it intact.
If you wanted to replace it, if you went into a jewelry store, an antique jewelry store
today, it would be between $6,000 and $8,000, and you would insure it for the $8,000, the
higher value, because it's going to be a little difficult to find if you lose it and want
to replace it.
It's magnificent.
Thank you for bringing it.
Thank you.
It's the craftsmanship, it's the matching, it's the period that makes this special.
I was given this as a gift for my birthday about 15 years ago.
It was my daughter's great-great-grandmother's.
That's pretty much all I know.
She lived in New York.
The design is known as a negligee pendant, a style that first charmed wearers in the
late 19th century.
Its signature look?
Two different gemstones suspended at mismatched lengths, bringing playful movement and color
right to the neckline.
It's a symmetry with elegance, the kind that instantly draws the eye.
Here, the stones tell a vibrant story.
A golden-hued, precious topaz catches the light with every tilt.
A fresh green peridot brings a burst of springtime energy.
They drop gracefully from rare red spinels, gemstones that are especially coveted when
found in such a rich, crimson shade.
And at the top, close to the heart, sits a soft blue cabochon sapphire, polished smooth
rather than faceted, giving the piece a romantic glow.
In its original era, around 1895, this would have been the perfect accessory for lunches,
theater outings, or social visits.
A bit of color, a bit of charm, a lot of personality.
Even better?
Its original fitted presentation box survived along with it, a detail collectors love and
one that elevates both its desirability and its value.
I would say for insurance purposes, $10,000, right around $10,000.
Wow.
Yeah.
Wow.
Is retail the same as insurance?
Retail is similar to insurance.
So, if you were to go out and buy this in a store today and replace it, you would have
to spend around $10,000 for it.
I had no idea.
Yeah.
Really?
That's amazing.
The item is actually a lavalier necklace that had belonged to my grandmother.
My grandmother was an army nurse at Walter Reed Hospital during World War I.
After the war, she was a school nurse that met a local industrialist who owned a company
that manufactured purses and funeral cars, and they married in 1930.
To be honest, I never saw it until after my mother died about 25 years ago, but my grandmother
wore it for formal occasions.
The piece is a lavalier necklace, the kind that draws attention straight to the center
with delicate vertical motion and refined geometry.
And geometry is exactly what makes this pendant extraordinary.
Its silhouette resembles a shield, bold and structured, yet softened by sparkling brilliance.
At the heart of the design, square step-cut diamonds are arranged so perfectly that they
give the illusion of a single, larger stone.
It's a clever technique that only skilled craftsmen of the 1930s mastered well, maximizing
light, elegance, and presence while keeping the piece beautifully wearable.
Forged entirely in platinum, the signature metal of the Art Deco era, this pendant is
like a miniature sculpture.
No maker's signature was found, but the craftsmanship itself speaks volumes.
It reflects the height of jewelry design between the wars, modern, confident, and luxuriously
precise.
An auction estimate would be $3,000 to $4,000.
If you were looking to insure it, I think you would be looking at $6,000 or $7,000.
Wow, that's lovely, yeah.
Some jewelry is charming.
Some is elegant.
But a piece from Tiffany and Company, crafted at the dawn of the 20th century, is something
entirely different.
It's iconic.
You told me that your grandmother left this pendant to you.
This was given to her by her second husband.
When were they married?
They were married in 1918.
Now, I understand you had other jewelry from her, but this was the piece you chose to bring
to the roadshow today.
Why did you pick this piece?
Because I like it.
I've worn it a great deal of the time over the years since she gave it to me.
It sits in just the right place on my neck, and it's beautiful.
Admired, but slightly doubted.
Could such a vibrant yellow jewel really be a diamond?
Even the roadshow experts had to take a closer look.
One inspection later, the truth sparkled brighter than ever.
This is no ordinary gem.
It's a pear-shaped diamond over one full carat in size, cut in the old European style.
A shape that predates the precision lasers and modern symmetry we know today.
Its vivid golden glow is something collectors chase, especially in natural fancy yellow
stones, which are far rarer than the classic white diamonds.
And you know what else I found out about it when I turned it over?
It has a signature.
The signature.
Do you have any idea?
No, because I looked to see if there was one and couldn't find anything.
It's Tiffany and Company.
Wow.
This is Tiffany and Company, and quite rare because of that period.
And I would date it between 1918, 1920.
You rarely found a yellow diamond.
Even more fascinating, the pendant's fine wire work suggests it may have been designed
during the era of Louis Comfort Tiffany himself, the artistic visionary behind some of the
most enchanting creations in jewelry history.
Pieces like this hardly ever appear, especially from the years right after World War I.
Its rarity, heritage, and craftsmanship combine to make its value soar.
Now, we've got to appraise it.
It's a tough appraisal because it's rare, $20,000 and up.
What do you think?
Holy mackerel.
Yeah.
I like it.
So, you really hit the spot today.
You knew what to pick.
I almost didn't bring it.
And your grandmother was not telling a lie.
And she left you something great.
Isn't that great?
Yes.
Thanks for coming.
That is so exciting.
Great.
My mother-in-law was an antique jewelry dealer.
She collected these, and my husband has gifted them to me over the years.
And what do you need to know about them?
I mean, she was in the business.
You must know so much.
Actually, not much.
I know she loved Art Nouveau or Art Deco.
I really don't know the difference.
I don't know what these pieces are, where they were made.
The first piece comes from New York, crafted by Marcus & Company, one of Tiffany's fiercest
rivals during the turn of the century.
Their specialty?
Opals, enamel, and gold that seemed to move like nature itself.
Here, the opal isn't captured by traditional prongs.
Instead, the gold embraces it in soft, swirling curves, mimicking vines or waves.
Gentle touches of green enamel extend the natural theme, even along the original chain.
It's elegance designed to whisper rather than shout, a subtle jewel with a sophisticated
soul.
The second pendant speaks French, quite literally.
Heavier gold, hand-chased textures, radiant diamonds, and glowing natural pearls give
it a luxurious presence.
The hallmark, hidden so cleverly it required disassembly to find, reveals a respected French
maker, G. & Frere.
Where the American design is airy and romantic, this one is bold and confident, two sides
of the same artistic movement.
Both date to the peak of Art Nouveau, roughly 1890-1910, before the world shifted to the
symmetry and geometry of Art Deco.
Finding pendants from this era, complete with their original chains and maker's marks, is
a rarity collectors dream of.
I'm going to give you a value for the American piece, the Marcus & Company, and I would say
an auction value would be between $8,000 and $12,000.
If you had to insure it, you're probably going to say $15,000 to $20,000 to insure it.
The French piece, I'm going to say $12,000 to $18,000.
If you had to insure it, you're looking at at least $20,000 to $25,000.
Very difficult to find them complete with the chain, with the markings.
You have great examples of American Art Nouveau and French Art Nouveau jewelry.
You're very, very lucky.
GUEST 1 Wonderful.
GUEST 2 I bought it at an antique show in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, probably about
15 years ago.
GUEST 1 Okay.
GUEST 2 When my husband and I go out antiquing, which he can't do anymore, he would go one
way, and I would go the other way, and we usually would meet at a certain time, but
I get called on the loudspeaker, Becky, report to, report to, report to.
And I'm thinking, oh my gosh, did he fall into a case and break something or what?
And then I see him down the aisle, and he's, come on, come on, come on, come on.
I knew, I knew he found something really precious.
GUEST 1 Oh, how fabulous.
GUEST 2 But unfortunately, when he does that, I don't get the bargain anymore.
GUEST 1 Oh, true.
He's in love with it then.
GUEST 2 Well, when they know that they have been on a sale.
With a simple flick, the pendant springs open to reveal a hidden gallery, six tiny frames
ready to store miniature portraits or treasured memories, a playful locket for someone who
loved both the elegance of jewelry and the energy of sport.
Crafted in Paris in the early 1900s, this piece comes from Lacloche Frères, a prestigious
name in European luxury.
The Lacloche brothers created jewelry for royalty, socialites, and fashionable elites,
and they were known for imaginative pieces like this one, where design meets delight.
The materials are as refined as the craftsmanship, 18-carat gold, rose-cut diamonds glittering
like court lights, a petite ruby guarding the hinge, and a seed pearl forming the sweetest
little tennis ball.
Even better, it still rests inside its original box, a detail collectors cherish.
Sport-inspired fine jewelry from the Belle Époque isn't just rare.
It's irresistible to connoisseurs who admire both beauty and clever design.
Do you have a memory of what you paid for the piece?
GUEST 1 Yes.
A lot.
GUEST 2 Okay.
And what was that number?
GUEST 1 $4,000.
GUEST 2 Okay.
In a retail market today, this would likely retail somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000.
GUEST 1 Wow.
GUEST 2 If not more.
GUEST 1 Uh-huh.
GUEST 2 So you did very well.
GUEST 1 Thank you very much.
GUEST 2 They say to buy what you love.
Yes.
GUEST 1 I love wearing it.
GUEST 2 I stopped at a yard sale and was digging through some baskets that had costume
jewelry in, so I picked it up for a quarter.
What looked like just another trinket turned out to be a stunning piece of early 20th century
fine jewelry at its heart, a luminous Ceylon sapphire, close to eight carats in size.
Sri Lankan sapphires are celebrated for their exceptional brightness, softer and more airy
than the darker stones mined elsewhere.
This one holds that dreamy glow collectors crave.
Surrounding the sapphire is a frame of platinum, the metal of choice for the most luxurious
art deco designs.
Working with platinum wasn't easy in the early 1900s, which means only highly skilled
jewelers dared to shape it.
Freshwater pearls and diamonds add refinement, turning the sapphire into the star of a wearable
masterpiece.
GUEST 2 Any idea on its value?
GUEST 1 My guess would be $1,000.
GUEST 2 I'm going to say closer to $4,000 to $6,000.
GUEST 1 Oh, wow.
GUEST 3 I'm going to ask for a producer.
Maybe we can get you one, because this is kind of interesting.
GUEST 2 Is it?
GUEST 3 I purchased it at an online auction for $300, $350.
It's got Tiffany on it, but I wasn't sure whether it was Tiffany or Tiffany.
aesthetic.
Bold, elegant, and full of personality.
At its center is a bullseye citrine, a gemstone prized for its striking concentric patterns
and warm, honeyed glow.
Surrounding it are vibrant green garnets, a color far rarer than the classic deep red
we normally expect, making the combination even more distinctive.
Over more than a century, the pendant seems to have undergone small alterations, not uncommon
for heirlooms that lived many lives before becoming collectibles.
Yet the craftsmanship and materials still shine through, the proportions, the detailing,
and above all, that unmistakable Tiffany design sensibility.
GUEST 2 I would say in the market today, I'm going to be conservative, $2,000 to $3,000.
GUEST 1 Oh, wow.
GUEST 2 So...
GUEST 1 Oh, wow.
GUEST 2 I think...
GUEST 1 That's exciting.
GUEST 2 It was a great find, great find.
GUEST 2 I inherited them.
They were my great-uncles, and he had done some work in Costa Rica, planting trees for
some kind of a government project.
I know very little beyond that.
GUEST 1 And when was he there?
GUEST 2 I could not even tell you.
I didn't even think about trying to run that down before I came.
Carved from jadeite, one of the toughest stones on Earth, these works were created by the
ancient peoples of Guanacaste and Nicoya, regions that thrived long before European
contact, their age, between 300 and 900 A.D., that places them firmly within the era of
Costa Rica's powerful pre-Columbian societies, where jade was more meaningful than gold.
The two lower pieces are known as Axe Gods.
Despite the name, their form isn't weapon-like, instead they represent spirits and deities
connected to nature and transformation.
One showcases bird-like features, wings abstracted into sweeping curves, a stylized beak forming
the top.
Birds were sacred messengers between worlds, symbols of both protection and power.
The top pendant presents twin animal heads, likely crocodilians, fierce creatures dominating
Costa Rican rivers and mythology.
Holes carved through the jade allowed these pendants to be suspended on ceremonial cords
worn by individuals of high status.
Authentic jade artifacts like these are often copied today, but these examples were confirmed
genuine, their wear patterns, workmanship, and stone quality aligning with ancient craftsmanship.
For the group here, this is $3,000 to $5,000.
Oh, wow.
$3,000 to $5,000 on a retail level.
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
I had no idea.
So, I made your day.
Yeah.
Happy dance.
My father gave them to me.
And when did your dad get them?
I believe in the early 70s.
I understand he was a traveler, a world traveler.
Yes, he was.
He told me they were pre-Columbian.
They used to be attached to Mayan warriors' armor.
Both pieces are crafted from solid gold, mined and worked long before Europeans ever stepped
foot in the Americas.
They were created by the advanced metalworking cultures of Panama and Costa Rica, likely
between 1000 and 1500 AD.
These societies saw gold not as currency, but as a symbol of sacred power, which means
these weren't everyday ornaments.
They were status emblems worn by shamans, chiefs, or spiritual leaders.
The designs are more than decorative.
One pendant features stylized eagles, powerful guardians, and symbols of transformation.
The others show crocodilian forms with coiling serpents, creatures believed to move between
worlds, bridging earth, sky, and rivers in ritual mythology.
These figures weren't simply animals.
They were spiritual protectors.
Both pendants once adorned important people, and most likely traveled into the underworld
with them, found centuries later in burial sites before entering modern collections.
Minor repairs on one piece actually help verify its authenticity, showing it lived a long
ancient life.
We have two authentic pieces.
They date between 1000 and 1500 AD.
Now let's talk about money.
Okay.
You want to take a guess?
No way.
All right.
Now the gold content alone on this one was $3,500.
The gold content on this one was $5,500.
I believe, and again, it's a crazy market.
It fluctuates a lot.
I'm going to say that this one is in the $8,000 to $10,000 range, and this one is in the $12,000
to $18,000.
We believe it to be the Anheuser-Busch logo.
My great-uncle had a jewelry store out in El Reno, Oklahoma.
And when he passed away, my grandfather liquidated the jewelry store and picked this up and brought
it into the family.
At some point, my mom had it evaluated at the brewery by the historian, and she could
date it to 1919 based on the positioning of the eagle's foot, but we really don't know
a lot more about it.
Not every heirloom comes from royalty or ancient civilizations.
Some come from the heart of American industry.
This pendant carries one of the most recognizable emblems in U.S. history, the Anheuser-Busch
eagle and a crest.
The logo first appeared in the late 1800s as the brewing giant expanded across the country.
By 1919, when this pendant was likely crafted, Anheuser-Busch was a household name, despite
the storm of prohibition looming on the horizon.
People loyal to the brand still celebrated it boldly, sometimes even in jewelry.
This piece is far from a simple advertisement trinket.
The eagle and letter A are formed in sterling silver, detailed down to the feathers and
even the reverse side, craftsmanship that proves it came from an experienced jeweler.
Beneath the eagle's talons lies a small branch set with rose-cut diamonds.
Their subtle sparkle adding elegance without overwhelming the design.
The base metal is 14-carat gold, another sign that this medallion was made for someone important,
not for mass merchandising.
Historical checks confirm its authenticity.
Details like the positioning of the eagle's wings and a single foot help date the logo's
evolution precisely to the early 20th century.
I would say auction estimate, you'd be looking at around $1,000 to $2,000.
Very nice.
Very happy to know that finally.
This was a piece that has been in my house for over 30 years.
I had a suitcase of a friend of mine and I tried to get it back to him several times
and he just told me to keep it and since then he passed away and my daughter looked in the
suitcase and she found all these pieces and this was one of the pieces that we did find.
So do you wear it?
No, I thought it was always too big to wear.
Once I found it, I said it's too big to wear.
This is a creation of Bucciolati, the legendary Italian jewelry house founded in 1919, a brand
famous for its breathtaking texture work, handcrafted detail, and unmistakable identity.
Collectors sometimes call Bucciolati the jeweler with a soul because every surface, every line
is sculpted with artistic intention.
The pendant features a satyr mask, a mythical figure from ancient lore associated with festivals,
revelry, and untamed nature.
Rendered in sterling silver, it displays the intricate engraving Bucciolati is known for,
sharp facial contours, textured curls, and expressive form that gives the piece a lifelike
presence.
This wasn't meant to be delicate.
It was made to make a statement.
Dating from the 1940s to 1950s, it reflects a period when Bucciolati blended classical
themes with modern boldness.
Pieces from this era are admired for their theatrical personality and artisan craftsmanship.
An auction value is between $800 and $1,000.
Oh, that's a lot.
That makes, that's a lot.
My father owned a pawn shop in the Midwest in the 60s, and towards the late 60s, this
man came in.
I would say probably 68, 69, the man came in.
We never knew his name.
We just called him the man from the country.
And he brought these three objects in and sold them to my father for weight, so whatever
the price of gold was at that time.
And he said, if you give me $10,000, I will go and get more where these came from.
And at the time, my father didn't have $10,000.
You know, it was the 60s, and he had two kids in private schools, and he didn't give them
the money, and we never saw the man again.
Tell me approximately what your father paid for these.
Maybe $100, $200 for all three figures.
Each piece was tested.
And yes, they are real gold.
Not brass, not replicas, authentic pre-Columbian treasures forged by ancient Central American
civilizations nearly a thousand years ago.
Their origins lie along the borderlands of Costa Rica and Panama, a region known for
masterful metalworkers who fashioned jewelry for the elite, spiritual leaders, warriors,
and rulers.
These aren't decorative charms.
They are symbols of supernatural power.
The smallest pendant is an eagle, a divine figure associated with vision, courage, and
the connection between earth and sky.
Another depicts a standing figure holding ceremonial rattles, perhaps a shaman calling
upon the spirit world.
And the centerpiece?
The most powerful of the trio, a crocodilian or mythic guardian crafted in heavier gold
with strong form and presence.
All three bear the signature wear of burial and ancient handling, confirming their journeys
through time from sacred rites to modern discovery.
I will say this is only the second group I've had on The Roadshow in 21 years that's authentic.
I've been watching The Roadshow a long time.
Okay, so you know I'm telling the truth.
On the little eagle, I think you're talking $1,500 to $2,500.
Okay.
$1,500 to $2,500 on the little standing figure holding the rattles.
And then the center, that's the heaviest and the nicest, and I think it's $3,500 to $4,500.
Great.
I guess you made a mistake not giving him the $10,000.
He should have done it, and then you should have called me.
Exactly.
Congratulations.
You've had a great day on The Roadshow.
Thank you so much.
It belonged to my dad's aunt who lived in Kansas City, and she gave the piece to my
mother because she really liked her.
I know she did collect antiques.
And do you know how long it has been that she may have had this?
She died in 1958, and I think she was in her 90s when she died, and she started collecting
antiques in 32.
This extraordinary pendant once belonged to a passionate antique collector in Kansas City,
a woman with sharp taste and a love for treasures from the past.
It blends luxury, practicality, and a fascination with the exotic styles that swept Europe around
1850 to 1860 when designs inspired by North Africa and the Middle East took center stage.
The lower portion is a miniature perfume bottle complete with a tiny stopper crafted in 18-karat
gold.
Its decoration is a masterclass in Champleve enamel, a technique where designs are carved
directly into the metal, filled with enamel, and polished perfectly smooth.
The swirling motifs glow with rich Persian blue tones paired with accents of natural
pearls, a harmony of color and technique.
But the surprise is at the top.
A dragon-shaped brooch, not merely ornamental but functional, designed to clip into clothing
so the scent flask could hang gracefully and be used instantly whenever needed.
I would estimate at auction, a piece like this would be worth somewhere between $5,000
and $7,000, and it could go much higher than that depending on the audience or the collector's
market for these type of items.
We've always loved it.
My mother, like I said, wore it all the time.
I've not seen another scent flask like this in years that has gotten me this excited.
This was a gift from my mother-in-law.
I know absolutely nothing about it, neither did she, and she always said to us when she
gave us gifts, everything is very valuable, and it got to be a family joke.
So I'm here today to find out how valuable it actually is.
The piece belongs to a style known as scotch agate jewelry, or more affectionately, pebble
jewelry.
In the mid-1800s, Scotland became a booming destination for travelers thanks to a new
railway line from England and the influence of Queen Victoria, who adored all things Scottish
after acquiring Balmoral Castle.
Tourists wanted souvenirs that embodied the rugged beauty of the highlands, and jewelry
like this became the perfect answer.
The name pebble wasn't poetic.
Artisans literally collected agate stones from the beaches and riverbeds of Scotland.
Those colorful slices were shaped and polished into wearable keepsakes.
On this pendant, you can spot striped agate, green bloodstone, and glowing citrine quartz.
Tiny pearls add elegance to the design, bridging rustic charm with refined craftsmanship.
Most pebble jewelry was set in silver, which makes this piece particularly special.
Its yellow-gold construction suggests it was made not for tourists, but for someone of
higher social standing.
Even the central citrine is backed with foil to enhance its warm sparkle, a clever Victorian
technique.
Though the maker's mark remains a small mystery, the pendant's origin is undeniable, a unique
Scottish treasure with history in every stone.
I would say at auction today, $2,000 to $3,000.
Okay.
All right?
Okay.
So my mother-in-law was right.
She was right.
Right.
It's very valuable.
When my mother was pregnant with me, she was turning 40, and my father had befriended
the widow of Karl Bach, the famous art dealer and collector.
And he ended up purchasing about 20 pieces of pre-Columbian and African art as a collection
for my mother for her 40th birthday.
And these are two of the pieces.
So now, without revealing your mother's age, that would have been approximately when?
Approximately about 27 years ago.
Okay.
We apologize to your mother for saying that.
The first object, a carved shell pendant, comes from the ancient Maya of Guatemala during
their height of artistic and cultural power, around 600 to 900 A.D.
Necklaces like this weren't everyday adornments.
They were prestige pieces, worn by individuals of importance or sewn onto ceremonial garments.
Its graceful shape and perfectly drilled suspension holes show its ritual significance, a wearable
badge of honor from one of the world's most remarkable civilizations.
The second piece takes us even further back, to the Mezcala culture of western Mexico.
Created somewhere between 100 to 300 B.C., the small figure is all sharp geometry and
bold abstraction.
Mezcala carvers transformed stone into spiritual symbols, guardians meant to accompany leaders
across both the earthly and supernatural realms.
Though the stone could be jaded or another green mineral, its artistic strength and ancient
origins remain unquestioned.
Both artifacts carry priceless provenance.
They were purchased from Carlebach, one of the most influential dealers of pre-Columbian
art in the mid-20th century.
That documented history is crucial, especially since cultural heritage laws passed in 1970
now make provenance essential for museum-quality pieces.
Okay, let's get to the good part.
Now, on the shell piece, it's beautifully executed, it's really nicely done, you have
that museum provenance.
I'm going to say $4,000 to $6,000 on that.
Now, $4,000 to $6,000 would be like a gallery price.
I would not be surprised at all to see that at $8,000 to $12,000 if you were in some important
gallery on Fifth or Madison or something in New York.
On the Mezcala piece, it has this beautiful angularity.
The sculptural quality of this is great.
It's a little bit small, but it's elegant and it's got that great collection history.
I'm going to say $4,000 to $6,000.
Now, again, I wouldn't be at all surprised if, say, this were in an auction or it was
in a great gallery and it went for $5,000 to $7,000 or $6,000 to $10,000.
I wouldn't be surprised, but I want to be conservative and I don't want you to come
after me later.
I know that it has belonged to my grandmother, but I don't know where she got it from.
Her family was Danish, but I don't know if it's Danish or it could be from any place
in Europe as far as I'm concerned.
I inherited it from my mother, who I got it from her mother.
I see, so it's been passed down generationally.
The pendant's design reveals a clear story.
It's a masterpiece of Austro-Hungarian Renaissance revival jewelry, crafted in the mid to late
19th century, when Europe fell in love again with the grandeur of its own past.
Every detail of the pendant echoes old world splendor, cherub faces, a noble knight perched
above, scrolling enamel, natural pearls, and ruby accents, all inspired by the rich symbolism
visible in Renaissance paintings.
Jewelers of this era aimed to capture the drama and romance of history.
And this piece does exactly that.
But its most extraordinary feature lies at the center, a stone-carved cameo depicting
Hercules wrestling the Nemean lion, one of the hero's legendary twelve labors.
Unlike common shell cameos, stone carving requires far greater precision and strength,
a sign of a truly skilled artisan.
The cameo itself predates the rest of the pendant by more than a century, likely crafted
in Italy between the late 1600s and early 1700s.
Jewelers in the 1800s frequently remounted such ancient gems into new luxury settings,
giving them renewed life.
Gold and silver elements merge seamlessly around the mythological scene, forming a showpiece
that is theatrical yet refined, a wearable celebration of European culture.
I would say a piece like this at auction could bring anywhere between $10,000 to $15,000.
Oh my goodness, yeah, I had no idea, no idea at all.
I don't know how it came into the family, but I know it's been used by four generations
of women in my family, dating back to my great-grandmother, late 1890s probably.
And it's a lovely necklace and pendant that can be changed into a brooch.
And it is just a stunning piece and also very warmly felt by my family.
That's great.
The necklace embodies the height of art deco luxury, handcrafted in platinum and set with
dazzling old mine-cut diamonds.
The chain alone is a showstopper, five round diamonds, a marquise sparkle, repeated like
jewels choreographing a dance toward the centerpiece.
But the pendant steals the spotlight.
At first glance, it appears to be a diamond drop pendant, two one-carat stones taking
center stage, framed by another two carats of brilliance.
Flip it over though, and a surprise awaits, two Tiffany and company signatures, each confirming
not only authenticity, but unity.
The chain and pendant were always meant to be together.
And the transformation doesn't stop there.
With a press of a hidden mechanism, the pendant unfolds into a lorgnette.
Elegant miniature spectacles used by fashionable women attending operas, theaters, and glamorous
evenings out in the 1920s.
Precision mechanics, spring-loaded engineering, and jewelry artistry all in one remarkable
object.
Even the detached piece converts into a brooch, offering multiple ways to wear the suite,
a luxury only the wealthiest could afford.
For the whole suite, including the other pendant, at auction, this would bring $30,000 to $40,000.
Wow.
That's a lot of money.
Yes, it is.
This is Tiffany.
It carries the bulk of the pricing, but it's just absolutely stunning.
Oh, I think so as well.