Antiques roadshow expert issues 'bad news' to guest over family jewellery detail

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW EXPERT JOHN BENJAMIN EXAMINED SOME ART DECO JEWELLERY ON SUNDAY NIGHT OLIVIA WHEELER TV Reporter 22:07, 01 Jun 2025Updated 22:08, 01 Jun 2025 John Benjamin, the trusted

Antiques Roadshow specialist, had to deliver some 'bad news' to a pair of participants on Sunday's programme. Filmed at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, locals attended with their

treasures to receive the esteemed evaluations of the show's connoisseurs. The episode saw two guests presenting heirloom Art Deco jewellery for valuation. At first, John was presented

with an old box, but upon revealing its contents, he discovered exquisite platinum-set drop earrings and an embellished sapphire ring. One of the owners recounted how the pieces came into

his mother's possession through a friend who associated with a man frequently visiting France. Yet, during his inspection, John discerned a modification: "Someone who has owned

these in their history has taken them to a jeweller and said: 'I'm not sure if I like the fittings'.", reports Edinburgh Live. Article continues below He noted the

original fixtures had been replaced, observing: "So what they've done is they've removed the original fittings from the back and they've soldered on these long gold sort

of posts with nine carat gold screw fittings at the end." Discussing the ring further, John shed light on an intriguing fact about the era's gemstones: "Here's an

interesting point, in the 1920s, when that was made, synthetic rubies and sapphires were beginning to appear on the market." He concluded by unveiling a truth about the ring's

decor: "The sapphires on the shoulders in the ring are actually synthetic. They're not real. So, there we are." During the valuation, he admitted: "Here's the bad

news, those drops, today, if they were having the original fittings on them. I think would be worth between £4,000 and £5,000." He continued, lamenting the impact of alterations,

"But because the fittings have been changed, I think we've got to now drop that price to probably £2,500 to £3,000 simply because of a clumsy conversion." Regarding the value

of the sapphire ring, he mentioned, "The ring about £1500." This valuation prompted light-hearted banter with one of the guests querying, "How much is the box worth?"

eliciting a witty comeback from John, "Priceless, absolutely priceless the box!". In a different segment of the show, art expert Rupert Maas appraised a monochromatic canvas

portraying Princess Daisy of Pless, an illustrious figure of the Edwardian social scene. A tale was told of how the painting's current owner's father had found this artwork in

Watford, scooping it up for a mere £13.50 at a local junk shop. Rupert then built up anticipation, saying, "You're going to be hanging it again, I hope, especially when I tell you

what it's worth," and revealed a surprising valuation of £2,000 to £3,000. Article continues below The revelation visibly shocked the guest, who exclaimed in astonishment,

"Really? Gosh! I was thinking you were going to say a couple of hundred," prompting Rupert to acknowledge that while not being a vast sum, it was substantially more than its humble

acquisition cost. ANTIQUES ROADSHOW CONTINUES ON SUNDAYS AT 7PM ON BBC ONE AND BBC IPLAYER.