I found a damaged diamond engagement ring in a sock – I was speechless when I learned it was worth more than a car
TWO guests were left speechless on last night’s episode of Antiques Roadshow after a ring they found hidden inside a sock was revealed to be worth more than a car.
Jewellery specialist Joanna Hardy delivered life changing news to two guests on Sunday night’s episode of the BBC antiques show, after she valued their diamond ring at £20,000.
The ring had been a family heirloom, but a mother and her daughter only discovered it by chance.
“The ring was my mum’s,” said the first guest. “We’re pretty sure it was given to her by my late-grandfather. We were helping her, clearing out stuff, and in the sock drawer we stumbled upon this ring that was wrapped up in a sock,” she revealed.
Joanna was shocked to learn that was where they found the ring, speculating that anything could have happened to it.
At first she worried it could have been headed for the washing machine, before saying: “You could have just given it to charity!”
Joanna then took a closer look at the stunning diamond ring, which she said was made in 1915 from platinum.
As a transitional cut diamond, Joanna said it has a much softer look about it. “This has such an air of sophistication,” she added, comparing it to the “brash” modern brilliant cut.
Joanna also noted that the huge almost-4 carat diamond has nearly perfect clarity too.
The only detail she noticed wasn’t quite right was that one of the claws holding the diamond needed adjusting back in place slightly.
Nevertheless, once that’s fixed, the ring would have a value of £20,000 at an auction, she told them.
Stunned that the ring could be worth more than a car, the first guest replied: “Wow! Oh gosh! I better get that claw fixed quickly then! Wow!” while her daughter was left speechless.
“It is such a stunning, stunning ring. Absolutely lovely!” Joanna concluded.
This discovery at Crystal Palace Park comes just a week after viewers raged at host Fiona Bruce over the show’s new format.
Antiques Roadshow returned last week and the first episode of Season 46 took viewers to sunny Swanage.
However, some weren’t happy with the show’s “new look” format and Fiona’s bigger role in the show.
Not only did she provide her usual introductory commentary and voiceovers, but Fiona enjoyed a lengthy chat with expert Raj Bisman, taking a look back at some of his favourite antiques. She then shared another segment with Will Farmer, which saw them play a little game where she had to guess the prices of several pieces of Poole pottery.
“When are they going to go the whole hog and rename it ‘Fiona Bruce’s Antiques Roadshow?’” one viewer commented afterward.
This week, Fiona had a continued presence throughout the episode, which concluded with her recapping her favourite antique from the episode, which was a doll sculpture that was missing a foot. Despite its condition, it was valued at £3,000 to £4,000 at auction.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and continues on Sunday at 8pm on BBC1.