A valuable diamond brooch was found hidden in a plain jewelry box during a routine valuation.
Most of the other items in the box were worth only about $270.
But the brooch was a rare Art Deco piece. It later sold at auction for around $3,100, according to news agency SWNS.
Lisa Spence, head of jewelry at Richard Winterton Auctioneers in Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK, spotted the brooch while going through the large collection.
“We always check everything carefully,” Spence told SWNS.
She added, “It is especially important to examine larger jewelry collections with attention, because you never know what might be hidden inside.”
Spence had just started inspecting the collection when something caught her expert eye.
Looking through her magnifying glass, she quickly realized the item was not just a simple trinket among costume jewelry.
She explained, “We were looking at a beautiful rectangular brooch set with diamonds. The center stone was an oval-cut diamond of about 1.20 carats.”
The central diamond was surrounded by about 1.80 carats of old-cut and single-cut diamonds, all of which were equally stunning.
The brooch’s pin and safety clasp were also still in place and in excellent condition. This added to the brooch’s value, SWNS reported.
“It is always a special moment when you can surprise someone with a happy valuation. This was definitely one of those times,” said Spence.
At auction in Lichfield, the brooch sold for more than $3,100. This sale was more than just a lucky find.
Auctioneers said the successful bid helped the auction house achieve a record-breaking quarter, according to SWNS.
Richard Winterton, managing director and auctioneer, said, “It was fantastic to see our jewelry, gold, silver, and coins department break all records.”
Hammer prices for the first quarter of 2025 totaled more than $676,000.
“This is a huge achievement and shows the hard work, dedication, and attention to detail our team puts in,” Winterton said.
He added, “Our head of jewelry’s sharp eye made a big difference. It was a great example of careful attention to detail.”
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