A lady in London had a surprising and lucky moment when she found out her old costume jewelry was worth a lot of money.
Around 30 years ago, this lady found a special ring at a flea market and bought it for only £13 (around $17). She always thought of the ring as more than just jewelry. It meant a lot to her and symbolized her dreams. Even though it looked old and worn out, she wore it every day.
One day, a strange man at a grocery store started following her because he was interested in her ring. It made her uncomfortable, and she quickly left. Later, she realized she forgot to wear the ring, and when she found it at home, she got suspicious about the man’s interest.
Following her instincts, she took the ring to Sotheby’s London to find out more about it. Sotheby’s experts were shocked to discover that the ring was not just regular costume jewelry; it was a big 26-carat diamond from the 1800s. The diamond’s old cut made it look less shiny and valuable than it really was.
The head of Sotheby’s jewelry department, Jessica Windham, explained that because of the diamond’s age and unique cut, people didn’t realize how valuable it was. Tests with the Gemological Institute of America confirmed the diamond was real.
The lady, who usually struggled with money, couldn’t believe it. The ring, bought for £13, could be sold at an auction for as much as £350,000 (around $450,000). In the end, the auction brought in an incredible £656,750 (almost $850,000), giving her financial security she never expected.
This story shows that valuable things can be hidden in plain sight. Sometimes, what seems ordinary can be very valuable. Just like in this lady’s case, a piece of costume jewelry turned out to be a life-changing asset.
If you have your own costume jewelry and wonder if it’s valuable, experts suggest looking at the materials, condition, age, designer or brand, and getting professional help to find out its true worth.
