Trinket Passed Down in a Family Turns Out to Be Jewel Worth a Fortune

A woman was stumped after discovering that a trinket passed down for generations in her family was worth thousands of Pounds. She made the shocking discovery after valuing it in an episode of "Antiques Roadshow."

A woman discovered she'd been sitting on a fortune for decades after valuing a family heirloom on the latest episode of "Antiques Roadshow."

The jaw-dropping cost of the jewel left the woman shocked, knowing the family barely ever used it, but left it lying in a drawer gathering dust for years.

The episode opened with stone expert John Benjamin flustered by the sight of an aquamarine and diamond broach presented for assessment.

After careful analysis, he discovered the object was indeed the real deal, comprising pure, unmanipulated aquamarine set in a gold frame with diamond fittings.

At first, Benjamin couldn't believe the size of the priceless gem, confirming that coming by an aquamarine stone so massive was a rarity. Coupled with its natural blue hue and beauty, the woman certainly had a fortune at her fingertips.

The woman explained that the stone originated from her husband's grandfather, who bought it in Brazil back in the 20s or 30s. According to her, it was originally cut out of the massive Santa Maria Aquamarine, one of the biggest in history.

Once passed down to her husband's father, he mounted the rare rock onto the broach, giving it an astonishing beauty.

The breathtaking combination of the blue stone, set on an 18-carat white gold frame surrounded by a cluster of flame-shaped diamonds, made the broach desirable at first glance.

Owing to its stunning appearance, family members only wore it on special occasions. The woman admitted to wearing it just once, to her daughter's wedding, because it suited her dress.

However, no one would have guessed that the single gemstone mounted on the broach cost a fortune. After analyzing the rare gem, Benjamin assumed a horrified expression as he asked if the family had really left the gem lying in the drawer and gathering dust for 30/40 years.

The woman replied in the affirmative, causing Benjamin to reveal they neglected a 75-carat gemstone. He also established that the massive stone was no ordinary aquamarine, as, given its original mother rock, it probably possessed its natural hue.

That was unlike the conventional modern-day aquamarines that needed to be treated to achieve the desired shade of blue.

Considering all those features, the gem would attract up to £20,000 at auction. The listed prize caused the woman to gasp in surprise, even as she asked Benjamin to repeat himself, fearing she misheard him.

The audience also expressed disbelief upon hearing the value of the heirloom, which until then, would easily have passed for any other broach. That's something one doesn't get to experience every day!