Tearful Antiques Roadshow guest asks 'am I in a dream' as value of 'cheap' item unveiled

An Antiques Roadshow guest was brought to tears after discovering the whopping value of a family jewellery set she thought was just 'cheap ruby'.

During an episode of the hit show, which aired on Sunday (May 25) night, expert Susan Rumfitt was presented with two necklaces as well as a set of ear rings and a matching brooch.

Pointing at the items in front, Susan went on to say: "I love it when I see two boxes and be able to reveal inside two beautiful necklaces and this one includes a pair of earrings and a brooch." She asked: "How did they come into your family collection."

The guest explained: "When I was 18 years old, my maternal grandmother gave me this. She took me to the jeweller's to have my ears pierced, to my mother's horror. That was for the necklace and earrings."

Susan jumped in: "How wonderful. That's quite a present isn't it." Today's guest believed the pieces were just 'cheap' costume jewelry as she said: "It was just costume jewellery, that's what she told me."

Turning her attention to her other necklace, she continued: "That's my mothers. I think she inherited it, possibly. I can't really remember."

Susan replied: "So you're thinking that this is costume jewellery." Pointing at the purple necklace she asked: "What do you think the stones are in this one?"

The guest guessed: "I'm assuming it's amethyst." Susan confirmed: "You're absolutely right. Amethysts are the purple stones and the white stones are white topaz."

Things got even better as Susan revealed the true value of the item as she said: "Values - the amethyst and white topaz necklace, if this came up for auction, an auction estimate of between £1,000 and £1,500 as an auction estimate."

She continued: "As for the garnet parure, a set of jewellery, absolutely lovely. At auction, because of the popularity of Georgian jewellery at the moment, auction estimates of £3,000 to £5,000."

In disbelief by the news, the guest gasped as she said: "Oh my goodness I didn't know I was wearing anything like that."

Susan went on: "Well, collectively, we've got an auction estimate of £4,000 to £6,500. Unable to contain her emotions she broke down in tears as she continued: "Am I in a dream here? I don't believe it's true."

Susan added: "We love to make dreams come true." Speaking to the camera, the guest said: "I didn't even realise what costume jewellery was. I didn't think about jewellery, I wasn't into jewellery."

She added: "In hindsight now, maybe she genuinely thought it was costume jewellery. I've no idea. I don't know."

Antiques Roadshow airs on One and is available to stream on iPlayer