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ANTIQUES ROADSHOW EXPERT JOHN BENJAMIN WAS ON HAND TO DELIVER A VALUATION ON A PAIR OF DROP EARRINGS AND A SAPPHIRE RING 22:19, 01 Jun 2025Updated 22:19, 01 Jun 2025 On Sunday's
Antiques Roadshow, expert John Benjamin gave two hopeful guests some disappointing news at the stunning Wollaton Hall in Nottingham. The episode featured locals bringing in their treasures,
with a pair of guests presenting family Art Deco jewellery for valuation. At first glance inside an old tin, John discovered exquisite platinum drop earrings and a sapphire ring. One of the
guests related the tale of his mother receiving the jewels from a friend, who was acquainted with a man with connections to France. John, upon closer inspection, found a significant
alteration: "Someone who has owned these in their history has taken them to a jeweller and said: 'I'm not sure if I like the fittings!' "So what they've done is
they've removed the original fittings from the back and they've soldered on these long gold sort of posts with nine carat gold screw fittings at the end", reports Edinburgh
Live. Article continues below While examining the ring, John revealed a surprising fact about its authenticity, revealing: "Here's an interesting point, in the 1920s, when that was
made, synthetic rubies and sapphires were beginning to appear on the market." He delivered the blow when he declared: "The sapphires on the shoulders in the ring are actually
synthetic. They're not real. So, there we are." During the valuation, he revealed: "Here's the bad news, those drops, today, if they were having the original fittings on
them. I think would be worth between £4,000 and £5,000. "But because the fittings have been changed, I think we've got to now drop that price to probably £2,500 to £3,000 simply
because of a clumsy conversion." Regarding the sapphire ring, he estimated: "The ring about £1500." This led to one of the guests quipping: "How much is the box
worth?" which prompted John to respond with a chuckle: "Priceless, absolutely priceless the box!" In another segment, art expert Rupert Maas appraised a monochrome painting of
Princess Daisy of Pless, an icon of Edwardian high society. The owner explained how her father had found the artwork in a Watford junk shop for a mere £13.50. Rupert encouraged her to keep
it on display, especially after revealing its surprising value of £2,000 to £3,000. The owner was shocked, saying: "Really? Gosh! I was thinking you were going to say a couple of
hundred," to which Rupert acknowledged it wasn't a huge sum but definitely a significant increase from what was paid. Article continues below ANTIQUES ROADSHOW CONTINUES ON SUNDAYS
AT 7PM ON BBC ONE AND BBC IPLAYER.