An Antiques Roadshow guest was shocked when told the appraised value of her grandmother-in-law’s iconic 1910s pearl and diamond necklace.
The unique necklace, which the woman and her husband inherited after her grandmother died at the age of 102, was presented to appraiser Gloria Lieberman on the show.
Lieberman was able to quickly confirm that the piece was created by Paulding Farnham during his time as lead designer for Tiffany & Co. through signatures on the necklace.
The expert showed viewers two signatures on the necklace: one on the back of the diamond pendant and the other on the clasp.
The unique necklace, which the woman and her husband inherited after her grandmother died at the age of 102, was presented to appraiser Gloria Lieberman on the show.
The guest was then told that despite losing two of her pearls, each valued at $5,000, the necklace was currently worth a staggering $200,0000.
Lieberman was able to quickly confirm that the piece was created by Paulding Farnham during his time as lead designer for Tiffany & Co. through signatures on the necklace.
She explained: “Most people would say, ‘Oh, it’s diamonds, you know, that’s the important thing.'” No, it’s pearls.
‘This piece was probably designed by one of Tiffany’s top designers, Paulding Farnham, and he loved natural pearls.
‘Every pearl is beautiful: the shine, the match, the skin it has… we call it skin. It has no imperfections. I mean, they are beautiful natural pearls.
The guest was then told that despite losing two of her pearls, each valued at $5,000, the necklace was currently worth a staggering $200,0000.
Lieberman also advised the guest to re-string the necklace at a Tiffany’s store and to “wear it sometimes to enjoy its beauty,” but mostly save it for important occasions.
Lieberman also advised the guest to re-string the necklace at a Tiffany’s store and to “wear it sometimes to enjoy its beauty,” but mostly save it for important occasions.
The guest, who was absolutely shocked to learn the value of the historic necklace, quickly responded and said she would save it for her daughters’ weddings.
Farnham, a noted jewelry designer, sculptor and metalworker, was Tiffany’s head designer for about 20 years.
The guest, who was absolutely shocked to learn the value of the historic necklace, quickly responded and said she would save it for her daughters’ weddings.
Farnham, a noted jewelry designer, sculptor and metalworker, was Tiffany’s head designer for about 20 years.
He was “universally recognized as the genius behind Tiffany’s success” when the company won an astonishing six gold medals at the Paris Exposition of 1889, according to Ancient Jewelry University.
Farnham’s enameled and jeweled orchids, faithful in detail to real flowers, were hailed as exceptional at the time.
Some of his artworks are currently preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and are available for public viewing.