ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

'Antiques Roadshow' seller gets chills after expert reveals the value of her 120-year-old ring

The expert also told the guest to get the ring insured for an amount twice that of her appraisal.
PUBLISHED MAR 11, 2025
The guest looking at the expert describing the ring's value (Cover image source: YouTube | PBS Antiques Roadshow)
The guest looking at the expert describing the ring's value (Cover image source: YouTube | PBS Antiques Roadshow)

Artifacts on "Antiques Roadshow" could be captivating for fans and fascinating for experts, but despite that, most guests who have been in possession of these items have no clue about their true worth. This is clear from their reaction after being told about the true worth of these heirlooms and collectibles, which also makes the show entertaining. One guest brought a Marcus & Co. ring to the show but had no idea about the maker of the item and was left in shock after the expert enlightened her.

After bringing the item to the show, the guest shared that she got the ring in an estate sale for quite a bargain. "I thought it was cool-looking, the colors. It was about $200," she shared. Taking over from the owner, expert Lucy Grogan Edwards explained that it was indeed a wonderful piece of jewelry. "What you have here is an 18-karat yellow gold enamel diamond and ruby ring. It's from the Art Nouveau period," the expert explained. She added that the item dates all the way back to 1905.

Screenshot showing the expert examining the ring (Image source: YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS)
Screenshot showing the expert examining the ring (Image source: YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS)

Looking at the ring, the expert noted that on the face of it, it seemed to be worth $2,000 to $3,000, but there is more to it than what meets the eye. "On the inside is a very clear signature, 'Marcus & Co., 18 karat.' Marcus and Company was a very prominent New York maker," the expert noted. She went on to explain that the company was founded in 1892 by Herman Marcus, who migrated to the United States from Germany in the middle of the 19th century. The creator initially worked at the famed Tiffany and Company and then went off on his own to form Marcus and Company, Edwards added.

"This is very characteristically Marcus. It's Mughal-designed, sort of Indian-inspired, which you can see," she said. She pointed out that the shape of the ring resembled a sultan's turban and the colors and the material was also very Mughal-inspired.

Screenshot shwing the expert pointing out the markings (Image source: YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS)
Screenshot shwing the expert pointing out the markings (Image source: YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS)

She explained that the Art Nouveau period was inspired by nature with a lot of Orientalist interest. She added that the center stone of the ring was a cabochon ruby, which is smooth over the top, with a rich pink hue. "The pinker saturated rubies, like this, are most often from Burma," she explained. She added that historically, Burmese rubies weren't much exported, so there aren't many in the marketplace today. Furthermore, the green enamel work is also very characteristic of Marcus and Company, she noted. 

Thus, coming to the numbers, the expert shared a fresh estimation of the ring's value in the context of its maker and the materials used. "I would say, at auction today, it would be worth between $7,000 and $10,000," Edwards noted. 

Screenshot showing the guest's reaction (Image source: YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS)
Screenshot showing the guest's reaction (Image source: YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS)

The appraisal left the guest shocked as she wasn't expecting her $200 ring to be worth that much. "Whoa! No way! Oh, my gosh. Wow. Whoa, I got chills," the guest exclaimed.



 

The expert added that despite a chip on the ruby, the ring's value was unaffected, and for safety, the ring should be insured for around $20,000, which was double the estimation that she previously shared.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The guest kept his grandparents' antique instruments under his bed for years.
14 minutes ago
Harris wasn't the only one who came up with an answer that shocked everyone.
1 hour ago
Despite getting a high auction estimate, the owner of the Meiji Period lamp chose to keep it.
20 hours ago
The player, Gabriel Berkowitz pulled off a perfect night winning over $45,000 and a car.
21 hours ago
Harvey showed no mercy after he found out that Sweet Lou Dunbar didn't know how apps work.
1 day ago
The founder of Plop Star made an unforgettable entry and a sad exit from the show.
1 day ago
The host is otherwise quick to reprimand families for backing absurd answers.
1 day ago
While the Marvel comic book fetched a $50,000 appraisal, Harrison felt it was too rich for him.
2 days ago
Jimmy Alexander became the first player to lose a brand-new car on season 43 of the show.
2 days ago
The contestant, Brianne Peterson got extremely unlucky with her letter picks for the final puzzle.
3 days ago
The guest was told that the Jasper Johns Flag Print wouldn't be valuable but it was worth thousands.
3 days ago
It didn’t help that Alvin Rosales was playfully scolded by the host just before losing the Bonus Round.
3 days ago
The photos featured some looks of the show's legendary former host, Alex Trebek, as well.
3 days ago
The player, Kate Stuntz, pulled off a miraculous win to take home over $68,000 and a trip to Iceland.
3 days ago
The owner couldn’t believe the value of Jane Peterson’s "The Floats" gouache painting.
4 days ago
The player, Callie DeWeese, failed to choose the right letters in the Bonus Round, leading to her loss.
4 days ago
The personal digs at the host have been relentless on the show by producers and players.
4 days ago
The guest had no idea how valuable her grandfathers Dutch tinware coffee pot was.
5 days ago
It wasn't one of Steve Harvey's jokes that cracked Bridget up so bad.
5 days ago
Fans now won't be able to stream more than five most recent episodes of the new season.
6 days ago