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

Woman picks up $3 necklace at thrift store, left stunned after finding out its real value

She found several other pieces in the past as well, which she plans to hand over to her future children.
UPDATED AUG 3, 2024
Representative cover image | Unsplash | Photo by kiyana
Representative cover image | Unsplash | Photo by kiyana

Thrift stores often reward shoppers with the most amazing finds. While looking for cheap items, people often stumble upon historic artifacts, luxury clothing and real gold. This was the case with Redditor u/tinselpandora aka Nada Abdulkarim who found real pearls and 14k gold while shopping on a budget. Abdulkarim, who bought the piece of jewelry for just about CA $4.99 ($3 USD), was shocked to find out that the item was worth nearly 90 times more. 

Representative image | Gety Images |  Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives
Representative image | Gety Images | Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives

Abdulkarim, 27, told Newsweek that she loves shopping for unique jewelry. She shared that she has been searching for unique items in local thrift stores for several years. About three months ago, she was on a similar quest, looking for something fresh and unique at a thrift store.

While rummaging through the items, she spotted a gorgeous pearl and gold necklace, which was priced at only CA$4.99 (around $3 USD). Abdulkarim didn't know if was real gold and pearls, but she had already fallen for the piece. She told the publication that she had never seen a piece like it before and considered it to be too good of an opportunity to let go. However, when she returned home and inspected the necklace in detail, she was shocked.

Screenshot from the post | Reddit | u/tinselpandora
Screenshot from the post | Reddit |u/tinselpandora

She said that she has a habit of inspecting every piece of jewelery she gets and checks for any stamping she may have missed at the store. In this case, she did miss the 585 stamp on the necklace that indicated it was made of 14K gold. She the inspected the pearls as well. She knew of a method called a 'girt test' where the pearls are rubbed against the teeth. If the pearls feel gritty, that means they are real and if they feel smooth, they are fake. 

"The pearls passed the test, so I knew I had a real gold and pearl necklace," she said in the report. 

Screenshot from the post | Reddit | u/tinselpandora
Screenshot from the post | Reddit | u/tinselpandora

Despite her own tests, she took the necklace to a jeweler, who also confirmed that its was indeed made of real gold and pearls. The jeweler also told her that it could be worth anywhere between CA$400 ($288 USD) and CA$800 ($576 USD). However, the value didn't mean much to Abdulkarim as she had expressed that she wanted to keep the necklace. 

Screenshot from the comments | Reddit | u/SpeckledTickbug
Screenshot from the comments | Reddit | u/SpeckledTickbug

This wasn't the first time that Abdulkarim had found gold at a thrift store. She told Newsweek that she had found several other pieces in the past as well, which she plans to hand over to her future children. Earlier, the thrift store veteran came across a similar piece of jewellery which she bought for CA$2.99. 

However, she later learned that the necklace was made of 18 karat white gold and held a pear shaped sapphire as well. Naturally, she took the piece to a jeweler for a price estimation and it turned out to be worth over CA$2,000 ($1441 USD), nearly 100 times what she had paid.

For more such thrift store adventures, follow u/tinselpandora on Reddit.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The owner of Harry Karstens' First Ascent Denali Ice Axe was shocked to learn how valuable it was.
3 hours ago
As model Rachel Reynolds slammed on the brakes, fellow presenter Alexis Gaube nearly fell over.
4 hours ago
Harvey couldn't believe his eyes when an answer did not show up on the board.
21 hours ago
The winner, Trish yelled "This cannot be happening!" as she sat in her new car.
22 hours ago
Harvey was shocked to see some of the answers show up on the board.
23 hours ago
The seemingly tough puzzle cost contestant, Kelly Amodio a brand new Mini Cooper.
1 day ago
The contestant, Jodi Hope took home $75,000, using her puzzle solving skills.
1 day ago
The guest had to promise on camera to share the profits with her friend who gifted the item.
1 day ago
Harvey just couldn't seem to understand what Giuliana Rancic's mother was saying.
1 day ago
Harvey had to take a moment to school the contestant on how the game is played.
1 day ago
It seemed like Veronica forgot she was holding the host's hand after the win.
2 days ago
The owner of the Jean-Michel Basquiat Oil Stick Painting made it clear that it wasn't going anywhere
2 days ago
The player, Jason Warren missed out on taking home more than $86,000.
2 days ago
The TikTok creator @thebiteo87 stirred a debate on social media by exposing the new tactic.
2 days ago
Harvey couldn't believe what the NFLPA stars would choose for their wives to wear
2 days ago
Harvey barely held on to the podium after hearing the answers that shook him.
3 days ago
The celebration was justified as Joseph won a brand new car on his birthday.
3 days ago
The player, Shaunica Amantine missed out on taking home over $82,000 over the seemingly tough puzzle
4 days ago
After nearly losing a brand new car, Dylan got a second chance to take it home.
4 days ago