Tiffany & Company Yellow Diamond Pendant. ca. 1919

Appraised on: June 30, 2001

Appraised in: San Diego, California

Appraised by: Gloria Lieberman

Category: Jewelry

Episode Info: Roadshow Remembers (#1017)

Originally Aired: November 6, 2006

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (2:28)

GUEST: Well, my grandmother was married in around 1900 to a man named Benjamin, who had courted her at the same time as another man, named Barry, and her father wanted her
to marry Benjamin, so she did, even though she was in love with Barry.

APPRAISER: I see.

GUEST: Her second husband was the one who gave her this pendant.

APPRAISER: And when were they married?

GUEST: They were married in 1918.

APPRAISER: I see. So we could sort of date this after 1918. NNow, I understand you ha other jewelry from her, but this was the piece you chose to bring to the ROADSHOW today. Why did you pick this piece?

GUEST: Because I like it. I've worn it a great deal of the time over the years since she gave it to me. It just... it sits in just the right place on my neck, and it's beautiful.

APPRAISER: And what do you know about it?

GUEST: Not enough.

APPRAISER: Not enough-- and what did your grandmother tell you?

GUEST: She said that it was a yellow diamond and...

APPRAISER: And did you believe her?

GUEST: I didn't know, because it seemed pretty big, and Granny kind of liked to... If she wanted you to like something, she sometimes sort of embellished on its attributes so that...

APPRAISER: I see, I see. Well, I must tell you that when you came and showed it to me and you said you weren't sure that it was a diamond, I kind of looked at it and was actually curious myself because it has a beautiful vivid yellow color. And on closer examination, I realized it was a diamond; she was telling the truth.

GUEST: Oh, really?

APPRAISER: Yes. Not only is it a diamond, but it's actually an important size for a yellow diamond
because it measured over one carat.

GUEST: Wow...!

APPRAISER: Yeah. And it's an old European-cut pear-shaped. And you know what else
I found out about it? When I turned it over, it has a signature. The signature... do you have any idea?

GUEST: No, because I looked to see if there was one and couldn't find anything.

APPRAISER: It's Tiffany and Company. Yeah.

GUEST: Wow...

APPRAISER: This is Tiffany and Company, and quite rare, because of that period-- and I would date it between 1918, 1920-- you rarely found a yellow diamond in a piece of Tiffany jewelry. And I even think this was designed by Louis Comfort because it has that kind of wire work, just wonderful wire work. So now we've got to appraise it. What do you think it's worth?

GUEST: I have no idea, Gloria.

APPRAISER: I'm going to say-- it's a tough appraisal because it's rare-- $20,000 and up. What do you think?

GUEST: Holy mackerel! I can't believe...

APPRAISER: Yeah, so you really hit the spot today.You knew what to pick, and...

GUEST: I almost didn't bring it.

APPRAISER: And your grandmother was not telling a lie. And she left you something great.

GUEST: That's wonderful!

APPRAISER: Isn't that great? Yes, thanks for coming.

GUEST: That is so exciting! Great!