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Marsh Steel, Jade & Diamond Ring, ca. 1950

Value (2020) | $7,500 Retail
Watch  

GUEST:
I inherited it from my mother-in-law, who inherited it from her aunt, and her aunt lived in Chicago, and it was purchased there, I'd assume around the 1920s, but I don't, I don't know. My mother-in-law gave it to me before she passed away. I, I just absolutely love it. It's one of my favorite things, and I think that it's-- I assume it's jade, and the thing I like best about it is the iron part of it.

APPRAISER:
Well, this is jewelry that is quite unusual and rare. It is called Marsh, M-A-R-S-H. Sometimes called Marsh's, because that was the name of the store it was sold from. George Turner Marsh founded the Marsh store in 1876 in the San Francisco area. This is primetime Marsh, and I would say it's probably the late 1940s, early '50s. It is steel. It is oxidized steel.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
One way we can test for steel, because now it's popular to have oxidized gold and black gold...

GUEST:
Oh. Is the magnet?

APPRAISER:
Just take a magnet...

GUEST:
And it grabs it, doesn't it?

APPRAISER:
Gold isn't going to do that, and this is oxidized steel.

GUEST:
Yeah.

APPRAISER:
And Marsh was also known for adding the element of diamonds to the sides of the ring, and there were three other elements that Marsh would have used. The most common was pearl. After that, he did use coral, and after that, jade.

GUEST:
Jade.

APPRAISER:
And yours is one of the rarest. We really seldom see Marsh jewelry at all. It's not signed, we know it by its form and its design. The value has escalated drastically. You had this ring looked at by a couple of jewelers over the time you've owned it.

GUEST:
One recommended that I have it, have it appraised in another city, and I haven't had the opportunity to do it. And one said it's worth around $350, and I didn't think that was probably the case. But I'd still love it if it were. (laughs)

APPRAISER:
I don't think you could buy the jade for $350 or have the diamonds set, in this market. You know, Marsh jewelry has now been recognized not just nationally, but internationally, and the collectors are vying for it in the international market.

GUEST:
This is sounding better and better! (laughs)

APPRAISER:
On the retail level, this ring, with jade being rare, as it is, would sell in today's market for about $7,500.

GUEST:
Well, I have worn it and enjoyed it, and I will continue to do that.

APPRAISER:
It's a far cry from $350.

GUEST:
Yes, it is! (laughs) Yeah. A little off.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Barry Weber
Jewelry
Edith Weber Antique Jewelry
New York, NY
Update (2020)
$7,500 Retail
Appraised value (2008)
$7,500 Retail
Featured In
Wichita, Hour 3 (#1309)
Vintage Wichita (#2514)
Event
Wichita, KS (July 12, 2008)
Category
Jewelry
Period
20th Century
Form
Ring
Material
Diamonds , Jade , Steel

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.

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