Louis Comfort Tiffany Necklace, ca. 1905 | Extraordinary Finds: Extras | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW | PBS

When appraiser Jill Burgum arrived at ROADSHOW’s 2012 event in Seattle, Washington, little did she know that her first appraisal of the day would be one of the favorites of her career. A woman named Joan brought in an exquisite Louis Comfort Tiffany necklace that had been in her family since her great-grandmother received it as a gift in the early 1900s. Burgum gave the necklace an auction estimate of $30,000 to $40,000 and recommended that Joan contact the Tiffany archives to confirm the necklace’s provenance. Learn from Jill what happened after Joan followed up with Tiffany and what the necklace is worth today.

[@nemo227]

I'm not a jewelry guy but even I can see that the necklace is possibly one of the most gorgeous necklaces I've ever seen.

[@darrena2625]

You can keep your diamonds and rubies and emeralds. For me, a black opal is the most beautiful of all precious stones

[@brentfarvors192]

@@darrena2625 I imagine the mistress of whoever won the auction, feels the same way...

[@andiarrohnds5163]

nah black opal is stupid... though it is a pretty great 19th century historic piece... for women

[@Kharnellius]

I’ll take $100k “stupid” any day.

[@fesswah]

Jewelry items with multimillion dollar prices do not look as beautiful as this

[@muniz27]

If she sold it to Tiffany, I bet all the records about it would've magically been found.

[@themaintenanceman1056]

5:50 That sneeze in the background when she said $200,000, was the best timing. 😂😂

[@cubanian385]

I came here to say that!!! 😂😂😂

[@DannyDaCat]

To PBS/Antiques Roadshow: I think this level of follow-up and expanded backstory and results is great!! Always left some of these shows with a "I wonder what they decided" or "I wonder what happened"... This def scratches an itch!

[@judycook4314]

The beautiful opal alone was worth at least $25,000. I’m so glad that they got so much for it!!!!

[@PrimeDirective101]

One of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen and the Grandmother's portrait was stunning, and the castle! Wow.

[@skerriesrockart]

Yes but it was not a real castle and absolutely not medieval..it was a house built to look like a castle around 1900-1920s

[@eileenentler8993]

​@@skerriesrockart-- it was mentioned that it was a medieval castle MANSION ... and considering when they originally built castles they were JUST castles, I think it's safe to assume that this mansion is a bit more recent and modeled AFTER a castle.

[@AleisterCrowleyMagus]

I wish Kate Winslet had worn this in Titanic instead of the imitation Hope diamond. Perfect art nouveau design!!

[@alexdodd4520]

@@SicilianStealth is coming

[@anthonyhebisen]

Though it’s beautiful, I’m afraid the sold amount of this necklace alone at $100,000 wouldn’t be able to fund one dive alone to the titanic. One dive alone cost over $168,000. And this is just a dive , not including mechanical robots to actually explore. So any necklace worth the cost of a dive would have to be near the value of the Hope Diamond..

[@marisolbobadilla3341]

Ñ

[@efisgpr]

Totally would've been better. You are so right.

[@wmd40]

This really should be in a museum because it's so unique, antique, and beautiful.... I think that piece will just continue to gain value until it's worth millions.

[@deborahlehman8617]

Like in the Smithsonian! They have the most beautiful fine jewelry section I have ever seen!❤️

[@Stfuval17448]

That opal stone had me shed a tear. Ugggghhhh so beautiful

[@pooker916]

Saaaaame! That black opal was gorgeous ♡

[@ivanolsen7966]

most opals come from the south west of Australia

[@Lommy9999]

Seriously

[@audrab27]

It's amazing to have a portrait that looks like a painting of her wearing it

[@bobbycratchet3958]

If you think that's amazing I humbly offer you kzbin.info/www/bejne/joHTaXdviNGdaqs. A family painting dating back to ~1931.

[@spaceghost6713]

The portrait is a painting

[@ivanolsen7966]

you don't get let out much do you ....... and you eagerly go along with the DEMANDS for EQUALITY ..... please give BACK your rights to have a VOTE

[@huolalupin6008]

What a nice lady. Lovely to see someone thoroughly enjoying someone else's good fortune.

[@DrinkWhiskeyRaiseHell]

she got a cut

[@piustwelfth]

@@DrinkWhiskeyRaiseHell Probably 25% of $100k.

[@anti-antifamclovin7627]

I'm a grown man and have shown this video to several ppl to show them how beautiful this necklace is. Not very manly but this thing is seriously a work of art!

[@emmaleebuzzard1023]

I can’t imagine selling a family piece, but what an amazing history with the necklace. Wow.

[@NickLumzz]

If not you, certainly the next generation. Hard choice for sure but in reality its hard to say no to the potential money.

[@bizm]

Turquoise Tech Unfortunately, for the people who aren’t wealthy who own very valuable items, the insurance cost on a piece of with high of a replacement value is astronomical and they simply can’t afford it. Better to sell it and see it be truly appreciated for what it is than risk it being stolen or lost in a house fire.

[@freedomfries6618]

If you aren't particularly wealthy, leaving one family member an item worth $100,000, while leaving nothing of a comparable value to the next, could be kind of unfair.

[@lynnlobliner3933]

@@bizm it wasn't Turquoise Tech who wanted to keep it -- it was Emmalee Buzzare who couldn't imagine selling a family piece.

[@Whitsundial]

Unless you are wealthy, jewellery like that is just an historic object. It will live on as a relic of the time in which it was created by Tiffany.

[@kayakuprising5914]

The beauty of this pendant far surpasses it's auction price.

[@namaste91]

This is one of the most beautiful necklaces I've ever seen. The opal is radiant beautiful, the green garment stones are mesmerizing. Plus it's from Tiffany. I, personally, would never, ever sell such a highly valuable piece.

[@AFAskygoddess]

Yea, right. LOL

[@irmanv.9798]

The beautiful black opal, the workmanship, the history - they were so smart to do the research & let the Auction house handle it. A gorgeous piece!

[@coobay4786]

This necklace is absolutely beautiful.

[@mrcrabmoney]

Stunning piece! That opal is magnificent. 😍💗 I'm so glad Joan didn't just sell it back to Tiffany archives!

[@thefreeamericanpress9472]

lol

[@wildlifeartistgj]

Jill Burgum is not only a charming, well informed appraiser but a very lovely woman. Always nice to see smarts paired with beauty!

[@djquinn11]

Yes she sure is.

[@colleenbrown5248]

Agreed! She is my cousin.

[@Rylosam00]

Nice that Tiffany worked with the seller. Great story.

[@drinny26]

Wow I wish ARS did more updates like this.

[@dergluckliche4973]

Search out their 500th episode special. It's full of updates on the most valuable items they've appraised. Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bobVY6dtZ9Wtr8k&t=1

[@marketmaker2469]

A superb quality, rare item with history offered first-time out of family at a well-advertised auction can very well top estimates. Good job advising the client, Jill Burgum.

[@HiAdrian]

Beautifully proportioned, immediately catches the eye as something special.

[@SandraNelson063]

Its not just the fine materials used, its the obvious high skill used in the crafting. This piece wasn't just run up on an assembly line. It was carefully designed and the right jewels were saught out and cut with excruciating attention to minuscule detail. An entire workshop was involved in making this necklace . God knows how long it took. I think it is well wotth the auction price.

[@Seemsayin]

Its the obvious high skill used in the crafting? Really? Yeah. We've heard of Tiffany, too. Anyone watching this already knows it didn't come from a bubblegum machine.

[@sofiasewell3025]

5:53 Bless you to whoever sneezed in the background

[@doloresgarza3505]

Sofia sewell... that was too funny!!I had to go back and listen to the sneeze!lmaoo,hadent noticed before..

[@hiandrewfisher]

That's where Covid started

[@hlk5887]

That was an honest hay fever sneeze!

[@0116scooter]

Stunning necklace! Was so happy to see it cleaned up in the auction photos.

[@lin2thez341]

Yes, it was stunning then!

[@randawilliams9243]

So wonderful. It's sad, her family doesn't still own, that BEAUTIFUL house.

[@GameChanger597]

It is sad. It's upsetting a museum owns it now. Museums have enough fortune and money of their own. This house was sentimental for the family and the museum ruined that.

[@emilye126]

The most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.

[@lindawild6568]

They did indeed low-ball her, the green garnet is the rarest of the garnets and is sometimes as much as $30,000 on its own!

[@danielblue4460]

This was years and years ago..

[@piustwelfth]

That stone is absolutely spectacular!

[@anb7408]

I can’t even imagine how long it took for the craftsman to build that piece. The intricacies of it are mind boggling!

[@stevebengel1346]

Without a doubt, the most beautiful piece of jewelry I've ever seen

[@maryschiff9580]

I loved hearing what happened to a piece on the Road Show!

[@jmatt4life]

I love these WONDERFUL stories of good news coupled with good fortune!!! Such a delight to know that someone hit a LIFE Lottery!

[@BBQAndButter]

Wow, it really cleaned up nicely! It was pretty before, but cleaning really made it pop.

[@KingJerbear]

What an absolutely gorgeous piece. Brilliant colors and completely beautiful design.

[@garycody1929]

What a professional Jill Burgum is and giving great advice without trying to make money.

[@iAtomicHaze]

Absolutely amazing. Love this show ❤️

[@jasonjackson5696]

That gal was very good and gave great, selfless advice - well done!

[@r.mcbride2837]

Oh, she and her company got a tidy commission off of that sale. Believe it. :-)

[@kdnick8584]

Not so selfless. They don't work for free.

[@jasonjackson5696]

KD Nick - ok, maybe not the best choice of word 🤷

[@AshtonColby]

It deserves to go for $100,000. What a stunning piece.

[@lorimangold2890]

Thank you for sharing this video the history of the castle, Joans grandmother, spectacle

[@jmatt4life]

What a WONDERFUL history behind such a beautifully crafted piece of antique art/jewelry!

[@glycineairman]

What an incredible piece. $100k even seems low

[@1sTEfFaniE1]

5:43 She's says today it would probably be worth 150-200 thousand dollars.

[@deborahwatson2432]

Wonderful story! Thank you for sharing 🥰

[@julz63]

What an incredible story to that absolutely stunning necklace!!

[@Isabella-nh5dm]

Oh My God! Such a beautiful necklace and the portrait as well!

[@suescherdel6278]

Magnificent piece! 💜

[@poe-]

That Opal is amazing

[@berryteresa8407]

Goosebumps!! 💘💘💘 ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE!!!! 💖💎📿💎💖

[@McChrister]

What a wonderful, historic story told by a lovely lady! WoW, $100.000 for an opal....♥️🍀☺️

[@CeasefireNow2024]

What a stunning piece!!

[@mikenealon4042]

that result is, comforting. thank you, louis t.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

STUNNING! Green garnets AND black opal. WOW.

[@s44577]

What a great story and happy ending this is.

[@poodlegirl55]

Imagine a jewelry expert saying your Grandma's necklace was the most amazing piece they had ever seen?

[@JLB0880]

That opal is STUNNING. Mother Nature, the original artist.

[@sheilabroad8192]

What a great story. Just the Opal alone is priceless.

[@starkitten0075]

I would never part with that necklace if I inherited it!! 😍

[@brucekaraus7330]

Well done Ms. Burgum. Well done to the show and PBS.

[@drinny26]

I’d rather own the historical piece of jewelry than have the money. $25,000 is a lot but the piece is special and her great grandmother owned it. I wish I had something from any of my ancestors.

[@nunyabiznes3901]

Same. I would never have sold that, especially since she had the painting of her great-grandmother wearing it. But maybe she didn’t have kids or anyone to pass it onto. Then maybe I would prefer to get the enjoyment of knowing I had money to live the rest of my life on. Or a new car. 😉

[@Stevenowski]

Seems to me that Tiffany low-balled the offer at $25,000. 🤨

[@ameliajordan29]

Joan made the right call. Wow.

[@marcuswardle3180]

Stevenowski Tiffany made the offer with no provenance. They could say it was theirs due to the style and handwork. All the others did was use the picture and where the woman came from to create a link between them all. There still is no proven link between Tiffany and the jewellery.

[@marcuswardle3180]

1manuscriptman I was coming from as somebody who works in a museum. I’m an archivist ‘by trade’. To the museum world ‘Provenance’ is King as it gives context to the item. Without the signatures of the Founding Fathers on the Declaration it becomes a parchment with the words of the Declaration of Independence written on it, circa 1776. For one it maybe worth a couple of thousand, the other it is priceless. It all has to do with Provenance.

[@marcuswardle3180]

1manuscriptman Thanks for the correction. I work as an archivist for sports though the earliest piece I’ve looked at is a 9th Century psalter! So nice.

[@sarahalbers5555]

Absolutely!

[@flourchylde]

Compared to some contemporary pieces that have been appraised for astounding prices, this necklace is head and shoulders above anything else I have seen on AR. That piece should be in the $500,000 range. It is that extraordinary.

[@lisasheffield9706]

This piece is stunning 😍😲😊😊

[@amandawoods8323]

A boon to the program and people who attend the event is the example of the excellent qualities and integrity of purpose of their appraisers.

[@bleachsanchoblastk]

Too beautiful. If I had a piece like that I'd never let it go.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

EXCELLENT video!! Thank you for posting this "Gem" HAHAHA! It's fabulous, keep 'em coming, please!

[@mikethebeginner]

Lovely story. Talk about treasures in the attic!

[@88997799]

I’m a block brick and stone mason… They had lots of money to build a house made of large stone. Love to metal detect these houses they always have lots of lost treasures.

[@realtalk5931]

Absolutely exquisite piece of jewellery

[@susieque176]

Wow!! That necklace is stunning 😍

[@scrappymom7881]

It's hard to say no to that kind of money but the family history with that piece, along with the craft history and how stunning it was would be reason enough to keep it.

[@opalfishsparklequasar8663]

You KNOW when tiffany's offered $25K, that was SERIOUS LOWBALLING. That was your CLEAR INDICATION you'd EASILY realise FOUR TIMES MORE at AUCTION.

[@DavidDavid-jb1cy]

not really

[@---cr8nw]

Maybe not 4 times more, but certainly at least 50% more. In fact, there's a decent chance that Tiffany Archives was the final bidder.

[@beatrizboccheciampe4941]

NOT A MUCH AS FOUR TIMES, BUT A GOOD 50.000

[@elcuy7518]

@@DavidDavid-jb1cy Funny because if you watch the full video she gets 100k at auction and they talk about how today it would be worth 200k.

[@GameChanger597]

Except she did indeed get FOUR TIMES that amount. Did y'all even watch the video??

[@douglasm3653]

This is an absolutely gorgeous piece of jewelry! And, it is definitely one of the ones I like the most of various pieces that have been on the show. If it were mine, I would find it extremely hard to part with. I am happy, however, she was able to sell it for as much as she did!

[@StillBloom]

Absolutely stunning.

[@sunshine4days611]

So amazingly beautiful!❤️

[@leighc.3609]

Wow such a beautiful piece

[@davidbundesen5867]

Fantastic story. Thanks

[@janepoultney5207]

I didn't even know that some opals are black. It's gorgeous.

[@cassandrawhite1594]

They are not only the most expensive but the most beautiful of opals. My next favorite is a fire opal.

[@temperhollow7716]

What a ravishing necklace! My birthstone too.

[@rachel_sj]

Temper Hollow Opal/October birthdays are so lucky! I’m Garnet/January and personally wish I was born in September/Sapphire or October/Opal (like my fiancé and sister respectively), just cause I prefer blue or illuminescent stones lol!

[@kirtg1]

Kip's Castle was a mile or two from where i went to high school in Montclair. I vaguely recall hearing about the house back then.

[@strongforu]

Great story!

[@beingstupid7183]

The sneeze @5:53 though lol

[@jondickinson1142]

That was fun! Excellent job by all...

[@justmeonthebeach]

Wow, amazing story.

[@eej902]

That is an amazing necklace!

[@mbtvalli]

Wow. Very interesting glimpse of the auction world.

[@gersimone1962]

Awesome for the lady owner, mind-blowing 💙

[@michellesilverman4969]

Wow...what a story!

[@trilby5546]

wonderful story.👍⭐️

[@josephbuckhoff6988]

*Wow Wow Wow... Oh Yesssss, Great Story & Results $$$$$ :) How Sweet It Is*

[@staarvsraainbow]

Omg 😱 I would die for that necklace it’s just so much my taste!

[@rosemarygaeta8205]

That necklace is gorgeous and different!

[@englishrose4388]

That’s a stunning necklace.

[@The-Cute-One]

That necklace is stunning.

[@Gurovski]

an incredible piece of jewellery

[@tiamarie7443]

That's one of the prettiest pieces of jewelry I have ever seen.

[@AldousAudacious]

Wow! Amazing! Just amazing!!!!! 😮❤

[@fairmaidenvoyage87]

Stunning!

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

fairmaidenvoyage87 Jill certainly is.

[@bRichgray]

Looks like a real life Eye Agamotto. Beautiful.

[@griffmic10]

Amazing!!! ❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼