An Antiques Roadshow guest was left in shock after learning the estimated value of her mother-in-law’s iconic 1910s pearl and diamond necklace.
The one-of-a-kind necklace, which the woman and her husband inherited after her grandmother died at age 102, was presented to appraiser Gloria Lieberman on the show.
Lieberman was quickly able to confirm that the piece was created by Paulding Farnham while he was a senior designer at Tiffany & Co. thanks to the signatures on the necklace.
The expert showed viewers two signatures on the necklace: one on the back of the diamond pendant and the other on the clasp.
The one-of-a-kind necklace, which the woman and her husband inherited after her grandmother died at age 102, was presented to appraiser Gloria Lieberman on the show.
The guest was then informed that despite losing two of her pearls – each worth $5,000 – the necklace was currently worth a staggering $200,000.
Lieberman was quickly able to confirm that the piece was created by Paulding Farnham while he was a senior designer at Tiffany & Co. thanks to the signatures on the necklace.
She explained: “Most people would say, ‘Oh, it’s the diamonds, you know, that’s what’s important.’ No, it’s all about the pearls.
“This piece was probably designed by one of Tiffany’s greatest designers, Paulding Farnham, and he loved natural pearls.
“Every pearl is beautiful: the sparkle, the match, the skin that covers it – we call it the skin. He has no faults. I mean, these are beautiful natural pearls.
The guest was then informed that despite losing two of her pearls – each worth $5,000 – the necklace was currently worth a staggering $200,000.
Lieberman also advised the guest to have the necklace returned to a Tiffany’s store and to “wear it from time to time to enjoy its beauty,” but especially to save it for important occasions.
Lieberman also advised the guest to have the necklace returned to a Tiffany’s store and to “wear it from time to time to enjoy its beauty,” but especially to save it for important occasions.
The guest, who was in complete shock after knowing the value of the historic necklace, quickly responded and said she would keep it for her daughters’ weddings.
Farnham, a famous jewelry designer, sculptor and metalworker, was the principal designer at Tiffany’s for about 20 years.
The guest, who was in complete shock after knowing the value of the historic necklace, quickly responded and said she would keep it for her daughters’ weddings.
Farnham, a famous jewelry designer, sculptor and metalworker, was the principal designer at Tiffany’s for about 20 years.
He was “universally recognized as the genius behind Tiffany’s success” when the company won six gold medals at the 1889 exhibition in Paris, according to the University of Antique Jewelry.
Farnham’s enameled and jeweled orchids, faithful in their detail to the real flowers, were considered exceptional at the time.
Some of his works are currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and accessible to the public.
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