Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: This was my grandmother's.

My mom received it when I was about 12.

And then I received it from my mom when I was about 35.

And I took it to a jeweler and tried to get it appraised, and I had noticed that it said "Marcus & Company" on the back.

GUEST: And I thought back then it was part of Neiman Marcus.

APPRAISER: Right.

GUEST: And at the time, they said, "Well, we're not really quite sure."

So I've seen other items that were Marcus and Company on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

And it's just, like, this person has Marcus, and this person has Marcus.

I have a Marcus.

APPRAISER: Yes, you do.

GUEST: (laughs) APPRAISER: Well, let me tell you a little bit Marcus and Company.

It was a father and son that started it, and they had a place in Manhattan.

One of the prominent jewelers of the time.

It is carved emeralds in the Tutti Frutti style, which was very hot in the '20s and '30s.

GUEST: Oh.

APPRAISER: It's Art Deco era.

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: And it's done in platinum, and it's got brilliant-cut diamonds, and it's very desirable.

They still make Tutti Frutti-style carvings to this day.

GUEST: Oh, really?

APPRAISER: But the original artifact, which you have here, from the Art Deco era, is awesome.

It's beautiful, and it's in really good shape, because emeralds are p, pretty soft.

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: They're not like diamonds or sapphires or rubies that are much harder and survive better.

So, to have this carving that is still in such great shape is amazing.

When you had it appraised, they didn't tell you the value or anything?

GUEST: My mom has the appraisal somewhere in their house that they've lived in... APPRAISER: Sure.

GUEST: ...since 1976.

(laughing): So, I don't have the appraisal, and I keep it in my safe, and I bring it out for, like, birthdays and Christmas.

I don't have it insured, either.

I know that's kind of naughty.

I was guessing somewhere between maybe five to 10?

APPRAISER: Did somebody ever offer to buy this from you?

GUEST: Long time ago, probably in the late '80s.

My mom considered selling it, and there's some other pieces that are not Marcus, but some other pieces go along with it.

And they offered her about $3,000 for the entire set.

And I was, like, "Don't you dare."

APPRAISER: You are correct.

GUEST: "Don't you dare."

APPRAISER: That would've-- I mean, it's good you held onto it.

I believe now, that if you were to have this in a nice high-end retail jewelry store, it'd be around $25,000.

GUEST: (softly): Fantastic.

Yeah.

Thank you so much.

That's fantastic news.

I love it.

APPRAISER: I love to see that big smile.

GUEST: (laughing): I just love it.