Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: I brought this diamond cross that my mother gave to me.

My mother got it from her mother-in-law when she was leaving Cuba.

She left in 1961, right during the time that Castro took over.

And my father wanted my brother and I to leave, 'cause he was worried about us and my mother's safety.

So we came to the U.S.

It's been in our family for four generations.

APPRAISER: Wow.

GUEST: My mother-in-law got it from my grandfather, whose father was an import-exporter, and he traveled a lot to, uh, Europe.

And unfortunately, on his, uh, last trip, he died on the Titanic.

APPRAISER: Oh my gosh.

GUEST: This is something that my mom felt was very important to save and keep.

APPRAISER: So there are no hallmarks or maker's marks on the cross.

But I did test it and it does test for 18 karat gold.

And I'm dating it around 1890.

And you have beautiful old mine cut diamonds and then they're accented by rose cut diamonds right at the bottom.

One small condition issue is one of the little stamen here is missing, but hey, who doesn't have bumps after over 100 years, right?

I mean, it's really incredible; the diamonds are lively.

You have 3.5 carats of diamonds there.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: G to H color.

They're S.I.

clarity, I mean, it's really amazing to see something this old still intact.

Because usually someone would sell it or they would break it apart, make earrings, a small ring.

And it's amazing to know that your mother, no matter what, kept it intact.

If you wanted to replace it, if you went into a jewelry store, an antique jewelry store today, it would be between $6,000 and $8,000.

And you would insure it for the $8,000, the higher value, because it's going to be a little difficult to find, if you lose it and want to replace it; it's magnificent.

Thank you for bringing it.

GUEST: Thank you.

APPRAISER: It's the craftsmanship, it's the matching, it's the period that makes this special.