Antiques Roadshow

APPRAISER

So tell me what you brought us in today.

GUEST

An opal bracelet.

APPRAISER

Opal bracelet? And how did you get it?

GUEST

I inherited it from my great-aunt.

APPRAISER

Where was she from?

GUEST

Chicago.

APPRAISER

Chicago.

GUEST

She had a collection of opals that I inherited.

APPRAISER

Have you opened up the opal?

GUEST

I haven't. I didn't know it opened.

APPRAISER

Yeah, it...

GUEST

It was too small for me to wear...

APPRAISER

It opens... It opens right up here like that.

GUEST

Oh, cool.

APPRAISER

And it exposes the face of the watch underneath there.

GUEST

Awesome.

APPRAISER

It's a very nice watch. It was made by Rolex.

GUEST

Really?

APPRAISER

Yes.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

Manufactured around 1950.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

It's all 18-karat gold. The condition of it is really incredible. It shows very little wear at all. The bracelet of that watch has no damage to it. We look at the dial of the watch, and on the face of the watch right there, it's all original, untouched. You have a cabochon opal here, and it's really a nice shape, too. And sometimes opals don't really survive the time, but this one has done very well. I gotta tell you, I've never seen a Rolex with an opal on it. I'm going to take it off for a minute. And you see, there's the Rolex crown right there.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

On the dial. And on the buckle right here, you've got the Rolex logo, the Rolex crown right here.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

But look at the iridescence of the opal on that. Isn't that great?

GUEST

Yeah, it's gorgeous.

APPRAISER

Look at the colors. I mean, you've got flashes of green, red. Red is really the most desirable color in opals. So it's a really exceptional opal. There's no crazing on it. It's just really wonderful. Any idea as to the value?

GUEST

I don't know. Maybe $1,500?

APPRAISER

Your watch is very collectible. The market on these are not so much in the United States, it's more in Asia. And your watch today would easily retail for approximately $10,000 to $12,000.

GUEST

Okay. (laughing) Awesome. Wow.

APPRAISER

Insurance, easily a minimum of $15,000 should be put on it for insurance valuation.

GUEST

Okay. Terrific, thank you. That's surprising.

APPRAISER

Good surprise?

GUEST

Very good surprise. That's cool.