Latest news with #GeoffreyMunn
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Antiques Roadshow expert left 'shaken' after giving guest 'life-changing' news
An expert was left visibly shaken after delivering a jaw-dropping valuation during a recent episode of the BBC show. Jewellery specialist Geoffrey Munn, known for his calm manner and royal knowledge, became emotional while sharing the value of a set of rare heirlooms brought in by a guest. You may also like Antiques Roadshow star left stunned by 'one-of-a-kind' item in very rare moment Antiques Roadshow guest speechless as £1 vase turns out to be worth a fortune Royal cufflinks spark unexpected moment During the segment, Geoffrey was presented with a set of cufflinks and a brooch passed down through the guest's family. The items had originally belonged to her great-grandfather, who worked as a chef to Queen Victoria and Edward VII. According to the guest, her ancestor had been gifted the jewels by various members of European royalty, including Tsar Nicholas II and Wilhelm II, during his time working at Sandringham and Buckingham Palace. Geoffrey immediately noted the rarity of the pieces, describing the cufflinks as 'very, very Russian' and likely crafted using the samorodok technique, a style favoured by Fabergé. Though not confirmed to be from the famous house, he said they 'reeked' of the legendary jewellery firm. A surprise Fabergé find The real highlight came when the guest produced a brooch that had once been given by Tsar Nicholas II. Geoffrey confidently identified it as an authentic Fabergé piece due to the visible workmaster's initials, declaring it a 'full-blown Fabergé brooch'. The guest appeared emotional as she reacted: 'Wonderful. Because I wondered and half hoped it would be and that's marvellous.' Life-changing valuation Geoffrey began with a modest estimate for the cufflinks, placing their value at around £8,000. He explained that although not confirmed to be Fabergé, their provenance and style made them highly desirable. The cufflinks that had been turned into brooches were given a slightly higher valuation of around £9,000. However, it was the valuation of the brooch that left both the guest and expert speechless. After the guest guessed £10,000, Geoffrey replied: 'Well it is £10,000 and it's more than £10,000. It's £15,000.' At this point, Geoffrey held the guest's hand and said: 'You feeling calm? This is very, very good isn't it? Making me nervous.' The studio erupted in applause as the guest responded: 'My dear chap. Gosh. That's amazing. I never realised it would be as much as that, I must confess.' A collection to treasure Despite the significant valuation, the guest told Geoffrey she had no plans to sell the items. 'I don't really want to sell these,' she said. 'I want to keep them because they're family pieces.' Geoffrey agreed, adding: 'I think in a way they should be kept together as a collection.' Fans watching at home were equally moved by the exchange. Many praised Geoffrey for his kind manner and emotional sensitivity, with one viewer writing on X: 'Geoffrey Munn always handles these moments so well. What a lovely man.' Another commented: 'You could see how much this meant to both of them. Antiques Roadshow at its best.' Family ties to royalty The items' connection to the Imperial Russian family and European monarchs made the valuation especially significant. Geoffrey pointed out the imperial cipher and historic craftsmanship as crucial factors in determining the brooch's worth. The emotional moment served as a reminder of the rich stories often attached to family heirlooms.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC Antiques Roadshow guest baffled by £12k Faberge necklace's survival
Antiques Roadshow expert Geoffrey Munn was left taken stunned by a rare and extraordinary Faberge necklace with a heartbreaking back story. An Antiques Roadshow guest was left speechless as they declared "oh my goodness" after discovering the staggering value of her friend's necklace, one that had luckily survived a house fire. Filming at Chatham Historic Dockyard for the BBC show, expert Geoffrey Munn was clearly astounded by the exceptional and unusual piece. Munn couldn't hide his intrigue, noting: "A beautifully made wooden presentation box, probably of Hollywood, and for me, there are no prizes for guessing what is within," before having a more detailed discussion. "There are three pretty little enamel blue eggs. Tell me about them with you." The visitor revealed that her friend inherited the necklace, believing it to have Russian roots as reported by the Mirror. Responding, Munn explained: "Well I think she probably guessed that they were Russian from the lid satin and it is written in cyrillic but it's clearly eligible to enthusiasts of this subject, that it actually says the name of an important Russian jeweller. "But I'd just like to discuss this in a back to front way and tell you about the eggs which are sky blue enamelled Easter eggs on a necklace. "And they are mounted by tiny, tiny diamond laurels and that's quite important in a way, because in the tradition of jewellery, the colour blue is for love and it's something borrowed, something blue." The expert delved into the necklace's symbolism, explaining that the petite diamond laurels represented the Latin phrase "the triumph of love over all". He continued: "So here are the triumphal laurels surmounting the colour blue but there's another message coming across here, because they are Easter eggs. "This is a gift from someone at Easter in holy Russia, presenting to someone they love and it's the triumph of love over everything. "I think it is a triumph, because it's survived in absolutely pristine condition which is wonderful for all kinds of good reasons but let's return to the lid satin once again." The expert then unveiled that the jewellery was actually a Faberge piece, leading the guest to exclaim: "Oh gracious. Oh wonderful." He observed: "And we don't need any explanation beyond that to know that this is by far the most famous goldsmiths workshop that's ever existed, so it's very, very exciting stuff." Munn further clarified that the blue "eggs" were crafted from a silver core, engraved and filled with blue enamel. He continued: "And there's a great tradition in Russia to give Easter eggs. In the countryside, you'd have painted white chicken's eggs to give and in the towns they'd be wooden eggs, perhaps ceramic eggs. "But in this curious, claustrophobic world of the Romanov court and its orbit, only Faberge would do. It's a whiff of pre-Revolutionary Russia. "And in 1917, catastrophe struck when the Russian Revolution decimated Faberge's empire, leaving it completely destroyed forever," the antiques expert recounted, emphasising the significant historical impact on these prized artefacts. "And so when we see these items come through, the excitement really builds and thankfully your friend has taken great care of it because it's in almost perfect condition and it's kept in this box which frames it like a picture." The specialist then left the owner astounded with the valuation: "Your friend has an object which is undoubtedly worth £12,000." Overwhelmed by the necklace's substantial valuation, the guest shared its emotional significance after enduring a tragic incident. "Oh my goodness! Oh she'd be thrilled to pieces," she explained. "Because quite recently she had a big fire at her house and there was quite a lot of things lost and this is one thing that survived." Munn offered a sympathetic response, suggesting a silver lining: "Well that's wonderful and maybe it's some small compensation. But how exciting it is to see it here today." Wrapping up the conversation, the expert shared his own delight: "I'm thrilled to pieces! I'm exhausted now, I don't know about you! Wonderful."
Edinburgh Live
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Antiques Roadshow guest left 'speechless' as expert shares incredible value of family brooch
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Antiques Roadshow expert found himself chuckling and claiming he was "going home" after a guest outpaced him in revealing the fascinating backstory of an exquisite brooch. Filming at Brodie Castle in Scotland, the show's specialist Geoffrey Munn was on hand to meet with people from across the UK came to showcase their treasured items. In this particular instance, a guest presented an eye-catching brooch, which prompted Munn to express: "The sun's coming out and here we see gold and we see rubies and we see diamonds. But what does it mean?" The owner of the brooch then shared its history, explaining: "So it's a brooch which I inherited via my mother from my great-aunt. "They come from Silesia which is today, southern Poland, and they had to flee from the Russians during the end of the war and they made it over to west Germany. (Image: BBC) "She was cook and housekeeper to Prince Ernst August of Hanover for 37 years." Acknowledging the importance of such a token, Munn observed: "Well this is a very typical gift from a royal personage, there's no question at all" before recognising the guest's pre-emptive research. "And the hallmarks have revealed, and I think you've rather cleverly found this out before me, haven't you? And so, what does it tell you?" The guest proceeded to unveil that the jewellery piece was Russian, bore a 56 Kokoshnik mark signifying 14 carat gold, and featured an assayer's mark attributed to Ivan Lebetkin, hailing from late 19th and early 20th Century Moscow. Clearly taken aback by her preparedness, Munn replied in jest: "I'm almost redundant! I think I'm going home! You found it all out. "It took a lot of squinting and turning to make that out", she chuckled. He responded: "Well you're a very expert squinter in that regard because you've got it all right and the style of it is absolutely typical of pre-Revolutionary Russian style. "And then as soon as you say pre-Revolutionary Russian style, then one thinks of one particular maker, which of course, was Karl Faberge. (Image: BBC) "And everybody wants to hear that name because, for context and for value." Regrettably for the guest, the brooch wasn't actually a Faberge piece, as Munn clarified: "I think it's probably one of his competitors, because I've spent my whole life looking at his work and there's something about the handwriting of it that isn't quite him but nonetheless, it's de l'epoque. "It comes from exactly the same period, exactly the same place, with exactly the same clientele. "So that is a rose by any other name that smells as sweet, but perhaps not as sweet financially, which is the real rub. "But I really do mean it. The craftsmanship is the same, the quality of it is the same." When it came to revealing the price, Munn had an impressive figure in mind: "So what's it worth? Well, I'm going to say £7,000, £8,000." Instantly, the guest's eyes widened and her jaw dropped at the figure, causing a stir among onlookers. She exclaimed: "Speechless! I never believed that. Wow. "You've got to believe it", the expert teased as she thanked him, covering her face in shock. The guest uttered in disbelief from behind her hands: "No, really?", followed by Munn's chuckle as she affirmed: "Yes, really." Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow expert sends guest AWAY after spotting 'crucial' detail missing from diamond bracelet linked to Hollywood star
An Antiques Roadshow expert sent a guest away after spotting a 'crucial' detail missing from their diamond bracelet, which was linked to a Hollywood star. A resurfaced episode of the BBC show, which sees specialist appraisers value heirlooms and heritage items, went to the Baddesley Clinton manor in Warwickshire. Expert Geoffrey Munn was asked to assess a stunning diamond bracelet, said to have once belonged to iconic Hollywood actress Rita Hayworth. He admired the beautiful jewellery: 'Diamonds sparkling in the sunshine here. This is almost Hollywood sunshine, isn't it?' The owner replied, revealing the item's Tinseltown origins: 'It is indeed and that is exactly where this was bought.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. She purchased the bracelet from an antique and jewellery store on Hollywood. The woman was introduced to the owner and they soon developed a close friendship, which lasted 24 years until the shopkeeper passed away. She added: 'It's always nice to have a jeweller as a friend. 'And I had inheritance so I thought I would put it into something tangible and also pretty and also probably a better investment than the bank.' With this origin story about diamonds and best friends, Geoffrey could not resist a couple of obvious jokes: 'Your best friend, a girl's best friend, all these cliches are tumbling out onto the table!' The owner said she bought the bracelet for $23,000, which is around £13,500 - but it was her mention of its previous owner that got Geoffrey really excited. 'But in fact it had belonged to Rita Hayworth', she said, to which the expert responded enthusiastically: 'Oh, how marvelous! That's very good to know.' The jewellery was a gift to the actress and pin-up girl, who was one of the top stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, best known for her turn in 1946 noir film Gilda. It was given to her by her third husband of a total five - Aly Khan, whose father was the former President of the Assembly of the League of Nations. The current owner of the bracelet, which she described as '1940s, American, fabulous Hollywood glitz', was clearly a big fan of Rita: 'She was an amazing star and a real Hollywood A-lister. 'She acted with absolutely everybody in Hollywood at the time - Glenn Ford, Frank Sinatra, Orson Welles.' Geoffrey agreed, pointing to her many fans: 'She was much adored and much loved.' But the owner, despite her best efforts, had not been able to find a picture of Rita wearing the bracelet so far. The specialist recommended she go away and keep trying to find such an image: 'Well, I will send you home to look for those photographs and maybe even her will would be interesting too, wouldn't it? 'And you've got to go in for a bit of open cast archaeology here because the provenance of these pieces have to be crucial in every sense of the word.' 'Because they're heirlooms, they're talismans and when you can associate them with somebody famous, someone utterly glamorous in lifestyle and in looks, then this adds hugely to your investment in some regard.' His recommendation informed his eventual estimate of how much the jewellery would go under the hammer for. Geoffrey said: 'Maybe if you go home and do your Rita Hayworth thing, find a photograph of her wearing it under the most spectacular circumstances with somebody famous, well, then £80,000.' The owner was absolutely delighted by this estimate: 'That's good! That was really quite a buy!' But the expert was quick to add: 'But if we can't find that and never do, then it's not so much fun. It might only be a mere £45,000.' The woman was not at all put off by that: 'It's still good! It's still lovely! I'm delighted!' It comes after guests on another more recent episode of Antiques Roadshow were stunned into silence after learning the eye-watering value of a watch purchased for just £21. Sunday's instalment of the popular BBC show saw expert Ben Wright presented with a pair of Rolex watches. One of them, the watch that cost only £21 originally, belonged to the guest's great-great-grandfather and was identified as the Rolex Prince. Sunday's instalment of the popular BBC show saw expert Ben Wright (pictured) presented with a pair of Rolex watches The other, more recent one, meanwhile, was his father's, who had accompanied the guest to appear on the programme. Of the older watch, Ben said, also looking at the paperwork accompanying it: 'I notice there's a little bit of wear and tear on the dial and we've got a later winder on the case.' Ben then went on to comment on the Rolex Submariner, which belongs to the father. 'I was a merchant navy cadet in 1976 and I saved up my pittance to buy that in Singapore. It was £250 I think,' he revealed. The specialist then revealed his valuation: 'At auction the Rolex Prince is going to be between £3,000 and £4,000. 'The Submariner, it's in great condition, all in all, the full ensemble at auction easily £8,000 to £12,000.' The father and son duo smiled and nodded silently at the whopping values, utterly stunned, before thanking Ben.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest shocked by value of 'fascinating' heirloom jewellery she thought was fake
A guest on Antiques Roadshow was shocked by the value of a 'fascinating' piece of jewellery she thought was fake. Expert Geoffrey Munn was presented with two accessories during an episode that originally aired in 2006. A guest brought along pieces of jewellery she inherited from her late mother and explained how she had always assumed one of them didn't contain real jewels. One was a brooch which was shaped like a bee and the guest explained: 'Well that was left to me by my mother and through her mother from my mother, so I know where that came from.' She went on the reveal that when her mother passed away, she was able to choose something and selected the second item. 'I don't even know if it's real. We never saw it, my mother never wore it and my father didn't know where it came from. Never seen it before,' she revealed. The expert was surprised and clarified: 'Well, it certainly is real. Actually, it's the most fascinating jewel.' Geoffrey explained the item appeared to be 'inspired by 18th Century France'. He said it wasn't 'an 18th Century jewel' and instead was 'an 18th Century revival one and blue enamel, diamonds, a little ruby in the front'. While the bee brooch was dated from the 1890s and Geoffrey complimented the 'salon sapphire' it contained. The conversation then moved onto the value of the jewellery and the guest shared the bee brooch had been previously priced up at £4,000. Geoffrey said: 'Well £4,000, that's a little while ago because I think that's a very desirable thing. 'It's very concentrated, it's very animated, it's by a superb maker and everybody wants this thing, honestly they do. 'And value is to do with measured want, that's all that value is. And I'm going to tell you in measured want that that's £10,000.' The guest was taken aback by the valuation and Geoffrey then went on to look at the jewellery piece she thought was fake. He said: 'Not quite the same gasp-inducing figure but still substantial at £4,500.' The valuation visibly shocked the guest and she commented: 'That's very gasp if you think that it was sort of loose and Ma never wore it.'
