26.27ct antique cushion bought for GBP10 to be auctioned at Sotheby's

[bmfang]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ught-for-10-at-car-boot-sale-may-fetch-350000

Unbelievable luck for the owner of that ring. They wore it for 30 years thinking it was a piece of costume jewellery and half their luck, the stone apparently wasn't damaged!

 

[Tourmaline]

OMG.

 

[tyty333]

Wow! And never have it checked that whole time...just wow!

 

[bright ice]

That's unbelievable, wish it had been me!!!

 

[arkieb1]

I wonder if they don't want to be named in case the original people that had the sale seek them out....

 

[kenny]

Wow! Amazing!

 

[Snowdrop13]

Yeah, I hear stories like this and wonder how on earth something so valuable apparently got lost in the mists of time. It would be fascinating to go back and find out!

 

[SimoneDi]

I was going to post this article, I see bmfang beat me to it lol
Such an amazing luck! Good for the owners, they can retire comfortably now

 

[bmfang]

The photo of the stone on the article looks very fetching. Looks like it was cut decently. Love those large facets on the bottom!

 

[poshmommy]

What an amazing find. I don't know what a car boot sale is but if I ever stumble across one, I'll check it out for sure.

 

[GearGirly]

OMG

 

[EvaEvans]

This is a picture of the gigantic 26.27ct OMC diamond, I, VVS2 (GIA):

 

[EvaEvans]

This is the 26.27ct diamond in its original (plain) setting:

 

[EvaEvans]

And this is the GIA report
Report says 26.29ct (not 26.27ct)
....AMAZING diamond!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Wow and an I VVS2 to boot! Absolutely amazing for an antique stone!

 

[ac117]

Yummy yummy!! Why can't that happen to me?!?!?

 

[junebug17]

This story just blows my mind! Amazing, all those years thinking it was costume…and no damage to it!

I was wondering what a boot sale is too, here's the definition - similar to a flea market in the US I guess

"Car boot sales or boot fairs are a form of market in which private individuals come together to sell household and garden goods. They are popular in the United Kingdom, where they are often referred to simply as 'car boots'. The term refers to the selling of items from a car's boot."

 

[EvaEvans]

Video of the 26.29ct diamond:

 

[ac117]

Holy moly that is one beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tophat1]

Wow, and I VVS2! I am surprised it isn't valued higher!

 

[SimoneDi]

Ahh-mazing!! I want to find a 26ct diamond

 

[kenny]

Wow, and I VVS2! I am surprised it isn't valued higher!

+1

How's bout you and I bid it up over a million?

 

[EvaEvans]

What car boot sale is:

 

[EvaEvans]

For those that want to bid , here is the Sotheby's auction:
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/fine-jewels-l17051/lot.364.html

 

[kenny]

The part of the car that Americans call a trunk, the British call a boot.
I'm not sure what they call a boot that you wear on your foot , maybe a trunk.

Who taught those people how to speak English, anyway?

 

[pearaffair]

Haha I just love picturinf some lady wearing giant "costume" jewellery and it turning out to be real! And her telling her husband, "I told you I always get great deals!" And him having to admit that all her bargain hunting finally paid off. Lol!

 

[ChristineRose]

BOOT = BUTT. The back end!

 

[EvaEvans]

Diamond ring
Estimate
250,000 — 350,000
GBP

LOT SOLD. 656,750 GBP (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

Auction hit approximate 547000 GBP (before to apply the 20% Buyer's Premium), converted to USD it's around $705000.

 

[SimoneDi]

O M G That is amazing!! Such an awesome story!

 

[OFY]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/08/luxury/car-boot-sale-diamond-ring-sells-for-847k/index.html

"The new owner is likely to re-cut it into a modern diamond that will emit even more sparkle and potentially be worth a multiple of today's price," he said in a press release

This is so sad I wish it were illegal. How could someone destroy an antique like that? I wonder if they're also buying furniture from Buckingham Palace for firewood.

I also wonder about the economics of this. Will it really be worth more as a modern cut? While I understand all diamonds in this size range are incredibly rare, I imagine it's one of a kind in it's original antique form.