Louis Comfort Tiffany Opal Necklace, ca. 1915
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GUEST:
I got that in about... I would say in the late '70s or early '80s. And I got it at Robinson's department store in their estate sale department. Actually, my husband brought it home and surprised me.
APPRAISER:
It was a gift from your husband.
GUEST:
It was a gift.
APPRAISER:
How much did he pay for it?
GUEST:
It was, uh, a little over $3,000 with tax.
APPRAISER:
Uh-huh.
GUEST:
And that was a lot of money to us.
APPRAISER:
Tell me what you've learned about the piece since then.
GUEST:
Well, I know it's a signed Tiffany piece. I know it's, uh, handmade. At the store, they told him it was about the 1920s.
APPRAISER:
These are beautiful black opals. The larger opal is slightly crazed. The smaller opal is in perfect condition. Both opals are what are known as patchwork opals with lots of play of color, with lots of red, which is a very desirable color. But not only is it signed Tiffany and Company on the bottom, looking at the workmanship here tells me that the work is by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
And his work was signed Tiffany and Company after 1907. I believe it dates to the teens. It is beautifully handmade and a very desirable piece of jewelry. The value today is somewhere, average retail, between $70,000 and $90,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my God.
APPRAISER:
It's a treasure.
GUEST:
You're kidding me.
APPRAISER:
No, I'm not kidding you.
GUEST:
Say that again.
APPRAISER:
Between $70,000 and $90,000, average retail. It's a spectacular piece of jewelry by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Thank you so much for making my day.
GUEST:
(laughing): Well, thank you for making my day.
(both laugh)
GUEST:
That's wonderful. Thank you.
APPRAISER:
You're quite welcome.
GUEST:
Oh. Is that a big surprise? (laughing)
GUEST:
(gasps)
APPRAISER:
(laughing):
GUEST:
Oh, my God.
Appraisal Details
Current Appraised Value: $70,000 - $90,000 (Unchanged)
Update 5.18.2009: In this segment, appraiser Christie Romero discusses the retail value of this ca. 1915 necklace, noting that, "... not only is it signed 'Tiffany & Co.' ... looking at the workmanship here tells me that the work is by Louis Comfort Tiffany." What Romero meant by this was not that Tiffany had personally crafted the necklace — a jeweler would have made the piece — but rather that Tiffany had designed and supervised its creation, a fact that enhances the value of the necklace considerably.
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