GUEST: It was very special-- it was my grandmother's. It was passed on to my mom, and my mom passed away a few years ago, and we're keeping it in the family. And I don't know much about its origin, so I'm curious about that. And it was worn back in the day when people wore things like that, but it's been sitting much, pretty much in a safe spot for the last 17 years.
APPRIASER: And you brought a photograph of someone wearing it-- who is this?
GUEST: That's actually my grandmother. We called her Muma. I'm not sure when it was taken. I'm guessing maybe 1930s or '40s. She was born around 1899, I believe.
APPRIASER: Did you ever have it appraised before or evaluated?
GUEST: We did, a few years ago, after Mom's passing.
APPRIASER: And how much was that for?
GUEST: They said about $22,000.
APPRIASER: Okay-- what I would like to point out is a few elements of this, this necklace. To start with, we have this beautiful bezel-set diamond chain. Which is a really simple concept. Mm-hmm. And what bezels are are, they're collars that go around the diamond.
GUEST: Oh.
APPRIASER: So it really just protects the diamond, and it protects the wearer from snagging on anything. So it's a really great design.
GUEST: Okay.
APPRIASER: So bezel-set diamonds are very popular even now.
GUEST: Oh, really, wow.
APPRIASER: Yes, very current. The wonderful part about this, though-- it actually comes off. So this is that pineapple-shaped pendant that we have here.
GUEST: It does come off?
APPRIASER: It does-- there's a little hook in the back. And the best part about this is, the diamonds shimmer, you know, when you wear it.
GUEST: Mm-hmm.
APPRIASER: We're getting that it's about 12 carats total weight.
GUEST: Oh, really? Oh, okay.
APPRIASER: Yes-- it's all hand-made, so it's beautifully done.
GUEST: Okay, wow.
APPRIASER: I just love it. I think it's beautiful-- it's platinum and diamond. It's circa 1915. We call this Belle Époque.
GUEST: Okay.
APPRIASER: And it's just a beautiful platinum wires set with these bezel-set diamonds, and it's very airy and very open. And this is really the typical look of a Belle Époque piece of jewelry.
GUEST: Oh, wow.
APPRIASER: It does look to be American-made.
GUEST: Okay.
APPRIASER: It is not hallmarked at all.
GUEST: Okay, yes.
APPRIASER: But it has the look of an American piece, because it's not hallmarked, and there were a lot of platinum and diamond workers back in that time period that were not signing the jewelry.
GUEST: Okay. So American like New York or Chicago or...
APPRIASER: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago...
GUEST: Okay.
APPRIASER: All big centers of jewelry making in platinum and diamond.
GUEST: Okay.
APPRIASER: Well, I would say today, the insurance replacement value of something like this would be anywhere between $50,000 and $70,000.
GUEST: (stammering) Really? Wow. I wasn't going to say wow. Wow! Holy Toledo. My grandmother loved diamonds, and my grandfather thought they were a good investment.
APPRIASER: Well...
GUEST: I guess he was right.
APPRIASER: I mean, if you wait 100 years, they could be a good investment.
GUEST: It's been 102, probably, right?
APPRIASER: You made my day.
GUEST: (laughing)You made ours, so thank you.
