15 of the Most Expensive Pieces of Jewelry Ever Shown on 'Antiques Roadshow'

Appraised: 2006

Value: $75,000 to $100,000, auction.

About: Circa 1930, this canary yellow diamond ring was passed down through the owner's family—and is absolutely massive for a yellow Asscher-cut diamond. To quote the appraiser: "It's very hard to get that combination. I've had only one small one in 26 years in the business. So that tells you it's rare." Even cooler, the $75-$100k value was considered "very conservative" back in 2006, so in today's market this thing is likely through the roof.

Appraised: 2007

Value: $165,000 to $175,000, retail.

About: This Asscher-cut ring is even more valuable than the one preceding it. For starters, it's a little older—hailing from 1915. The piece comes care of the owner's grandfather's jewelry store, weighs approximately five carats, and is described as a "very, very clean stone." And yes, the appraiser completely nerded out, saying: "That's quite a ring you've got there. I mean, we don't see rings like that."

Appraised: 2008

Value: $70,000 to $90,000, auction.

About: This lovely family heirloom is a gorgeous example of Art Deco jewelry, and was made somewhere in the 1920s-30s. The center emerald is a "sugarloaf cut" (intended to maximize the green tone), and has bullet shaped diamond baguettes surrounding it. The piece itself is most likely American (though the stone is from Colombia), and thanks to the Art Deco market peaking, it was given a huge price tag.

Appraised: 2010

Value: $60,000 to $80,000, auction.

About: This massive diamond ring is a whopping 7 carats, and was made in 1925, retailing for $1,000. Interestingly, the eight-prong setting indicates that this ring was intended for a man rather than a woman. It was originally mis-graded before the owner brought it into Antiques Roadshow, where she found out it was worth up to $80k instead of just $20k. 

Appraised: 2011

Value: $70,000 to $90,000, auction.

About: This lovely 6.5 carat ring was made in 1900, and is what's referred to as an "old mine cut"—meaning there are fewer facets. "It is a really pretty piece, just the center stone as is," explains the appraiser. "And what's nice is, it's not in a yellow mounting or setting that would amplify the yellow. It's actually in a platinum-and-diamond Edwardian setting that complements it beautifully."

Appraised: 2011

Value: $140,000 to $160,000, retail.

About: This 3.4 carat "fancy" "intense" engagement ring was made in New York City in the roaring '70s, and definitely lives up to its name. The value comes from the gorgeousness of the stone itself, set in a "modern round brilliant cut." We'd like five, please.

Appraisal: 2013

Value: $75,000 to $100,000 retail.

About: These earrings contain six carats of sapphire and six carats of diamonds (casual)—and belonged to the owner's grandmother's sister. In other words, they go way back.

Appraised: 2014

Value: $125,000, insurance.

About: This gorgeous necklace was bought at NYC's Van Cleef & Arpels by the owner's father-in-law in 1960. Amazingly, it was actually custom-made based on a sketch that the buyer drew. The diamond weighs 3.91 carats, and is flaked by smaller stones—and believe it or not, it only cost $5,700 at the time.

Appraised: 2014 

Value: $55,000 to $85,000 auction.

About: This necklace and ring were bought by the owner's grandmother before 1949, and weren't actually part of the same set. The ring is platinum-topped gold with a Burmese sapphire surrounded by diamonds, and dates from 1910-1915. It's worth between $25-35k. Meanwhile, the necklace was made to go with the ring in the 1920s, and is worth an additional $30-50k. The pear-shaped drop alone has two and a half carats of diamonds, while the tassel is decked out in sapphires.  

Appraised: 2014 

Value: $55,000 to $65,000, retail.

About: This lovely engagement ring (from the owner's husband) is hilariously referred to as a "fat pear" in terms of shape—and weighs five carats. The ring is Art Deco in aesthetic, and was made in America by little known designers K and F and Company.