Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Diamond Peral Pendant Worth $36 Million. |
What do you think it is worth?
Well Sotheby's, who you'd think would know a bit about such things, thought this pendant would bring between one and two million dollars at auction. Boy were they wrong!
The item was described as exceptional and highly important natural pearl and diamond pendant, 18th century. But there is more. Set with an oval diamond supporting a diamond bow motif and a slightly baroque drop shaped natural pearl measuring approximately 15.90 x 18.35 x 25.85mm, hook and hinged back fitting, the pearl and diamond bow motif were suspended from Marie Antoinette’s three strand pearl necklace; the single stone oval diamond surmount formed the clasp of that same necklace...
That might add some value! Something did.
Although bidding started off pretty much as expected, it didn't end as expected. Someone paid over $36,000,000 dollars for it. That is something like twenty times the auction estimate.
That, I guess, is what it is worth - for now at least. It might change the next time it goes up for sale.
So why do I talk about things like this. Are you going to find something that was owned by Marie Antoinette? Probably not. But it is possible that you might someday be lucky enough to find something once destined for Isabella Farnese. Still, that isn't the primary reason I talk about such things.
The primary reason is that people often ask what something is worth. It helps to know how to value items, and you can always learn a little about that by watching how things are sold and what price they bring.
So what are the determinants of the price in this case. I suspect that the diamonds, pearls and workmanship had something to do with it, but I think there was a bigger factor - the provenance of once being owned and worn by Marie Antoinette was a huge factor. But I'm sure there was even more to it than that. One person thought for some reason it was worth that much and had the ability to pay for it. At this point, I don't know why the winning bidder thought it was worth more than anybody else that participated in the auction. That is something that maybe only they know.
Selling well is largely a matter of getting things in front of the people that most appreciate them, and in the case of very expensive items, also have the money to spend.
I've said this before, but one thing I like about selling items, although I haven't done it much, is getting the item to a home where it will be appreciated.
Here is the link for more about the pendant and other items auctioned from the Bourbon/Parma family.
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I've been talking a good bit about holed coins and lucky pennies and such things. You've probably heard some variation of "Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long, you'll have good luck." Some people say "If it is heads up, pick it up, but if it is heads down, leave it on the ground". A heads down penny is supposed to be bad luck, I guess. It has also been said that a found penny should not be kept, but turned heads up and passed on to a friend or stranger.
In Ireland and parts of northern Europe it was said that pennies belonged to fairies or leprechauns, so when you found a lucky penny, you were to spit on it and throw it into the nearby bushes or foliage to return them to the creatures and receive good luck in return.
You've probably heard of the traditions of placing a coin under the cornerstone of a new building or under the mast of a ship. I once found a 1909 penny when a house built in 1909 was torn down. It was in mint condition except for a few scratches. I think it could have been under the cornerstone of that house.
Here are some other superstitions having to do with pennies.
Carrying a penny for good luck.
Throwing a penny overboard for safety when traveling by ship.
Keeping a jar of pennies in the kitchen for good luck.
Putting money in a wallet or purse given as a gift. My grandmother always did that one.
Keeping a coin hidden in a baby's crib.
Putting a received penny in your pocket to attract more.
Coins with holes are especially lucky.
Tossing a penny with the idea that your worries will go with it.
Tossing a penny into a wishing well.
Keeping a penny in your shoe. (Remember the penny loafers?)
I know that a lot of people will not pick up pennies on the street or when detected. I will. I always like to take them home and look for any mint errors or other interesting things I might be able to find on them. I always check my change too. Newly received change goes in one pocket so I can look at it when I get home.
I've found a few mint errors that way. Some are significant enough to be registered on Wexler's coin error database. Check it out.
http://cuds-on-coins.com/lincoln-cent-spike-heads-1990-1999/
Excellent database of mint error coins.
Pennies can be worth thousands of dollars.
----
The surf on the Treasure Coast will be two to four feet today, slacking off for a few days. There might be a nice increase in a week or so.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
The primary reason is that people often ask what something is worth. It helps to know how to value items, and you can always learn a little about that by watching how things are sold and what price they bring.
So what are the determinants of the price in this case. I suspect that the diamonds, pearls and workmanship had something to do with it, but I think there was a bigger factor - the provenance of once being owned and worn by Marie Antoinette was a huge factor. But I'm sure there was even more to it than that. One person thought for some reason it was worth that much and had the ability to pay for it. At this point, I don't know why the winning bidder thought it was worth more than anybody else that participated in the auction. That is something that maybe only they know.
Selling well is largely a matter of getting things in front of the people that most appreciate them, and in the case of very expensive items, also have the money to spend.
I've said this before, but one thing I like about selling items, although I haven't done it much, is getting the item to a home where it will be appreciated.
Here is the link for more about the pendant and other items auctioned from the Bourbon/Parma family.
---
I've been talking a good bit about holed coins and lucky pennies and such things. You've probably heard some variation of "Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long, you'll have good luck." Some people say "If it is heads up, pick it up, but if it is heads down, leave it on the ground". A heads down penny is supposed to be bad luck, I guess. It has also been said that a found penny should not be kept, but turned heads up and passed on to a friend or stranger.
In Ireland and parts of northern Europe it was said that pennies belonged to fairies or leprechauns, so when you found a lucky penny, you were to spit on it and throw it into the nearby bushes or foliage to return them to the creatures and receive good luck in return.
You've probably heard of the traditions of placing a coin under the cornerstone of a new building or under the mast of a ship. I once found a 1909 penny when a house built in 1909 was torn down. It was in mint condition except for a few scratches. I think it could have been under the cornerstone of that house.
Here are some other superstitions having to do with pennies.
Carrying a penny for good luck.
Throwing a penny overboard for safety when traveling by ship.
Keeping a jar of pennies in the kitchen for good luck.
Putting money in a wallet or purse given as a gift. My grandmother always did that one.
Keeping a coin hidden in a baby's crib.
Putting a received penny in your pocket to attract more.
Coins with holes are especially lucky.
Tossing a penny with the idea that your worries will go with it.
Tossing a penny into a wishing well.
Keeping a penny in your shoe. (Remember the penny loafers?)
I know that a lot of people will not pick up pennies on the street or when detected. I will. I always like to take them home and look for any mint errors or other interesting things I might be able to find on them. I always check my change too. Newly received change goes in one pocket so I can look at it when I get home.
I've found a few mint errors that way. Some are significant enough to be registered on Wexler's coin error database. Check it out.
http://cuds-on-coins.com/lincoln-cent-spike-heads-1990-1999/
Excellent database of mint error coins.
Pennies can be worth thousands of dollars.
----
The surf on the Treasure Coast will be two to four feet today, slacking off for a few days. There might be a nice increase in a week or so.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
