Alarm over diamonds!
Lotte Schlingmann, a 23-year-old woman, visited the ZDF studio with family jewelry from her great-aunt, hoping to turn the precious items into cash. The jewelry, an Art Deco-style set consisting of earrings and a pendant, was crafted with exquisite craftsmanship and featured platinum, emeralds, and old-cut diamonds.
Upon evaluation, Horst Lichter, the host of "Bares für Rares", was amazed by the number of diamonds in the jewelry, while Wendela Horz, an expert on the show, was thrilled by its beauty. The total valuation of the jewelry was estimated to be up to 9000 euros.
However, despite the high valuations, Lotte Schlingmann failed to sell the family jewelry. The offers made by the dealers were significantly lower than her expectations or the appraised value. Wolfgang Pauritsch found the valuations to be high and did not make a higher bid, while Walter Lehnertz started with a one euro bid but then offered cash if the jewelry was real.
The other dealers were skeptical about the jewelry's authenticity, and no one present in the studio had enough money to match Lotte's asking price of 5000 euros. The highest bid for the jewelry was 4500 euros, and the pendant was valued between 5000 and 7000 euros, with the earrings valued at 2000 euros.
The discrepancy between valuation and actual purchase price is common on the show, as dealers factor in resale potential, market demand, or restoration costs. This can lead sellers to reject offers even if the item is valuable. Despite the setback, Lotte Schlingmann left the studio without a deal.
Horst Lichter expressed his initial reaction to the valuation as astonishment, and the other experts were equally impressed by the jewelry's quality and historical significance. Lotte Schlingmann took on the mission to sell the family jewelry due to her family member's camera-shyness, but the experience served as a reminder of the complexities involved in the antiques market.
Social-media buzzed with discussions about the exceptional Art Deco-style jewelry on "Bares für Rares", as people shared their reactions to the high appraisals and the subsequent low offers. The beautifully crafted set, featuring platinum, emeralds, and old-cut diamonds, caught the attention of both experts and social-media users alike, who marveled at its potential entertainment value beyond the financial transaction.
