the treasure » A gold and diamond pumpkin brooch
the story » The jewelry item’s owner, a Clayton resident, recalls its interesting provenance: “It was one of my paternal grandmother’s favorites. She always loved fine jewelry and had a piece for every occasion. She left the gold pumpkin to a woman who worked for her, helping raise her children (including my father) and cooking for the family for more than 30 years. This woman was beloved by the entire family and remained close to everyone. She gave the brooch to me on my wedding day 26 years ago! I wear it only around the holidays, but it gives me great joy every time I pull it out.”
what the professionals say » This whimsical, stylized pumpkin brooch appears to be a vintage piece, circa 1960s. It contains no hallmarks or stamping, so the designer and manufacturer are unknown. But we can see that the craftsmanship is of very high quality. For instance, on the reverse side, the honeycomb pattern has been azured and thrombed instead of constructed with drilled round holes for the diamond settings. It is crafted of 18kt. yellow gold with a textured exterior and polished ‘seeds’ and stem. The pumpkin is set with high-quality round diamonds of approximately 2.28 carats (G color and VS clarity).
value » Estimated Insurance Replacement value (to recreate the exact item in today’s marketplace) would be approximately $10,000. Fair Market Value for the purchase of a similar vintage piece (or if you wanted to sell the item) would be approximately $3,500.
This month’s Expert: Jeweler Kit Heffern, Certified Gemologist Appraiser and president of Elleard Heffern Fine Jewelers, founded in 1913.
Photo: Bill Barrett