AuctionsJun 26, 2026
‘Hogback’ Diamond Ring Finds a New Home SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot Sale
A WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
A woman in the UK thought she had purchased a piece of costume jewelry when she bought his ring, but it turned out to be 18-karat gold with a 3-carat diamond. The ring box is not related to the ring; it is just the box that was used to bring the ring to the appraisal event. (Image courtesy of WeBuyVintage)
London—A U.K. woman was shocked to learn the value of a ring she bought for £5 ($7) at a car boot sale, the across-the-pond equivalent of a garage or yard sale.
The woman, whose name was not disclosed, took the ring to a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Oxfordshire, England. The company is one of the U.K.’s largest organizers of traveling jewelry and antique appraisal events.
Like the long running “Antiques Roadshow” series in the United States, members of the public were invited to bring their jewelry and antiques to Oxfordshire so experts could evaluate them.
WeBuyVintage jewelry expert Asha Nayak took a closer look at the flea market find and found the ring was 18-karat gold and set with a 3.02-carat natural diamond.
She estimated the ring’s value at approximately £15,000 ($20,225).
“I was completely shocked,” said the woman who bought the ring.
“I only paid £5 for the ring thinking it was just an attractive costume jewelry piece and never expected it to be worth thousands. It was such an incredible surprise and a moment I will never forget.”
Nayak said, “Finds like this are exactly why we love what we do. Jewelry can often hold incredible stories and sometimes the most unassuming pieces can turn out to be something truly special.”
“This ring was a fantastic example of how expert examination can uncover the hidden quality, craftsmanship and history behind a piece.”
Related stories will be right here …
The woman, whose name was not disclosed, took the ring to a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Oxfordshire, England. The company is one of the U.K.’s largest organizers of traveling jewelry and antique appraisal events.
Like the long running “Antiques Roadshow” series in the United States, members of the public were invited to bring their jewelry and antiques to Oxfordshire so experts could evaluate them.
WeBuyVintage jewelry expert Asha Nayak took a closer look at the flea market find and found the ring was 18-karat gold and set with a 3.02-carat natural diamond.
She estimated the ring’s value at approximately £15,000 ($20,225).
This 3.02-carat diamond ring was valued at around £15,000 ($20,225) by WeBuyVintage jewelry expert Asha Nayak. (Image courtesy of WeBuyVintage)
“I was completely shocked,” said the woman who bought the ring.
“I only paid £5 for the ring thinking it was just an attractive costume jewelry piece and never expected it to be worth thousands. It was such an incredible surprise and a moment I will never forget.”
Nayak said, “Finds like this are exactly why we love what we do. Jewelry can often hold incredible stories and sometimes the most unassuming pieces can turn out to be something truly special.”
“This ring was a fantastic example of how expert examination can uncover the hidden quality, craftsmanship and history behind a piece.”
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