An antique expert’s €35 find was sold for hundreds more after her cheap discovery hit the auction block.
Catherine Southon, an antique specialist, and TV presenter was competing in a challenge for the Antiques Road Trip against Izzie Balmer, an auctioneer and TV star.
The BBC show follows the experts on a road trip around the UK searching for treasures and competing to make the most money at each auction.
The pair battled it out this week hunting for valuable pieces on the north coast of Cornwall when Catherine spotted the €35 pair of earrings that shot up in price at the resale.
After picking up the costume jewels, both competitors were left in awe when UK buyers began battling it out to own them.
In a teaser clip shared on the Antiques Road Trip Twitter page, Catherine’s earrings jumped straight to £220 - and didn’t stop there.
The caption alongside the video read: “Straight in at £220! Catherine’s £30 earrings and Art Nouveau pendant really jump-started this Road Trip."
In the clip, the show's narrator Tim Wonnacott explained: “It’s the final lot of the day.”
“I just don’t think you can go wrong with this, I’m so excited for you,” Izzie commented.
The auctioneer began the bidding at £220, and Catherine said: “Yes! That’s brilliant. Yes! Oh, wonderful.”
When the bidding reached £260, Catherine was shocked beyond belief and said: “I would be happy with £120. I would have been over the moon with £120.”
The bidding rose even higher than to £280, and when the auctioneer brought the bidding to an end, Catherine was given a round of applause by her competitor and now leads the competition.
The show continues on BBC One every weekday at 4:30 pm.
