My husband used to mock me for scouring flea markets for “preloved jewels,” a habit I picked up from childhood summers with my grandmother. Despite his teasing, I kept hunting treasures in the trash.
One weekend, I bought a small enameled egg for $10, haggled down from $25. Sam rolled his eyes when I showed him—until we discovered it wasn’t empty. Inside was a silk bundle holding what looked like costume earrings.
But when we had them appraised, the jeweler stunned us: the earrings were genuine diamonds and emeralds, set in 18k white gold, likely Art Deco, worth millions. They eventually sold for $3 million at auction.
Now Sam never misses a flea market—and that once-mocked egg sits proudly on our mantel.