0:00:05 > 0:00:08Today, we've travelled to a city famous for its hot springs,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Georgian architecture and sophisticated living.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14In the 18th century, this city was a playground
0:00:14 > 0:00:16for the royal, rich and fashionable.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20It also had a reputation for its gambling and wild social scene.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25Let's hope the residents of Bath today behave themselves. Welcome to Flog It!
0:00:45 > 0:00:51Bath in the royal county of Somerset may have had a dubious reputation back in the early 18th century,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55but by the late 18th century, when the Bath Assembly Rooms were built,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59it was altogether a more civilised place.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Designed by John Wood the Younger,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06the Assembly Rooms first opened their doors in 1771 to polite society
0:01:06 > 0:01:10and today, "Flog It!" are opening the doors to hundreds of people
0:01:10 > 0:01:14who have turned up to have their antiques and collectables valued.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18You look very elegant in the velvet and the corduroy.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- LAUGHTER - I used to be known as the scruffiest one!
0:01:23 > 0:01:28Let's hope our experts recognise what's fashionable and what should be left in the past.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Some scantily clad figures have caught David Barby's eye.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Very decadent, this.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Anita Manning is all a-flutter and not about one of our antiques.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40- And you're very good-looking as well.- Oh, thank you.
0:01:40 > 0:01:46The Assembly Rooms have hosted some incredible and important events throughout the decades,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49so it really is an honour for us to be here today.
0:01:49 > 0:01:55This magnificent building has three main rooms - the tea room, the octagon room and the dance hall,
0:01:55 > 0:01:57which we'll feature in today's show,
0:01:57 > 0:02:02but we do have hundreds of people outside and thousands of antiques and collectables to see,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04so let's get on with it.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08We have some fantastic finds, but can you antique hunters spot
0:02:08 > 0:02:11what will surprise us most at auction?
0:02:11 > 0:02:16Will it be Aaron's Black Forest ink blotter or Jenny's corkscrew by Osborne & Co?
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Well, keep watching to find out.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25So, let's catch up with David Barby, who's beginning the day rather decadently.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27CORK POPS Oh!
0:02:29 > 0:02:30Jenny, this is marvellous.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34- It's a lovely accoutrement for a cellar.- Hmm.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Because this is one of the finest bottle openers you could have.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Oh, really?
0:02:40 > 0:02:43When I look at this, I think immediately
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- in terms of a wealthy household. - Oh, goodness me!
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Houses that you see in Bath, those terraced houses.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53- Beautiful.- This would have been used in the early 19th century.
0:02:53 > 0:02:59This would have been used by the butler to open those special bottles of wine taken out of the cellar,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02the sand dusted off, and then it would be opened.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05This casting of this section here is wonderful.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08It's all what we term as "fruiting vine",
0:03:08 > 0:03:12which is very appropriate if you think in terms of its use.
0:03:12 > 0:03:19- And just there we have an inscription, "Osborne & Co, patentee".- Yeah.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22They patented it because it had a double action,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24so if I just hold it like this
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and then...
0:03:27 > 0:03:32- and then...- It's amazing. - ..you've got a double action to take out the cork.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37- It's a little bit rusted. - Yes, it hasn't been used... - It hasn't been used for years?- No.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- There are certain things wrong with it.- I know.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44- First of all, the screw section is not as long as it should be.- No, no.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- We're missing an inch and a half at the end.- Oh, dear.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52The other thing that's missing is here, where there's a whacking great hole
0:03:52 > 0:03:57and that would have had a stiff bristle brush, so that when you'd opened the bottle,
0:03:57 > 0:04:03you'd just brush all the wax, so it didn't go into the actual drink itself.
0:04:03 > 0:04:09- I see.- You'd brush that away.- That's interesting.- You'd probably do that before using the corkscrew section.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13- Lovely, lovely piece, a collector's item.- Oh, really?
0:04:13 > 0:04:17- But we have got those defects. - Yes, I know.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21In perfect condition, maybe £150, £200.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25With the defects and the corkscrew section,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29I think we're looking at round about 60 to 80
0:04:29 > 0:04:32with a reserve at £50.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- Yeah, lovely.- You say "lovely".
0:04:35 > 0:04:41- Is it just getting it out of the house? That's what you want? - No, not really. It's just that...
0:04:41 > 0:04:47I didn't attach a huge amount of value. I knew it was beautiful because of the engraving on the body
0:04:47 > 0:04:53and it was unusual because I'd never seen one before, but no, no, I'm a terrible hoarder, so...
0:04:53 > 0:04:58- It deserves another bottle to celebrate that.- Absolutely. Why not? Cheers.
0:05:01 > 0:05:07Anita has not wasted any time tracking down her young man and pulling him in for a valuation.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Aaron, this is an interesting little object.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Did you inherit it from your family?
0:05:14 > 0:05:20No, I didn't. I picked it up in a charity shop, actually, about three weeks ago.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Right. What drew you to it?
0:05:22 > 0:05:27I'd watched the programme and I've heard about Black Forest carvings
0:05:27 > 0:05:33and I'd seen them in the auctions and that, so I saw this one and I snapped it up straightaway.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38Do you frequent the charity shops and the auctions? Do you have an interest in antiques?
0:05:38 > 0:05:45I've never been to an auction yet myself, but I'm in charity shops when I get the chance, car boots.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51- I'm always looking around.- Do you collect things yourself?- I do. I collect Wedgwood at the minute.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55So the ambition perhaps to be an antiques dealer at one point?
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- Yes, that's right. - Would you describe that to me?
0:05:59 > 0:06:02It's a Black Forest carving from Germany
0:06:02 > 0:06:06and it takes the ink off the bottom when you're using a fountain pen,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10so you don't get the ink to run anywhere. It's a lovely little item.
0:06:10 > 0:06:17The Black Forest in Germany beside the Rhine was a famous place for the carving of oak
0:06:17 > 0:06:21and we had cuckoo clocks and bear-related items,
0:06:21 > 0:06:27and some of the big Black Forest carved items are big hall stands,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31and these can go for thousands of pounds.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36This was made for the souvenir trade, but we don't look down on it because of that.
0:06:36 > 0:06:42The quality of the carving in that area was so good that all of the things that they made were good.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46This little chap is smashing and the condition is good.
0:06:46 > 0:06:52We're looking at good condition and that's important when you're buying things, especially to sell them on.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55And I like him because his eyes are intact.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Now, how much did you pay for him?
0:06:58 > 0:07:00I paid £35 for him.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05Well, it's not bad and I think that it was worth taking the chance on that.
0:07:05 > 0:07:12- I would estimate him maybe between 30 and 50.- Right, yeah.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17- But we will put a reserve on it of perhaps £30, lower estimate? - £30, that will be fine.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22I think that you'll make a little money on it and you might become hooked.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24I'm sure I will, I'm sure I will.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31From the Black Forest of Germany to Georgian England. We do like to mix it up on "Flog It!".
0:07:33 > 0:07:38Well, Susan, we have this wonderful jewel.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Where did this come from?
0:07:40 > 0:07:45Well, I inherited it from my uncle, who died in about 1980-something.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- So this is a family piece that you now want to sell.- Yes.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- Why's that?- Well, it's so delicate,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56it wouldn't really be viable to wear it, I don't think.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00I think you're right, because this lovely green guilloche enamel
0:08:00 > 0:08:05is in such a lovely state of condition and preservation.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09It could be rose gold, because the quality is there to be gold.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12But right in the middle we have this crystal
0:08:12 > 0:08:18and underneath the crystal there is a fountain of hair.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Yes.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24So either this is a memento of a loved one
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- or it could be called a "mourning jewel".- Right.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- I'll turn it round to have a look at the back.- Yes.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35This is marvellous, isn't it, because this is all woven hair.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39And it's woven into a very delicate pattern.
0:08:39 > 0:08:45- It almost looks like fine female hair, doesn't it? - I'm sure it's female.- Yes.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Then we have the initials in gold and cut out,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52laid on top of that hair.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55It's a lovely, lovely, lovely jewel.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59It's difficult to put a price on because it is so personal.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04And the other thing is people may say, "It's a mourning piece of jewellery,"
0:09:04 > 0:09:08but I can't see anything "mourning" in that arrangement.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10We have no pearls for tears,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13we have no black enamel,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16so I think this is a personal memento
0:09:16 > 0:09:18that has been given to a suitor
0:09:18 > 0:09:23and I'm thinking in terms probably of somewhere in the region of about £300 to £400.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28- Right.- And I would put a reserve of round about 280, that sort of price range.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35OK, I think it's actually more valuable than that.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- Because you're assuming it's gold? - Well, it looks like rose gold to me.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43But you're limited, because what are you going to do with it?
0:09:43 > 0:09:48- Are you going to wear it? - That's true.- If you wear it, it's somebody else's hair.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52But what I like about it is it's of this period of the building,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55so late Georgian, the Regency period.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58This little jewel is very nice.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01This is gold, seed pearls,
0:10:01 > 0:10:08- and on the back, there is a small mark that says the equivalent of 15-carat.- Right.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Probably made at the beginning of the 20th century.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Hand-painted, possibly on ivory, with this river pearl surround.
0:10:15 > 0:10:21That little jewel, I think probably around about £140, £200.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25- I would hate to think somebody is buying that purely for the gold content.- No.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28For me, it's a lovely piece of jewellery.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36So, we are now halfway through our day, and time for our first visit to the auction room.
0:10:36 > 0:10:42I think we could have one or two surprises. Let's put it to the test. Here's a recap of what we're taking.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Jenny's Osborne & Co corkscrew that has seen better days.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50A wooden Black Forest ink blotter from Germany.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55And that intriguing Georgian locket with a twist of female hair.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58And a little seed pearl brooch from the same era.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Today, our sale is in Clevedon,
0:11:02 > 0:11:0527 miles west of Bath.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10There is a wonderful atmosphere and a real energy in the room today.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14People have travelled from far and wide, hoping to pick up a bargain
0:11:14 > 0:11:17or go home with a treasured item and earn a few bob.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21It's the unpredictability of the auction that creates all the magic.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26Our first item is just about to go under the hammer, so I'll catch up with our owners
0:11:26 > 0:11:30and leave the proceedings to our auctioneer, Mr Marc Burridge.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- Susan, good luck. - Thank you. I need it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39I had a chat to the auctioneer Marc Burridge yesterday about your wonderful locket
0:11:39 > 0:11:43and we think the quality is exceptional. It's exquisite.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Let's put this to the test. It's going under the hammer now.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50George III oval locket there, green enamel decoration.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54What can we say on this one? £200, thank you. 220.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57240. 260. 280.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- 300. 320...- It's sold.- 340.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03360? No. £340 nearest me.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08And 60, anyone else? All done at £340 now...?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- It's gone, £340.- Yes.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14We're happy. That's mid-estimate. Three to four, you said.
0:12:14 > 0:12:20- That's OK.- Yes, brilliant.- Could have been a bit more.- It would have been nice.- There you go, it's gone.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25- Here's your second lot going under the hammer, the seed pearl.- Yes.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Circular brooch with a miniature portrait of a lady wearing a bonnet.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Interest here. 110. 20. 30? 130?
0:12:32 > 0:12:35130? 130, 30, 30, will you?
0:12:35 > 0:12:3730. 40. 50.
0:12:37 > 0:12:4160? £150 in the room. 160, anyone else?
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Come on.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44150...
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- The hammer's gone down. That's a total of £490.- Great, thank you.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- Happy?- Yes. I'm going to take the kids on holiday.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Butlins! LAUGHTER
0:12:55 > 0:12:57And what a nice place to go!
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Next up, our budding antique dealer with his ink blotter.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Aaron, let's talk about your Black Forest bear, your ink blotter.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- I think you did rather well with that.- Thank you.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15I'm a big, big fan of those whole carved Black Forest figures, and the little bears always sell well.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- And you paid £35 for it?- £35, yeah.
0:13:18 > 0:13:24- I think we can top that.- Hopefully. - I think you'll make a profit even after paying the commission.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29- That's what it's all about. You're starting at a young age. Keep doing it.- I love it.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Let's put this one to the test. Here we go.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35We've got the Swiss, Black Forest style, beech roller blotter.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38We'll start at £25.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- £30.- He's got commission bids.
0:13:40 > 0:13:4340. 5. £50 with me.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45And 55 now?
0:13:45 > 0:13:4855 in the room. £60.
0:13:48 > 0:13:5165, sir...? £70 with me. And 5, sir...?
0:13:52 > 0:13:56And 80 anywhere else? The bid's in the room now at £75.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- We're selling at 75... - The bear's done it.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- That's brilliant.- Well done. - Thank you very much.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- It shows you what you can do if you've got a good eye.- Thank you.
0:14:06 > 0:14:12- And you're brave enough to part with the money and take a punt on it. - It was a gamble.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15It's that gut feeling you have to go with, your instinct.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20'Aaron's done well at his first auction, making twice what he originally paid for the item.'
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- Are you happy with that?- Very happy.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27I'll be going back to the charity shops tomorrow to see what I can find.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Hopefully, after this next lot, Jenny will be opening a bottle of wine,
0:14:35 > 0:14:41but not with this corkscrew, because that's going under the hammer to be sold, hopefully, for £60.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45- Hopefully.- Nice thing, though. Good corkscrew.- Beautiful.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48The actual corkscrew, we've lost about three-quarters of it.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51That's why we've put a sensible price on it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55That's fine. It was sitting in the drawer, so I don't mind at all.
0:14:55 > 0:15:01- And it still works. We opened a bottle of wine.- I saw that. It still goes "pop", doesn't it?
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08The Thomason corkscrew now, Osborne & Co.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- One, two, three telephone bids. - Three?- Oh!- Oh!
0:15:12 > 0:15:14We might get a surprise here.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17220. 240. 260. 280. 300.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21320. 340. 360. 380. 400.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23420. 450. 480.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25500.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- £500, David!- 500. 520.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30550. 580. 600.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I can't believe it!
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- 620. 650. - I can't believe it!
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- £650!- 680. 700.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41700 on the phone. 720.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- Wow!- I cannot believe it.- This is unbelievable.- This is unbelievable.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- 780.- 780?- I think we should take another look at this corkscrew.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55820.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57850.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59880.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00900.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04I've never seen this on "Flog It!" before with a corkscrew like this.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06980...
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Gosh, my husband's looking down on me up there!
0:16:09 > 0:16:14£1,000 bid on the telephone. Any advance? £1,100 we need - yes or no?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16All done on 1,000?
0:16:16 > 0:16:20£1,000 and the hammer has gone down - crack!
0:16:20 > 0:16:22That's unbelievable, isn't it? £1,000!
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- That money is going to come in handy.- You're dead right!
0:16:26 > 0:16:28I cannot believe it!
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- I can't believe it.- Can I honestly say, neither can I!- Nor can I.
0:16:37 > 0:16:43'We're back at the Bath Assembly Rooms for our valuations, where things are still looking busy.'
0:16:45 > 0:16:51People from all over the West Country have come here today, laden with antiques and collectables.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55It's our job to find the gems and send the best ones to auction.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01- Peter, Jane.- Correct.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04These are quite intriguing.
0:17:04 > 0:17:10For any youngster studying history between the two world wars,
0:17:10 > 0:17:17this is a fascinating record, because it's just for one short period,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20the Second Republic of Poland,
0:17:20 > 0:17:25and Marshal Pilsudski was the Premier.
0:17:25 > 0:17:31These were done in 1930. And this is the artist here.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33How would you pronounce this? I'm not certain.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35- ATTEMPTS POLISH NAME - Zdzislaw Czermanski.
0:17:35 > 0:17:41Now he was living in Paris, almost in exile.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47In fact, he was born in 1900 and died in 1970, so he lived a very good life.
0:17:47 > 0:17:54- Oh, right. - But he produced 13 cartoons reflecting this particular period.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59- Under the premiership of Marshal Pilsudski.- OK.
0:17:59 > 0:18:06Some of them are remarkably like his German counterparts, like George Grosz and Otto Dix.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Can I just pull one of them out?
0:18:09 > 0:18:12If we think in terms of decadence...
0:18:13 > 0:18:16..this one is the epitome of decadence.
0:18:19 > 0:18:26- I thought you might choose that one! - Here we have Marshal Pilsudski, a rather elderly gentleman,
0:18:26 > 0:18:31towards the end of his life, but in control of a huge country,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35going through this turmoil after the First World War.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39And dancing to his attention we have his cabinet,
0:18:39 > 0:18:47- or ministers, and there they are, dressed up as cabaret girls. - It's really taking the mickey!
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Absolutely. He could afford to do that because he was in Paris.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55- But this is an incredible period of history.- Yeah.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00I thought initially they were hand-tinted, but it is all a coloured lithograph.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04- So it's one layer on top of another? - That's perfectly correct.
0:19:04 > 0:19:10So the first outline is black with colours introduced. Whether I'd want them framed and on my wall,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14I don't know. Now how much are they worth?
0:19:14 > 0:19:21It's a very, very niche market and I don't think we're looking at a vast amount of money.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- Right. OK. - The condition is not good.
0:19:25 > 0:19:31This is all stained, but at least the actual drawings themselves are in pristine condition.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36- Right.- I would think that we are looking at something in the region
0:19:36 > 0:19:43- of about £150, £200.- Right. - If we get into the right market, we get the Polish interest there,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47- they could go even higher. - Really? OK.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52So it really is a bit of a gamble, but I think it's worth putting up for sale.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56If it goes on the internet, I think it will attract some interest.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- Fine.- Lovely. - You'd be quite happy?- Absolutely.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Oh, wow. Hey, look. Look.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14- You'd have to give me a lot of money for them.- This is out of my league.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I wouldn't have a clue what I'm talking about here,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19but they are beautiful.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24- Is it something you want to sell? - I'm prepared to. I have a huge collection.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29If I go off and get a quick... "off-the-cuff" valuation
0:20:29 > 0:20:35from somebody who does know something about these, I'll come straight back to you.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40- If it's a ballpark figure, we'll do this together. - OK, great.- Here goes.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45'Working away off-camera are lots of "Flog It!" valuers.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49'I've asked Sophie Hutton to take a look at Steven's cufflinks.'
0:20:49 > 0:20:54- Let's say they haven't got a lot of age, they're 1950s, 1960s.- Yeah.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- That's kind of my gut feeling. - Yep. I would think at auction,
0:20:58 > 0:21:04you'd be looking at easily 400-600 for them as decorative items.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06The Russian element might add more.
0:21:06 > 0:21:12There you go. I had a chat to Sophie Hutton, who specialises in jewellery.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17- She said not a lot of age to them, she doesn't think.- Right.
0:21:17 > 0:21:23- Possibly around the '50s, '60s. - Right.- If they went to auction, she'd be happy to say £400-£600,
0:21:23 > 0:21:29possibly £700 with the Russian element, but who knows at auction? They might do a little bit more.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34- Good.- I don't know if they're the figures you were thinking of.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39- I'm sort of happy with that. - Are you?- That's really good. They're gorgeous. People love them.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- Is it something you're happy to put in?- Yes, into sale.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48- With a £400-£600 valuation? - I'll keep my fingers crossed.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52# A kiss on the hand may be quite continental
0:21:52 > 0:21:56# But diamonds are a girl's best friend... #
0:21:56 > 0:21:59But not Vivian. She wants to flog hers.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Vivian, they say that diamonds are a girl's best friend
0:22:03 > 0:22:07and when you look at these you can see why.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12Can you tell me, where did you get them and do you wear them?
0:22:12 > 0:22:13No, I don't wear them.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18This one was mine. And the other two were my mother's.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23- She gave them to me.- I like diamonds and I like to look at them,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- but in the end I wear plastic! - That's right!
0:22:27 > 0:22:30But these are pretty. Let's look at them.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33These two here are of classic design.
0:22:33 > 0:22:41And everyone loves a classic solitaire or single diamond ring.
0:22:41 > 0:22:47These are in 18-carat gold, they are set in 18-carat gold. When I looked at the diamond closely
0:22:47 > 0:22:53I could see some inclusions. That's some small fault
0:22:53 > 0:22:57which you can't see without the use of an eyeglass.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03I would, just by eye, judge these to be just below half a carat,
0:23:03 > 0:23:08somewhere between a quarter of a carat and half a carat.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13This one here, a three-stone, is very, very pretty.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18You have two lovely diamonds there which are just below a quarter of a carat
0:23:18 > 0:23:23and you have this lovely cornflower-blue sapphire.
0:23:23 > 0:23:30And I think that is very, very pretty. This one here is in a more contemporary setting.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35- Can you remember when you got that one?- Probably about 15 years ago.
0:23:35 > 0:23:42- Or longer even.- Uh-huh. So it's in the latter part of the 20th century.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47And I think we're probably just below a quarter on that.
0:23:47 > 0:23:54If these came in to me, I would sell them as separate lots. I wouldn't want to put them together
0:23:54 > 0:23:58as these will appeal to the private buyers.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03They might like one but wouldn't like to buy three in a lot.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09In this solitaire here, I would like to put that in at 250-350.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11On the solitaire.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16And I think I would put the same on your diamond and sapphire.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18250-350.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24When it comes to your own ring, I think the setting is not as appealing as the other two.
0:24:24 > 0:24:30- No, I agree.- But we would put it in at, say, 100-150.- Mm-hm.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35So, Vivian, if we sell them you'll get maybe between £500 and £800.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39- What would you put the money towards?- A nice holiday.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45- I think that's better than just having them in a box. - Mm, definitely.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52I've got my favourites, our experts have made their final choices,
0:24:52 > 0:24:58so it's time to say goodbye to our regal surroundings, the Assembly Rooms, as we head off to auction.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Let's hope we have a few surprises. Here's what we're taking with us.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Those decadent Czermanski prints that David was so taken by,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09although not enough to hang them on his wall.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14The delightful cobalt-blue Russian cufflinks.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16And Vivian's three diamond rings.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28'Well, the auction room is full, so let's hope the bidders want to spend their money.'
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Peter and Jane, good to see you. And David here, our expert.
0:25:32 > 0:25:39We've got the book of prints by Czermanski, printed in Paris, 1931.
0:25:39 > 0:25:45- Now tell me the story about these. They were your father's. He was into bric-a-brac.- He was.
0:25:45 > 0:25:52In his retirement, he collected odds and ends and put them away and made a few bob here and there.
0:25:52 > 0:25:59- Do you think we'll make a few bob today?- Hopefully!- It would be nice. A few pounds would be very nice.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04- I think these prints are superb, but it's a very niche market.- It is.
0:26:04 > 0:26:10- There's nothing else comparable in the sale. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.- Fingers crossed!
0:26:10 > 0:26:14- But they are quality. - And quality sells!- Quality sells!
0:26:14 > 0:26:19But how much for? We're just about to find out. Good luck. Here we go.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23We have the Polish folio prints.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28What can we say? I have only 55. 65, £70.
0:26:28 > 0:26:3370. 70. 70. Thank you. 80. 90? 90.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36100. 110. 120.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- 130.- Here we go.- We're in.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43150, sir? 160.
0:26:43 > 0:26:49160 now. Anyone else? All done then. Selling at £160.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54- He's sold them.- That's OK.- £160. - It was within our margin.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58- That'll buy us a nice dinner, won't it?- It will.
0:26:58 > 0:27:05- I suppose I'll have to treat brother and sister as well.- Mm-hm. - They can have fish and chips!
0:27:07 > 0:27:10And now for one of my items.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15I've just been joined by Steven and his wonderful cufflinks.
0:27:15 > 0:27:21On the day, I was wearing that blue corduroy suit and that's what attracted me.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25I see you've got a little blue handkerchief there as an homage!
0:27:25 > 0:27:30It's time to say goodbye. They're going under the hammer. Our auctioneer has his eye on them.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35- And he is a man who wears cufflinks. - Let's hope he can put in a bid!
0:27:35 > 0:27:39- I think he might. He might have sold them already.- Good, good.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42This will go on the phone or online.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Russian diamond-set blue enamel cufflinks.
0:27:45 > 0:27:4714-carat gold. Stamped 56.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51£200 here. 220. 240.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53It's flowing.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56- 280. 300.- At least it's in the right direction.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58340. 360. 380.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03There's a commission bid. He takes a bid, then looks down.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07420. 440? £420. Fresh bidder in on 420.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12- Anyone else? - They're just selling, aren't they?
0:28:12 > 0:28:17- £420.- Yeah, I think it's a bargain. They're excellent cufflinks.
0:28:17 > 0:28:23- I'm pleased. Thank you so much. - Thank you.- I've not seen quality like that for a long time.
0:28:26 > 0:28:32They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, so why is Vivian selling hers?
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- Has she got lots of others? - Not at all, no!
0:28:36 > 0:28:40- John, does she have lots of diamonds?- Not that I've found yet!
0:28:40 > 0:28:47- Why are you selling these, then? - They're just sitting in a drawer. They were my mother's.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51- It's such a shame that they are sitting in a drawer.- There's three. We've split them up.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56Of course! We wouldn't sell them as a wee job lot, Paul!
0:28:56 > 0:28:58No. Thank goodness.
0:28:58 > 0:29:04And they are nice. Three nice rings. Two older ones of classic design
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- and one of a more contemporary design.- Starting on the solitaire.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12We're hoping for around £300 at the top end. Let's put it to the test.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16A solitaire diamond ring. Two commission bids here.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18250. 260. 280.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20300. 320. 340.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23360. 360.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26360. 380. 400.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29420. 440.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31I have bid 440 in the room. 460.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33480. 500.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- Wow.- 520. 540?
0:29:36 > 0:29:40£520 and selling in the room. On 520 now.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44Well, there's the first. £520. Next is the diamond and sapphire.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48462. What can we say on this one? 180 only. 190.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51190. 190. 200. 210.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54220. 230. 240.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57250. 260.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01260. 270. 280. 290. 300.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05- 320.- We're looking for around 350 again.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09£340 in front of me. Selling on 340.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14That's very good. Still the top end. £340.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19One more to go. Hopefully, we'll get around 150 for that.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23The solitaire diamond ring. On the book at 130.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25140? 140?
0:30:25 > 0:30:31140? Bid on the book at £130. Selling on 130.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36- That's about £990 by my calculation! - We should come again to "Flog It!".
0:30:36 > 0:30:41- Nearly a thousand quid. - Fabulous. Just under.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44- And you didn't think they were worth a lot of money.- I didn't.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48- And you never wore them? - Hardly ever, no.
0:30:48 > 0:30:54- Do you wear jewellery at all? - Not much.- You don't have to.- Ooh! - Absolutely right.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59- But you do have a lot of style. - You've picked a beauty.- Absolutely.
0:30:59 > 0:31:05- Nearly a thousand quid. That is a smashing result. - The holiday's already booked.
0:31:05 > 0:31:11- At least we know we can pay for it now. - Were you taking a chance?
0:31:15 > 0:31:20That's it. It's all over. Another day in another saleroom.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25I hope you've enjoyed it. I have. Join us again for more surprises.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Until then, it's goodbye.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd