A woman learned that an old brooch can provide for her for years (3 photos)
The brooch is made of turquoise, rubies, 18-karat gold and diamonds. It has all the hallmarks of a company called Van Cleef and Arpels. 
A mother and daughter brought their old ballerina brooch to the British show Antiques Roadshow, which is shown on the BBC. The decoration immediately caught the attention of jewelry expert Joanna Hardy. According to her, this piece could be a collector's item and worth a fortune.
The show guest's daughter said that her mother was given this brooch in the 1970s and 1980s by her bridge partner, a Polish jeweler. When he was closing the shop, he offered her to keep one item from the entire range. The woman chose a ballerina because it was very symbolic - she used to teach at a private ballet school in Chester. 
While analyzing the jewelry, expert Joanna Hardy tried to determine the real manufacturer.
"It's made of turquoise, rubies, 18ct gold and diamonds. They're very simple materials, but when you look at it, you can really feel the dancer. It's an amazing piece of jewellery. It's got all the hallmarks of a company called Van Cleef and Arpels, who've been making ballerina brooches since the 1940s, but not much," she explains.
Unfortunately, the specialist couldn't find a Van Cleef and Arpels hallmark, so only the company themselves can confirm that it's one of theirs. Joanna Hardy says: "If it's genuine, it's worth tens of thousands of pounds."
When the guest's daughter heard this, she couldn't contain her emotions and exclaimed: "Oh my God." The owner herself was a little more reserved, adding: "It can't be." 
