Jessa Pena, a 25-year-old antique jewelry dealer, unexpectedly found a bracelet in a thrift store that turned out to be a valuable 18-karat portrait bracelet.
Nearly 200 years old, the bracelet is decorated with topaz, pearl, ruby, and gold. It could be worth as much as $25,000.
Jessa told Newsweek she was thrilled to find the treasure at a Texas thrift store run by the Catholic Church and a charity.
While she’s found other amazing things there before, she said it’s unusual to discover an antique in such pristine condition.
“It is an 18-karat beautifully enameled portrait bracelet with oval shield links and scalloped details, and in the harlequin style with multiple jewels. This bracelet is likely late Georgian to early Victorian, circa 1835, made of 18-karat gold, with the name of the Swiss canton on the back of the shields,” Jessa said.
She also added that the bracelets celebrated Swiss clothing and heritage.
Since 18-karat or higher gold is rare in older jewelry due to being sold off over time, she was particularly excited by its rarity.
The thrift store listed the bracelet for $5,000, but Jessa thinks the antique jewelry could fetch $12,000 to $25,000.
After posting a video on TikTok (@glitterandgoldfinds), the clip went viral, racking up over 1.4 million views and more than 118,000 likes.
Jessa regrettably didn’t purchase the bracelet initially. However, her viral video motivated a friend to thrift, leading to an unexpected discovery – the same bracelet.
“Since we are in the same city, and apparently have the same haunts, she sent me a photo saying what a weird coincidence it was. It didn’t click with her until I told her that it was the same bracelet. I had left it as I knew that I would likely resell it,” Jessa said.
Jessa’s friend believed it was fate and bought the antique jewelry, which made Jessa very happy.
She said that the bracelet will join a beautiful antique collection. Pena said her friend plans to get the bracelet appraised and keep it for a while.
The viral video sparked amazement among social media users, who said Jessa had found such a stunning piece at a thrift store.
Some wanted to know the store’s location, while others questioned the bracelet’s authenticity.
She told Newsweek that some people claimed the bracelet was fake or gold-plated and were angry that she hadn’t bought it.
She believes people were confused because the pieces in her video didn’t look identical.
Antique jewelry is often handmade and unique, with each piece designed by different artists and teams.
This heavier and more detailed bracelet could be worth as much as the one shown online.
While online opinions were mixed, Pena is delighted that a bracelet with such a rich history is gaining attention and inspiring people to explore thrift stores.
Her viral TikTok video received 900 comments filled with excitement.
One viewer suggested taking it to Sotheby’s, another called her the “thrift God’s favorite,” and a third declared it a “thrifter’s dream” and “so beautiful!”
Thrift shopping is an art, especially for those seeking unique fashion finds, says Charlotte B’s Closet.
It requires strategy, intuition, and skill, including timing, focusing on specific items, and recognizing high-end brands.
Enhancing your skills and avoiding mistakes helps you find and appreciate valuable pieces.
Whether you’re experienced or new to thrifting, refining your approach can uncover many hidden treasures.
According to Rajni Rao, 32, a professional thrifter, familiarity with brands, fabrics, or materials can help identify valuable items.
Her best find was a full-length mohair coat she purchased for $20 at a Florida thrift store and sold for $150, according to USA TODAY.
Dina Younis, a popular thrift influencer, said honing your eye for certain items can help you find valuable pieces.
She uses Google Images to search for items’ values online while shopping. Also, she recommends checking eBay and other websites for more information.
Dina described finding a $3.99 vase that sold for $107,000 as a rare, once-in-a-lifetime discovery. She likened it to winning the thrift lottery, noting that while many valuable treasures exist, such finds are exceptionally rare.
Here’s Jessa’s viral video of finding at the thrift store:
@glitterandgoldfinds Certainly cheaper than 1st dibs- the question is, do i go back and get it?
You can follow Jessa Pena on TikTok to stay updated on her thrifting journey.
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