Summary
A Fabergé spider brooch appears in an episode ofPawn Stars, and Rick Harrison did the unthinkable — pay more than the customer was asking for. The History Channel reality seriesPawn Starsis at its best and most fascinating when the customer approaching Rick has a much different appraisal of their wares than what they’re worth in reality. Sadly,Pawn Starsfrequently features devastated sellerswho learn their treasured family heirloom is not much more than a pile of junk.
There’s a lot of second-hand cringe watching Rick try to dance around the real value of someone’s prized possession. Conversely, seeing someone angrily insist that what they’ve brought in is valuable while Rick smirks is excellent television. What rarely happens onPawn Stars, however, is that someone innocently brings in an item expecting to get not much for it, only for Rick to realize they do, in fact, have a priceless heirloom. That’s a conceitmore at home onAntiques Road Show. The Fabergé spider brooch was one item that Rick could not believe was in his store.
Pawn Stars: Rick Harrison’s Age, Job, Instagram & More
Pawn Stars Rick Harrison is one of the central figures on the show, which has led many to wonder what his life outside of the series is like.
Rick Paid $15,000 For The Fabergé Spider Brooch On Pawn Stars
The Seller Thought Her Brooch Was Only Worth $2000
In season 3, episode 4, “Getting a Head”, a woman named Peggy walks into the store carrying what she believes is a minorly valuablebrooch in the shape of a black widow spider with an onyx gem embedded, left to her by her late grandmother. Rick quickly realizes it’s made by Fabergé, the designer of the famed eggs. Peggy thought she could maybe get $2000 for the brooch.
Though he easily could have made a steal, Rick makes it clear he’s a man with a conscience, and he offers $15,000, saying that’s more than fair.
Though he easily could have made a steal,Rick makes it clear he’s a man with a conscience, and he offers $15,000, saying that’s more than fair. Immediately, Peggy tries to negotiate him up, but Rick stands firm. She demures at the last moment and happily accepts the 15K.
$15,000
1715 Spanish fleet gold coin
$11,000
$20,000
$30,000
Order of the White Eagle medallion
$6,000
$24,000
1554 Spanish shipwreck gold bar
$35,000
$2,600
200 pounds of silver
$110,000
$60,000
$85,000
$55,000
$90,000
$67,500
$80,000
Diamond earrings
$40,000
$68,250
Rick Could Have Gotten Between $22,000-$150,000 For The Fabergé Spider Brooch
The Fabergé Spider Brooch Is Much More Valuable Than What Rick Paid For It
It’s unknown if Rick Harrison sold the spider brooch; if he did, no one knows how much he got for it, but it’s possible that he made a nice return. According toTrendola Jewelry,a Fabergé spider brooch could go for $80,000-$150,000. Oddly, a similar sale happened on theBBC Antique Roadshowthat suggests a different price for the brooch. In the episode, a woman arrives with a heart-shaped Fabergé brooch that turns out to be worth 8000 pounds in 2002.
Converted to U.S. dollars and adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly $22,000. Considering the heart-shaped brooch is smaller than the spider one, Rick’s is likely more valuable. However the Fabergé spider brooch’s worth is calculated,it’s likely Rick made his money back and then some.
The Fabergé Spider Brooch Authenticity Confusion Explained
The Brooch Is Real But The Jeweler No Longer Makes Them
Interestingly, a coincidentally timed article created a wave of confusion surrounding the Fabergé spider brooch. A day after the brooch episode, an unrelatedTimearticle was released from Fabergé spokeswoman Tatiana Zherebkina stating that online rumors that Fabergé would be making spider brooches were unfounded. All that means is the company will not be making that product in the future. However, fans conflated that with thePawn Starsepisode and assumed the brooch was fake.
Only 57 of the original 69+ Fabergé eggs survive to this day.
Admittedly, it’s a coincidence that the article came out around the same time as thePawn Starsepisode, but there’s probably a simple reason for that — the internet got into a tizzy about spider brooches. Peggy from the episode heard the rumors, remembered she had a spider brooch, and decided to see what it was worth. At the same time, Fabergé heard the rumors and put out a press release denying them. The Fabergé spider brooch is real, but the company is not making them anymore.
Pawn Stars
Cast
Pawn Stars is a reality television series that explores the dynamics of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, operated by the Harrison family. The show delves into the unique negotiations and interactions encountered while assessing and trading various items, highlighting both familial bonds and occasional conflicts within the business.
