Antiques Roadshow expert exclaims 'No' as guest admits to almost 'scrapping' valuable item

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

An emotional moment unfolded on when a guest revealed the poignant backstory behind his treasured lighter.

The beloved BBC programme visited Audley End, where attendees brought their intriguing possessions, including one individual who showcased a gold-cased lighter to expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan.

Archer-Morgan recounted: "I've had quite a few deja vu moments here at the Antiques Roadshow and when you got that out, I was having yet another one because things like this, back in the 1970s, were my stock in trade. And is it something that you and your family use?"

The owner explained: "It's not, I don't really know too much about it. My father worked in the casino business in the late 1960s and early 1970s and I can only surmise that he acquired it about three or four years ago.

"I had a friend who worked in Hatton Garden and I took some old jewellery up to scrap it and dad gave me this and said 'can you take this up and scrap it?'"

Archer-Morgan interjected with a shocked "No. No!", to which the guest added: "It was on the scales -", prompting another emphatic "No!" from the expert.

The story continued with the guest's decision: "-and I couldn't bring myself to do it", leading to Archer-Morgan's relieved response: "Thank God for that. Obviously it's here. I couldn't believe."

The guest continued: "I came back and said to dad 'look, it's a beautiful thing, I can't do it.

"He obviously wanted the money so we came to an arrangement and I gave him the scrap value for it. I gave him £2,500."

"That's quite a lot. You rescued it in other words," the expert clarified.

Archer-Morgan then delved into the specifics of the precious item: "Well obviously you know what it is. It's a Dunhill, 9 carat gold cigarette lighter. And here is a compact with a lipstick [that] goes in there, and the powder goes there and the mirror goes there.

"But the best part about it is we press this side piece here and the watch shoots out.

"Now this was called a vanity compendium. I looked at the hallmark and this is 1933.

"One in 1932 won the gold prize at Goldsmiths Hall and it was said to be an ingenious assemblage of engineering which you can see it is.

"So fine, it's finely reeded and here, at this end, there's a little thumb piece where you put your fingernail, lift the flap and pull it and you've got a gold pencil. I mean, that is extraordinary."

Regarding its value, the expert weighed in: "The downside is, smoke has become less popular. The upside is, compacts are very collectible and the other upside is that Dunhill is very collectible.

"These were made in Switzerland. Of course, the watch is a Swiss watch but back in the 1970s I used to sell one like this for about £900.

"You've turned your £2,500 into something that's worth between £7,500 and £10,000 or maybe even as much as £12,000," said Archer-Morgan to the guest, whose face lit up at the valuation.

"So you were right to rescue it. And now that you know it's worth about three times the price you paid to rescue it, what do you think you're going to do with it?"

The atmosphere of Antiques Roadshow shifted when the guest poignantly revealed: "I'll keep it. My father died a couple of months ago."

A look of empathy crossed the expert's face as he responded softly: "I'm sorry."

Emotions heightened as the guest, with a tremble in his voice, confided: "So every time I get it out, I look at it as a reminder of my dad."

The expert shared: "I do just the same I think," which led to the owner affirming: "Then I won't be selling it."

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.