Car Boot Sale Jacket Reveals Hidden Treasure...
7th October 2026
There is always something special about a valuation morning, the chance to discover that an everyday item might be worth rather more than expected. That was certainly the case at our latest valuation morning at the Castle Hotel in Taunton, which proved another busy and rewarding session for visitors.
Among the items brought in for valuation was a handsome inscribed 18ct gold pocket watch, estimated at £1,000-£1,500, a reminder of the quality and craft that often lies in pieces passed down through families.
But it was a 15ct gold Royal Artillery Sweetheart brooch, estimated at £250-£300, that provided the morning's most memorable story. The brooch was discovered still attached to a jacket purchased at a car boot sale the previous year, an entirely unexpected and very lucky find for its new owner.
Sweetheart brooches like this one were given by servicemen to their loved ones, often as a token of affection before deployment, and carry real sentimental as well as material value. To find one tucked away in a jacket bought on a whim makes for a wonderful reminder that treasures can turn up in the most unassuming of places.
Lawrences hold regular valuation mornings across the region, offering visitors the chance to have their items assessed by our specialists, free of charge and without obligation. Keep an eye on our website and social media for upcoming dates in your area.
