Appraisal: Victorian Gold Memorial Watch Fob Seal, ca. 1865

GUEST: I bought a fob several years ago at an antique store, and ever since I found it, I was curious as to the information on the person's name and death date that was in there.

I feel like it's a family piece, it should belong to the family, if I, if I knew them.

APPRAISER: This was a watch fob.

A gentleman would be wearing a vest, pocket watch would be here.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: And maybe a pocketknife here.

And then this would have hung right there.

But this is not just a fob.

It has a little secret.

This piece is hinged.

In here is some braided hair.

GUEST: Isn't that sweet?

APPRAISER: It's sweet but, you know, it's sad.

This is a memorial fob for somebody who passed.

GUEST: Mm-hmm, yeah.

APPRAISER: I believe it says 1864, the 12 of May, GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: when he would have been born, and he dies way too young.

The 25 March, 1866, so I can't tell you who he is.

You're gonna...

GUEST: I was hoping.

APPRAISER: We're not that good here.

(laughs) More research needed.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: You paid how much for it?

GUEST: About two.

$200.

APPRAISER: $200.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Because it's a memorial fob, in an auction, I think I would have it in for $800 to $1,200.

GUEST: Very nice.

It was such a sweet thing in there that just grabs you.

APPRAISER: Yeah, well, it gets you.

GUEST: Yes, it does.

APPRAISER: It gets you.