Diamond Necklace Anonymously Donated to Lakewood Historical Society

Talk about a diamond in the rough.

An anonymous donor dropped off a diamond necklace to benefit the .

But it’s not known who dropped it off.

Or when. 

Here’s the kicker: The organizers of the didn’t even know what they had on their hands until the piece was appraised.

Turns out, the diamond necklace — with its 24-carat gold chain — is worth about $900.

Before she had it appraised, Sale on the Grounds co-organizer Paula Reed carried around the necklace in her purse for months. 

She had forgotten it was even there — until she was looking for something else and found it tucked inside a small pocket.

“When we were setting up for Sale on the Grounds in May, the antiques dealer looked over the inventory to sort out the costume jewelry,” said Reed. “We always have her look at things we suspect might be more valuable. She looked at it and said I think you need to take this to a jeweler and evaluate it further.”

The piece will now be the featured sale item at Lakewood Historical Society’s Patron Party Silent Auction on Sept. 8.

“We don’t know who donated it, we don’t know where it came from,” she said.

This wasn’t even the organization's biggest find. 

A few years back, someone donated four silver cups to the Lakewood Historical Society. They were so tarnished that they were completely black, their value hidden, Reed remembers. 

But once the vintage jeweler cups were polished, they sold for $1,100 at an online auction.

“We just don’t know where this stuff comes from,” she said. “We get stuff after estate sales and garage sales, and we have people who just drop stuff off to us.”