BBC Antiques Roadshow expert shares condolences as guest chokes up at true value of late dad's 'extraordinary' lighter

An Antiques Roadshow expert told a guest he was "sorry" as they revealed the heartbreaking reason he couldn't part with the valuable item.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

Emotions ran high on Antiques Roadshow when a guest divulged the poignant backstory of his cherished lighter, leaving him visibly moved.

The beloved BBC programme set its scene at Audley End, welcoming visitors and their treasures. One such visitor brought forth a glimmering gold-cased lighter to show expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan.

Kicking off the exchange, Archer-Morgan shared: "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?"

To which the guest answered: "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 couldn't contain himself, interjecting: "No. No!", with the guest chiming in: "It was on the scales -", and Archer-Morgan cutting in once more: "No!"

The guest then said: "-and I couldn't bring myself to do it", eliciting Archer-Morgan's deep exhalation: "Thank God for that. Obviously it's here. I couldn't believe."

The owner went on to explain: "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 remarked.

Archer-Morgan then delved into the details of the lighter: "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."

The expert then spoke about the item's worth: "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.

"So they're made in Switzerland, these were. I mean, obviously the watch is a Swiss watch but in the 1970s I used to sell one like this for about £900.

"But you paid £2,500. Well, now that £2,500, I don't know if you'll get your money back but triple it actually and it's between £7,500 to £10,000, it may even be as much as £12,000 for this."

Archer-Morgan revealed, clearly impressing the guest with the valuation.

The guest couldn't help but smile at hearing the potential value as Archer-Morgan went on: "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?"

What happened next added a touching depth to the episode of Antiques Roadshow, as the guest confided: "I'll keep it. My father died a couple of months ago."

Reflecting the gravity of the moment, the expert responded with a gentle: "I'm sorry."

The guest's emotion was palpable as he said: "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," leading the owner to affirm once more: "Then I won't be selling it."

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