Husband Mocks Old Egg Wife Bought at Flea Market, so She Asked Him to Open It– Story of the Day
My husband once mocked me for buying a small enameled egg at a flea market, but he was in for a major surprise.
Let me start by saying I’m a flea market aficionado. There’s something exhilarating about sifting through piles of forgotten items, hoping to uncover a hidden gem. My passion for flea markets goes way back to when I was eleven and spent summers with my grandmother in New England. Together, we’d scour every market and street fair within a hundred miles, hunting for what she called ‘preloved jewels.’
Even now, as a mother and grandmother, nothing excites me more than rummaging through bins of odds and ends, hoping to find that one item that makes my heart race.
My husband, Sam, doesn’t quite get it. He’s a wonderful man—kind and hardworking—but my love for treasure hunting in what he considers junk is something he’s never understood. It’s our one point of contention. While I might be tempted to give up my hobby to keep the peace, the joy I get from those weekend flea market trips is something I’m not ready to part with.
Recently, Sam surprised me by asking if he could come along on my next flea market adventure. I was intrigued by this sudden interest, so I eagerly agreed.
About a month ago, I headed to a nearby town for its street fair on a crisp Saturday morning. My excitement was palpable as I wandered among the stalls, and my instincts soon led me to a modest display where a man was selling an array of knickknacks.
Among the porcelain cups and bisque figurines, I spotted a small porcelain and enamel egg, roughly the size of a real egg. It wasn’t particularly striking, but something about it caught my eye.
“How much for the egg?” I asked the vendor, who scrutinized me with keen eyes, likely assessing how much he could get from me.
“$25,” he said. “And let me tell you, it’s a bargain!”
Feigning horror, I shook my head. “$25 for that? I’ll give you $5.”
The vendor’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Five dollars? This is a piece of history! It’s French porcelain!”
“Right,” I replied skeptically. “So if I flip it over, I won’t see ‘Made in China’ stamped on the bottom?”
The vendor hesitated, which was a giveaway. “Alright,” I said, “I’ll take it for $10, as is.”
He grumbled but wrapped the egg in newspaper and took my $10. I was thrilled with my find and headed home, my mind already racing with possibilities.
When I walked in, I greeted Sam with a kiss. He was lounging on the sofa, reading his newspaper. “Hey, found any trash?” he asked, clearly not expecting much.
“Actually, yes!” I said with a grin, pulling the wrapped egg from my handbag and unwrapping it carefully.
Sam eyed it with skepticism. “That’s it? That’s what you found?”
“Yes!” I replied, beaming. “Isn’t it lovely?”
“What’s it for?” he asked, examining the egg and noting the metal latch and hinges.
“I think it was a jewelry box,” I said, attempting to open it. “It seems to be stuck, though.”
“It’s probably rusted shut,” Sam said, turning the egg over. “And look, it says ‘Made in Hong Kong.’ How much did you pay for it?”
Blushing, I admitted, “Ten dollars. The man wanted $25.”
Sam laughed scornfully. “You got ripped off again!”
I felt a pang of disappointment but shook the egg, noticing something shift inside. “There’s something in here!” I said, hopeful.
Sam mocked me. “Oh, I’m sure it’s a diamond,” he said, and then, with a twist of his fingers, he pried open the egg. Inside was a tiny bundle of red silk.
I unwrapped the silk carefully to reveal a pair of exquisite earrings. They were stunning—perhaps faux, I thought, but beautiful nonetheless.
Sam examined one closely. The clear center stone was surrounded by a halo of green gems. He breathed on it, and the stone remained clear. “Jen,” he said, astonished, “I think these are real!”
“Real?” I asked, incredulous.
“I saw a documentary about diamonds,” Sam explained. “A real diamond doesn’t fog up with breath. Look!”
I peered at the earrings, shaking my head. “The stones are too large to be real. They’d be worth a fortune!”
But Sam was eager. “Let’s take them to a jeweler for appraisal.”
Reluctantly, we drove to the mall and had the earrings evaluated. The jeweler’s eyes widened as he examined them. “These are diamonds, set in 18-carat white gold. The stones look like emeralds. They’re probably Art Deco. Depending on the quality, they could be worth around $300.”
“$300?” Sam asked.
“$300,000, minimum,” the jeweler corrected. I was stunned and had to lean on Sam for support. We had truly found a treasure!
In reality, the earrings sold for $3 million at auction. The proceeds provided us with a substantial financial cushion, and the porcelain egg now sits proudly on the mantel of our new home.
As for Sam, he’s now as enthusiastic about antique hunting as I am. He joins me at every flea market and antique fair, and while we haven’t yet found that Van Gogh, we remain hopeful.