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A California woman could barely believe her eyes when she saw the price tag on a seemingly “regular” glass bowl sitting on the shelf of a local thrift store.
That was, until she turned it over and saw three words that suddenly made everything make sense.
Thrifting is a passion for nearly one in five Americans, according to data compiled by Capital One Shopping.
Vivian Ly, a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego, is among those who have caught the thrifting bug.
“I love going thrifting with my friends, and finding something good during the hangout excites all of us as a ‘treasured find,’” she told Newsweek. “I love how thrift shops are places to give items a second chance.”
It was during a recent trip to her local Marshall’s that Ly came across something that made her do a double take.
“When I head into any Marshall’s, I typically gravitate straight toward the cooking supplies and essentials because I love to cook and enjoy checking out what’s new in store or what’s on sale,” Ly said.
Walking toward the end of the aisle, she spotted the “clearance section” and was immediately drawn to what looked like a “regular” glass bowl that was, to her shock, being sold for an eye-watering $64.
“I noticed this simple glass bowl that was priced outrageously for such a basic item,” Ly said. “I was very confused and thought it was a mistake until I picked it up.”
Three simple words were printed on the bottom: “Tiffany and Co.” She immediately realized two things: the bowl was likely made from lead glass, commonly referred to as crystal, and would probably retail for close to $300 brand new.
“I realized it was something special when I examined it and saw ‘Tiffany and Co.’ engraved on the bottom rim,” Ly said. “I’m not into many designer items, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know of them.”
Ly was familiar with Tiffany & Co. for its “iconic” Tiffany Blue coloring—a shade first adopted by the company in 1845 and later trademarked in 1998. Tiffany & Co. uses the color extensively in its promotional materials, such as boxes and bags.
What surprised Ly most, aside from the price, was the nature of the item. “I didn’t even know they made glass bowls or houseware items,” she said.
Though she was stunned to make this kind of discovery in a thrift store, what Ly did next may come as a surprise, given the potential resale value of such a piece.
“I did not end up buying the glass,” she said. “The significance of it being Tiffany definitely boosts its value due to the brand, but in my opinion, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a regular glass bowl.”
Though she’s happy to have made the discovery, Ly prefers to keep her bargain hunting focused on actual bargains.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.
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