A woman was browsing through her local charity shop when she spotted a pretty frame – but it wasn’t until she got to her car that she realised the frame was worth far more than she’d paid for it
A woman was floor after learning the true value of the frame she bought in a charity shop (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A charity shopper found a silver frame while browsing through her local charity shop, but it wasn’t until after she’d bought it that she realised it was worth a lot more than expected. Every so often, if you’re fortunate enough, you might stumble across a charity shop item that turns out to be worth considerably more than the price tag suggests.
While the majority of charity shops are stocked with clothing and accessories, it can prove worthwhile to browse the homeware section too, as genuine bargains can be unearthed – such as entire collections of Le Creuset cookware. However, on occasion, you might not grasp the true value of an item until after you have purchased it.
This proved to be the case for one shopper, who realised she had struck gold after stumbling upon a pretty frame in her local charity shop. Tatiana Brito was browsing her local Goodwill store in Gary, Indiana when a silver-coloured frame captured her attention.
Not thinking a great deal of it at the time beyond the fact it looked nice, she decided to take it home with her. However, once she reached her car, she chose to examine it more closely.
“But once I got in my car and really took a look at it, I realized the stamp and then read the sticker,” she told Newsweek, which was the moment she decided to film a video for her TikTok account.
“And I bought this for myself cause I’m like, oh my god, this is such a beautiful frame, you know?” she said in the clip, where she displayed the frame. ” And then I realize. Oh, haha.”
Tatiana proceeded to show a sticker on the frame confirming it was crafted from pure .950 silver, free from lead and nickel, and manufactured in Greece. Alongside the sticker, Brito discovered a stamp bearing the number 950, indicating the frame was produced from sterling silver containing 95 per cent pure silver.
What is sterling silver?
Sterling silver is a metal alloy made of majority pure silver and the rest other metals, usually copper. While sterling silver is ordinarily composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper, the 950 stamp signifies it comprises 95% pure silver and just 5% other metals.
As of September 2026, the melt value of sterling silver stands at roughly £1.44 per gram (£44.68 per troy ounce), yet given that the frame contains a higher proportion of silver, the sterling silver within it is actually valued at approximately £39.73 per gram or £1,126.31 per troy ounce. Owing to its considerable worth, it remains a highly coveted find amongst bargain hunters.
Brito revealed she paid “less than a dollar” for the frame, but could be in line for a handsome return. Based on her own calculations, she estimates the frame carries a resale value of around $150 (£111), should she opt to sell it on.
Viewers were quick to flock to the comments section to share their reactions, with one writing: “vintage reseller and collector here- holllyyyy cow.”
Another said: “It’s of Greek origin and it’s higher silver content than sterling silver (.925), because this is .950 silver.
“As a jeweller I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU,” added a third.
