A PENSIONER was stunned to discover a piece of jewellery she was going to bin is a 32-carat diamond worth ￡2million.

       The woman in her 70s bought the stone at a car-boot sale years ago, but had no idea of its value.

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       A pensioner was stunned to discover a piece of costume jewellery she bought at a car boot sale is a ￡2million diamond Credit: NNP

       She was going to chuck it out during a clearout when she found it with other pieces of costume jewellery.

       But she took it to be valued after a neighbour prompted her - and was gobsmacked to find the rock was an "off the scale" diamond.

       The woman can't remember where exactly she bought the precious stone, with auctioneer Mark Lane saying its value is a "huge shock".

       Mr Lane, of Featonby's Auctioneers in North Shields, North Tyneside, told the BBC: "The lady came in with a bag of jewellery as she just thought she would bring it in as she was passing because she had another appointment in the town.

       DIAMOND DEAL

       "It had been in a box along with her wedding band and a number of low-value costume jewellery items.

       "We saw quite a large stone, bigger than a pound coin, and I thought it was a CZ [cubic zirconia, a synthetic diamond lookalike].

       "It sat on my desk for two or three days until I used a diamond tester machine.

       "We then sent it off to our partners in London before it was certified by experts in Antwerp, Belgium, who confirmed it is 34 carat."

       The diamond is the most valuable item he has come across in the five years he has run the business.

       She told us she'd been having a clearout and that it nearly went in the bin before her neighbour suggested bringing her items to us to get valued."

       Mark Lane, auctioneer

       Mr Lane said the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, couldn't recall where or when she bought it.

       He said: "She's always visited car boot sales and bought trinkets, but never once did she think it was a real diamond.

       "She told us she'd been having a clearout and that it nearly went in the bin before her neighbour suggested bringing her items to us to get valued."

       He added: "The colour, the clarity, the size... to find a 34-carat diamond is off the scale."

       The diamond is secure at a location in London's diamond quarter Hatton Gardens.

       It will go under auction on November 30.

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       The stone was sent off to be valued and its true value was revealed Credit: Featonby's Auctioneers 4

       Auctioneer Mark Lane said the 'off-the'scale' diamond is the most valuable he has dealt with 4

       It will go under auction on November 30 Credit: NNP

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