One sunny afternoon, Mark was digging up his garden, preparing to plant a row of flowers, when his shovel hit something solid. He leaned down and, brushing away the dirt, uncovered an old necklace. The chain was tarnished, but the pendant—a deep pink stone set in an ornate gold frame—was mesmerizing, even under layers of grime.
Curious about its origins, Mark decided to take the necklace to a local jeweler to see if it had any value. The jeweler, Mr. Bernstein, had been in the business for over fifty years, known in town as the man who could identify any antique piece. When Mark handed him the necklace, Mr. Bernstein’s expression shifted from polite curiosity to utter shock.
He held the necklace up to the light, examining the blue stone and the delicate gold filigree with a loupe, his hands trembling. “This… this can’t be true,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.