Christina Mackenzie feared her precious 52-diamond bracelet was gone forever after she lost it during a family outing.
The busy grandmother had spent an afternoon playing with her grandchildren in Cornwall Park on Saturday and had not realised the valuable piece was missing until that night.
She felt sick. As well as being worth thousands of dollars, the bracelet was laden with sentimental value.
Mrs Mackenzie's late mother, whom the family had flown to New Zealand from England six months before she died at the age of 92, had left her money and she had chosen to buy the bracelet with it. "So it is rather special, I wear it all the time," she said.
Fortunately, her daughter-in-law had been taking photos throughout the day and by flicking through the images Mrs Mackenzie was able to figure out where the bracelet might have slipped off her wrist.
On Sunday, she retraced her footsteps in Cornwall Park, left messages with the visitor information centre there and contacted the police.
Though her husband was less than optimistic it would be returned, Mrs Mackenzie said she had faith that it would be. "I do think [New Zealand's] an honest country, largely."
Her heart leaped when the phone rang later on Sunday. It was a woman from the information centre calling to say a family had picked up the bracelet and handed it in. It did not take long for Mrs Mackenzie to drive to Cornwall Park and pick it up.
Yesterday, it was safely wrapped around her wrist, though she said she was going to get the clasp looked at.
"I am so grateful. I had been rather down," she said.
Mrs Mackenzie would love to know who found the bracelet so she can thank them.
"That wonderful family's honesty has brought a lot of joy and relief," she said.
If you are the honest person who found the bracelet, please contact the Herald so we can pass your details to Christina Mackenzie.
