“It’s a gift for my wife, whose birthday was a few days ago. She doesn’t even know I came here; it will be a surprise,” said Guilherme Gonçalves.
A resident of Vimieiro, Braga, this 74-year-old elevator business owner regarded the purchase as “a bargain.”
“The bracelet must weigh about 20 grams. If each gram is worth 90 euros, we’re talking about 1,800 euros. So, I paid practically half,” he noted.
Buyers were allowed to learn the karats of each gold piece, but could only handle them to assess their weight.
In addition to the bracelet, Guilherme Gonçalves acquired some history books and a bag filled with keychains, items he collects.
The auction totaled approximately 4,900 euros today.
Among the hundreds of items up for auction were primarily glasses, jewelry, wallets, umbrellas, and watches sold in bulk, with buyers only granted visual access without opening the bags.
“It’s like watermelons, only after opening do we truly know what’s inside,” humorously remarked a potential buyer.
The auctioneer, Margarida Pinto, cautioned that none of the auctioned items came with any kind of guarantee.
Upon request, the police issued purchase receipts, stipulating that all transactions must be concluded on the spot with cash.
Guilherme Gonçalves fiercely competed for the bracelet in a “euro by euro” duel with Maria José, who traveled from Lisbon to Braga primarily for the auction.
The initial bid was 505 euros, eventually climbing to 975 euros, at which point Maria José withdrew.
Maria José remarked, to Lusa, that her bidding for the bracelet was “almost for fun” and opined that Guilherme Gonçalves “ended up with a bad deal,” as she believed he paid a “disproportionate” price.
At the auction, Maria José, one of the main buyers, came with 1,000 euros and purchased goods worth 440 euros.
Among those items was a silver bracelet she plans to gift her daughter for Christmas.
“I spent two days in Braga with my husband, also due to the auction, and I think it was well worth it, I made very good purchases,” she expressed.
Like Maria José, many attendees seized the opportunity to buy some Christmas gifts at more generous prices.
The auction featured lost and found items submitted to the police by entities and citizens, unclaimed within the legal period (one year) by their rightful owners.
The gold auction was saved for last, sparking interest from a handful of experts who intensely bid on each piece.
The second most expensive item was a gold ring with a man’s name engraved, auctioned for 225 euros.
“Another divorce,” quipped a woman who attended simply to watch and comment on the auction, with no intention of buying.
Also noteworthy were eight bicycles, the most expensive sold for 170 euros, alongside a scooter, a double stroller, a baby car seat, helmets, luggage, clothes, toys, crutches, books, and a PlayStation.
The proceeds support the Social Services of the PSP.
