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By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
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A woman has gone viral after stumbling upon a luxury globe she had dreamed of owning for decades—priced at just $100 in a local Goodwill.
Heather Iriart, 46, from Bakersfield, California, shared her remarkable thrift-store find in the popular subreddit r/Thrift Store Hauls, where her post received over 4,100 upvotes. On Friday, June 13, Iriart visited what she called her "rich-lady Goodwill," a store located near three country clubs known for receiving higher-end donations. There, she discovered an Alexander Kalifano gemstone globe—an opulent item that typically retails for well over $1,000.
"I was ecstatic. When I was a teenager, my little brother and I went to a store in the mall called 'Nature's Wonders'. They had a smaller version; I coveted it," Iriart told Newsweek.
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She spotted the globe in the window as soon as she entered the store and acted quickly to secure it.
i found an alexander kalifano gemstone globe at
r/ThriftStoreHauls
"It's best if you pay for something immediately and put it in your car. I went straight to the register and paid for it, put it in my truck, and then resumed shopping," she said.
Iriart added that, while she is unsure of the exact age of the globe, newer models in the same style sell for $2,148 on the Kalifano website. However, the one she found features a distinctive "Bahama Blue opalite ocean"—a design no longer available in the larger size. Only a smaller version is currently for sale. Each of the U.S. states on her globe is represented by a different colored stone, something she believes may make her version more rare.
A listing on WorthPoint says that a verified Alexander Kalifano gemstone globe similar to the one Iriart found—with an ornate tripod-leg heavy nickel stand, and genuine semiprecious stones—can sell upward of $5,000, depending on condition and design.
Reddit users were quick to celebrate her lucky find.
"Amazing, I actually had to look it up and am I tripping? Actual price about $1,500? It's really pretty," wrote one commenter.
"Looks like the gunmetal 37 inch three legged one, those go for $2,200-ish new from the Kalifano site," another user noted.
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A third added: "Oh! I adore this! I don't know who Alexander Kalifano is, but that is one gorgeous globe. I love the silver metal work, and the colors on the globe. Just beautiful craftsmanship. Going to Google him now!"
"OMG [oh my God], so jealous. I have been wanting one of these for my husband for so long. Congrats," another shared.
Do you have any amazing thrifting finds that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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