The Curse of Oak Island S06E02

Fresh with excitement about that discovery last episode, Rick and Gary drive a long distance across the island to knock up Dan's house where Marty is already gathered. Hope they've put the kettle on! Inside, they show the broach to the two non-experts who both like what they see. Gary's insight is that it's a fancy one but mine is that it's also past its best in its current form. Is it related to a treasure or just accidentally dropped on the floor by someone? We're reminded that this is the second jewel they've found, or resemblance of a jewel. Soon they'll be opening up the Oak Island Jewellers. Gary thinks it's 1700's or older. Thanks for really pinning that down, Gary. We're also reminded of James Anderson (not the England bowler) who was a pirate who once lived on the island.

Back at the Money Pit, and there's more explosions, like there's a badger being chased across the area at 100mph. More seismic scanning at its best is going on. There's been 100 in the last hour, with more being set off in the hopes of making a decent map of the area underneath. Here's hoping it's something that sort of looks coherent.

Laird drives to the Exhibition Centre, clearly having already been busy elsewhere pulling up trees as his hands are dirty. Some of the gang are there for him to look at the latest broach. Laird has never seen anything like it before, so thanks Laird. He does say that jewellery finds are rare in Nova Scotia. He thinks it might be gilded by gold.

Next day and it's off to Smith's Cove to meet two of the company's looking to splash the brother's cash like there's no tomorrow, Irving and Brycon. They plan to make a 25ft deep coffer dam but first a new road needs to be built to get that 300ft crane out to the cove. Apparently it'll take about a week to get started once road is there.

Pub booze-up next as some of the gang gather to talk about the broach and offer zero valuable insights. However, they are going to go on a jolly to Calgary, some 3,000 miles away. Well, Dave and the brothers are. Charles Lewton-Brain is a gemologist and uses a digital video microscope to examine the first "jewel" from last season which he says is hand cut, and has a refractive index of 1.7. That means it's a garnet gemstone!

Next, this season's "gemstone" which is of a softer material, and has an occlusion of bubbles, which means it's nothing special and just glass. Still, it looks pretty. Certainly he thinks it's handmade and not modern. Maybe up to 500 years old. We're told about secret societies, like the freemasons, by the narrator because glass makers used to be quite secretive with their colouring stuff.

The second "gem's" broach is looked at next and he says the wire around the outside section is super ancient. The technique used is called block twisting. Potentially it's older than 13th century which makes it that much older than anything else they've found on the island so far; yes, even older than Dan Blankenship.

Next day and the road is being made. Marty, Craig and Alex held off to Halifax to meet that Professor of Chemistry lady again and get that broach examined. She uses magnifying scope and chemical composition. Initially there's just brass but, wait for it, there's some sections of GOLD!

Gold
(Gold)
Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believe in, 'cos you are.

Blimey! Actual gold? Well, I'll be blown down. It is perhaps only gold plated but could be up to 700 years old.

Later that day, in the War Room, all this info is shared and much nodding and fist pumping goes on. Ok, not a lot, but they are happy.

Rick & Dan (the other Dan) are at the Money pit to check on those seismic charges and ... it's all done. Should take only two weeks to get data processed and generate a 3D Map. Ohhh, at least two weeks goes quickly on this show.

We end up with a familiar site. The road is ready to the cove and lots of large lorries and trailers make their way onto the island.

Rick points out how much bigger the "gem" looks when magnified ...

This is ancient stuff. The thing in gold, not the pointer.

The convoy of serious money being spent arrives.

Rating 7/10 - Although this is a bit of filler episode in terms of new action, we get a lot confirmed about those two broaches and we are ready to start that dam and get that 3D map.