A metal detectorist has discovered a rare 16th-century ring set with eight diamonds, which is expected to sell for up to £20,000 (around $26,792) at auction.
Stuart Jones made the remarkable “once-in-a-lifetime” discovery in the village of Wormington, Gloucestershire.
The historic ring is set to go under the hammer at Noonans of Mayfair on June 23, where it is expected to fetch between £15,000 ($20,096.55) and £20,000 ($26,792).
Stuart Jones made the remarkable “once-in-a-lifetime” discovery in Wormington, a village in Gloucestershire.
Stuart said the discovery came near the end of a seven-hour search session. He recalled being “absolutely overwhelmed with joy” upon recovering the ring, adding that he was “over the moon” as those around him congratulated him and took photos. He also described it as, without question, the most significant find of his detecting career.
Stuart said the discovery came at the end of a seven-hour day of searching. He described it as his “once-in-a-lifetime find,” explaining that, like many detectorists, he had always dreamed of uncovering something truly special but never expected to find something of such significance.
He added that he may never come across anything to surpass it, but that uncertainty is part of what makes the discovery so meaningful.
Whatever the outcome at auction, Stuart said finding the ring had already been an unforgettable experience and a moment he will treasure for the rest of his life.
“I know I may never find anything that surpasses this discovery, but that is part of what makes it so special,” Stuart said.
As he carefully pulled the ring from the soil, one diamond came loose and fell into his hand, while a second stone was also found to be missing.
He collected the surrounding soil from the discovery site, then washed and sieved it, successfully recovering the missing diamond.
The proceeds from the auction will be shared equally with the landowner. The ring has also been examined by the British Museum.
Laura Smith, a jewellery specialist at Noonans, said: “Early 17th-century baroque taste required grand rings to make an impression from a distance.”
The proceeds from the auction will be shared equally with the landowner, and the ring has been examined by the British Museum.
“Fashions in diamond rings moved from solitaires towards clusters of small stones arranged in decorative patterns such as rosettes, pansies, crosses and fleur-de-lys,” experts noted.
They added: “This ring features a flowerhead bezel made up of a cluster of eight ‘hogback’ diamonds, which is extremely rare, although two are loose.”
“According to a PMI test using an XRF analyzer, the gold tested at 19.2 carats.
“This exact gold standard was established by Edward I in 1300; goldsmiths were forbidden from working gold below the ‘Touch of Paris,’ meaning 80% pure gold (or 19.2ct).”
