At the end of a long day, a metal detector enthusiast in England unearthed a 16th-century ring with eight diamonds.
Stuart Jones uncovered the stunning “once in a lifetime find” in the village of Wormington, Gloucestershire.
“When I recovered the ring, I was absolutely overwhelmed with joy. I was over the moon.
“Everyone around me was congratulating me and taking photographs.
“Without any doubt, the ring is the best find I have ever made.
“Like many detectorists, I have always dreamed of finding something truly special, but I never imagined I would discover an item of this significance.
“I know I may never find anything that surpasses this discovery, but that is part of what makes it so special.”
The ring, which was examined by the British Museum, is expected to attract bids of up to $20,000 at auction (with Noonans of Mayfair conducting the sale on June 23). And all money earned at the auction will be shared equally with the landowner.
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“Whatever happens at auction, finding the ring has already been an unforgettable experience and a moment that I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
Luckily, as he pulled the ring from the soil, one diamond came loose and fell into his hand. A second jewel was also missing—but he gathered the surrounding dirt and managed to find the missing stone.
“Early 17th century baroque tastes required grand rings to make an impression from a distance,” reported Noonans Jewelry Specialist Laura Smith, “groups of stones arranged in decorative patterns: rosettes, pansies, crosses, fleur-de-lys, etc.”
“This ring has a flowerhead bezel composed of a cluster of eight ‘hogback’ diamonds, which is very rare.
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“The gold is testing as 19.2-carat, 80% pure gold.”
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