Stuart Jones and the 16th-century ring he found with a metal detector – SWNS
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 16th-century ring – Noonans via SWNS
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.
“The gold is testing as 19.2-carat, 80% pure gold.”
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