An amateur treasure hunter who discovered a precious Tudor ring has sold the ‘extraordinarily rare’ piece of jewellery for a five figure sum.
Lee Rossiter found the Green Hammerton Ring in North Yorkshire, using a cheap metal detector he had bought on eBay.
The 15th century ring is 80 per cent gold, and contains a ruby and an emerald.
An amateur treasure hunter who discovered a precious Tudor ring has sold the ‘extraordinarily rare’ piece of jewellery for a five figure sum
The ring, which is a double-bezel chased finger ring in the form of a flower is set with a ruby and an emerald and is engraved in Medieval French. Queen Elizabeth I who ruled from 1558-1603 was often drawn with elaborate jewellery
The precious ring was found in Green Hammerton, near Harrogate in North Yorkshire
The ring was classified as treasure but local museums were not able to raise the funds.
Cheshire-based auctioneer Mark Littler advised him to sell directly to a collector rather than go through an auction.
Mr Littler said: ‘I was excited when Lee first approached me as medieval jewellery is more often found in museums, not fields.
‘I knew immediately that this was an important find and would require some thought as to how best to sell it.
‘It was decided that an auction might not be the best course of action as the ring would be worth more to a private collector if it had not already been presented to the market.’
He said he brokered a sale with dealers Wartski, in Mayfair, who have been supplying the royal family with jewellery for generations.
Mr Rossiter discovered the ring while searching with the Yorkshire Searchers Metal Detecting Club at Green Hammerton, near Harrogate, in April
‘I contacted them and negotiated a private treaty sale for a five figure sum for my client which was a great result,’ Mr Littler said.
Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, said: ‘We have a strong interest in medieval rings and were thrilled to have the opportunity of purchasing this one.
‘Jewels of this calibre are extraordinarily rare and it is magical when the ground presents them as gifts to those who look for them.’