Detectorist's medieval ring find fetches £19,000

A rare Medieval bishop's ring found by a metal detectorist has been sold for £19,000 at auction.

The gold ring, which has a central hexagonal cabochon sapphire with two emeralds and two garnets, was uncovered by detectorist Mark Sell, 63, in King Row, Shipdham, Norfolk, in 2019.

Mr Sell, a retired firefighter, said he had been "amazed" when he spotted some gold glistening in the mud.

The ring, which dates from the late 12th to early 13th Century, went under the hammer at Noonans Mayfair on Wednesday.

Mr Sell said he had been in the field a couple of times before but had not found anything of importance.

After trying again for a couple of hours before it got dark one evening in November 2019, his metal detector picked up a faint signal, and he found the ring about nine inches (23cm) below the surface.

He reported it to the landowner and it was left with the county's Finds Liaison Officer.

The ring was bought by a member of the trade, according to Noonans Mayfair.

"This form of Medieval ring, with a principal cabochon stone - usually a sapphire - surrounded by smaller collet set satellite stones (garnets or rubies, and emeralds), can be securely dated to the late 12th or early 13th Century, and is associated with the bishopric," said Laura Smith, jewellery expert at Noonans Mayfair.

After the sale, Mr Sell said: "It was a wonderful price, and I am delighted with the result."

He will share the money with the landowner.

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