Dutch Historian Discovers Medieval Jewels
The 1,000-year-old find is now on display in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities.

Ruijter found a treasure trove of medieval jewelry and coins dating back more than 1,000 years.
He reported his find to Archeology West Friesland, and his discovery is now on display in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities.
“Gold jewelry from the high Middle Ages is extremely rare in the Netherlands,” said the museum.
The treasure trove included four gold earrings in a crescent moon shape, two gold leaf pieces that fit together, and 39 small silver coins.
The coins helped the museum to piece together how old the treasure was and shape the story of why, perhaps, it was found buried in the ground.
The coins, believed to be from 1200 to 1250, were from the Diocese of Utrecht, which included several counties, and from the German empire, with the youngest copies made around 1248 when King William II ruled the Holy Roman Empire. Small pieces of textiles indicate they were wrapped in a cloth or bag.
This would mean the jewelry was already nearly two centuries old when it was likely hidden in the ground, said the museum.
This was an important and troubled time in the country’s history, when there were wars between West Friesland and the county of Holland. Count Willem II died during these wars, not far from where the jewelry was found.
The museum’s theory is that these jewels and coins were likely among someone’s cherished possessions, buried out of sight during the wars.
“This makes the treasure find of great significance for the archaeology and history of North Holland and West Friesland, and even of national and international importance,” said the museum.
SEE: The Medieval Jewelry and Coins Discovered in the Netherlands
The most important objects, according to the museum, are the earrings. The first pair feature engraved scenes, including one depicting a man with rays surrounding his head, believed to be a portrait of Jesus Christ, also known as “Sol Invictus,” or the “unconquered sun.”
The other pair has intricate filigree decorations. One earring is badly damaged, likely due to being hidden under plowed soil for centuries.
“The jewelry is decorated on one side and has fragile suspension brackets. This suggests that they were probably not pierced through ears, but were worn on a hood or a headband,” said the museum, noting German images from the same time period show a similar style.

The two gold leaf-shaped pieces fit together, and are believed to have been worn attached to clothing due to the small textile fibers that were found.
The jewelry and coins belong to the finder, Ruijter, but are temporarily on loan to the museum.
They will be on display in the Temple Hall of the museum until mid-June. Beginning Oct. 13, the find will be part of a new temporary exhibition, titled “The Year 1000.”
The Latest

Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show

A private American collector purchased the 10-carat fancy vivid blue diamond.

The designer has taken the appeal of freshly picked fruit and channeled it into a capsule collection of earrings, necklaces, and pendants.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The country’s gem and jewelry exports fell 5 percent year-over-year last month, while imports declined 18 percent.


Around 54 million Americans and counting live with a disability. Here’s how to make your jewelry store and website more accessible.

The event is also accepting poster submissions now through June 16.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

Before Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.

The one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.

While the product has entrenched itself in the market, retailers and consultants are assessing the next phase of the category’s development.

The police are trying to identify the man suspected of robbing two Tiffany & Co. locations in the area.

The donation was the result of the brand’s annual Earth Day Ingot event.

Located in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.

BIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.

As a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.

The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.

Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.

“Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.

The deadline to submit is June 16.

Moti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.

Lichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.

The miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.

Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.

Sponsored by Instappraise

CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.