AuctionsFeb 28, 2025
300-Year-Old Ring With Ties to Witch Trial Judge Up for Auction AuctionsMar 12, 2025
A Medieval Bishop’s Sapphire Ring Is Going Up for Sale
A metal detectorist discovered the ring that is believed to have belonged to a bishop in the late 12th to early 13th century.
A sapphire ring that is believed to have belonged to a medieval bishop is heading to auction at Noonans Mayfair. (Image courtesy of Noonans)
London—A man using a metal detector in Norfolk, England, uncovered a medieval bishop’s ring dating back to the late 12th to early 13th century.
The rare find will head to auction at Noonans Mayfair in its “Jewellery, Silver and Objects of Vertu” sale on March 26.
Mark Sell, a 63-year-old resident of Swaffham and a retired member of the Fire Service, was using his metal detector on King Row, Shipdham in Norfolk on Nov. 22, 2019, when he discovered the treasure.
He had been to this field a few times before and hadn’t found anything, but a few hours into the day, he found what he called “the best item I have found so far.”
“I was amazed to see a thin line of gold in the clod of mud that I had dug up, and as I wiped away the mud, I could see the bezel of a medieval gold jewelled ring. I could also see that the ring was complete with all of the original jewels still in place and was in pristine condition,” said Sell.
Laura Smith, jewelry expert at Noonans, shared details about the ring and insight into the area’s history.
“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,” she said.
The ring features a hexagonal cabochon sapphire as its center stone in a closed back collet setting, surrounded by four smaller cabochon emeralds and garnets, with a flat, narrow band.
The area where it was found, the village of Shipdham in central Norfolk, was well established by the time of the Norman Conquest, said Smith, and it was one of the largest settlements in England at the time, with its history detailed in the Domesday Book of 1086.
During the reign of Henry III, who ruled from 1216 to 1272, the Bishop of Ely built a manor house at Shipdham. Its moat can be seen on 19th century maps, said Smith.
“Also, of importance during the medieval period, this area contained a royal deer park, owned by the See of Ely. The park, composed of Little Haw and West Haw, was in existence by 1277 but passed into the hands of the Wodehouse family between 1561 and 1584. All Saints church, Shipdham, dates from the 12th century.”
Similar rings from around this time have been preserved, including one that belonged to Walter de Gray, the Archbishop of York from 1215 until his death in 1255, which is on display at York Minster.
There is also the Bishop of Chichester’s ring and the Whithorn Cathedral ring.
Related stories will be right here …
The rare find will head to auction at Noonans Mayfair in its “Jewellery, Silver and Objects of Vertu” sale on March 26.
Mark Sell, a 63-year-old resident of Swaffham and a retired member of the Fire Service, was using his metal detector on King Row, Shipdham in Norfolk on Nov. 22, 2019, when he discovered the treasure.
He had been to this field a few times before and hadn’t found anything, but a few hours into the day, he found what he called “the best item I have found so far.”
“I was amazed to see a thin line of gold in the clod of mud that I had dug up, and as I wiped away the mud, I could see the bezel of a medieval gold jewelled ring. I could also see that the ring was complete with all of the original jewels still in place and was in pristine condition,” said Sell.
Laura Smith, jewelry expert at Noonans, shared details about the ring and insight into the area’s history.
“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,” she said.
The ring features a hexagonal cabochon sapphire as its center stone in a closed back collet setting, surrounded by four smaller cabochon emeralds and garnets, with a flat, narrow band.
The area where it was found, the village of Shipdham in central Norfolk, was well established by the time of the Norman Conquest, said Smith, and it was one of the largest settlements in England at the time, with its history detailed in the Domesday Book of 1086.
During the reign of Henry III, who ruled from 1216 to 1272, the Bishop of Ely built a manor house at Shipdham. Its moat can be seen on 19th century maps, said Smith.
“Also, of importance during the medieval period, this area contained a royal deer park, owned by the See of Ely. The park, composed of Little Haw and West Haw, was in existence by 1277 but passed into the hands of the Wodehouse family between 1561 and 1584. All Saints church, Shipdham, dates from the 12th century.”
Similar rings from around this time have been preserved, including one that belonged to Walter de Gray, the Archbishop of York from 1215 until his death in 1255, which is on display at York Minster.
There is also the Bishop of Chichester’s ring and the Whithorn Cathedral ring.
When Sell uncovered this ring, he reported his find to the landowner, then handed it to the local Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Finds Liaison Officer (FLO).
Under the U.K.’s Treasure Act 1996, finders are legally obligated to report finds of potential treasure, and typically do so via reporting to an FLO, according to the PAS website.
The Act allows a national or local museum to acquire treasure for public benefit.
The ring was temporarily on display at the British Museum, and the Norwich Castle Museum was interested in acquiring the ring to put on permanent display, said Noonans.
Sell took photos of the ring to a Noonans valuation day, where experts shared with him the “extreme rarity” and historical importance of the ring.
The ring has a pre-sale estimate of £15,000 to 18,000 ($19,400 to $23,300).
The proceeds from the sale of the ring will be shared between the landowner and Sell, who said he does not yet have plans for what to do with the money.
Noonans has sold jewelry uncovered by retirees before, including a 300-year-old ring with ties to a witch trial judge, which will also be a part of the March 26 sale, as well as a 17th-century gold seal ring, and an 18th-century memento mori ring sold in 2023.
More on Auctions
The Latest
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.
WatchesJul 30, 2025
Peek Inside Zadok Jewelers’ New Rolex Showroom in AustinIts opening marks the completion of the retailer’s new 11,000-square-foot store in the Texas capital.
SurveysJul 30, 2025
Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in JulyRespondents shared concerns about tariffs and commentary on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
SourcingJul 30, 2025
Rob Bates to Release Latest Book in His ‘Diamond District Mystery’ Series“Making a Killing in Diamonds” tells the story of Mimi Rosen, the disappearance of a scientist, and the murder of lab-grown diamond CEO.
EditorsJul 29, 2025
Out & About: Visiting Tacori’s Design Studio in LASenior Editor Lenore Fedow learned a lot when she took a behind-the-scenes factory tour with the jewelry brand earlier this year.
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2025
Melee The Show Welcomes 15 New DesignersThe first-time exhibitors, set to debut at the New York City show, share a devotion to craftsmanship, storytelling, and material integrity.
SourcingJul 29, 2025
Auctim to Offer 7.3M+ Carats of Rough EmeraldsThe online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.
MajorsJul 29, 2025
Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.
Policies & IssuesJul 28, 2025
U.S.-EU Come to Agreement on Tariffs Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.
CollectionsJul 28, 2025
Nanis Brings a New Palette to ‘Ipanema’A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.
MajorsJul 28, 2025
The 1916 Company Partners with ‘Shark Tank’ Star’s Watch Insurance PlatformThe retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.
IndependentsJul 28, 2025
Sissy’s Log Cabin to Open Flagship in Arkansas The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.
CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ NecklaceAnne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
Events & AwardsJul 25, 2025
Pre-Registration Open for September Hong Kong ShowJewellery & Gem World Hong Kong is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 21, and buyer pre-registration will be available until Sept. 7.
FinancialsJul 25, 2025
LVMH Sales Slip in H1 Amid ‘Prevailing Uncertainties’Renovations at Tiffany & Co. stores ate into profits in the company’s watch and jewelry division.
Events & AwardsJul 24, 2025
2 Retailers to Receive 2026 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementMark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.
SourcingJul 24, 2025
De Beers Sees Diamond Production Sink 36% in Q2 While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.
