A Medieval Diamond Ring Found By A Treasure Hunter
A treasure hunter using a metal detector finds a medieval gold ring with a rare black diamond ring set inside.
A forty-two year old from Hinckley named John Stevens noticed the ring had some lettering after he brushed off the mud signifying that it was of the early medieval period, probably the 11th century.
Not having been valued yet, the ring is presumed to be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Brett Hammond, a specialist in antiquities said, “It was clearly an important item of treasure, It is a gold ring possibly containing a rare black diamond. It is a beautiful early medieval inscribed finger ring that would have been owned by a very wealthy person, in the church or possibly even royalty.
“Common people in that era were not even allowed to own gold, so it must have been owned by a powerful person.”
Since black diamonds are so rare nowadays, coming from Africa, then going back about 1,000 years ago, black diamonds must have been even rarer.
John Stevens states that he was in a ploughed field with a bunch of friends when he came across the ring about five inches deep. He says, “It is boldly inscribed with lettering that certainly looks very early medieval to my untrained eye.
“I don’t know yet what the letters spell out, but if they indicate a royal owner it might be worth tens of thousand of pounds.”