Metal detectorist finds £20,000 Tudor ring in a field

A metal detectorist has unearthed a rare Tudor ring dating from the late 16th or early 17th century in Wormington near Evesham, found in November 2024 by Stuart Jones, a 42‑year‑old welder from Solihull. The ring is expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000 at Noonans’ jewellery auction on June 23, with profits to be shared equally between Jones and the landowner. Jones used a Garrett ACE 400i detector, detecting from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the discovery occurring in the final hours.

A diamond detached during recovery and a second setting was empty, prompting soil washing to locate the missing stone. Noonans’ Laura Smith notes the find’s significance and the restoration challenge. Jones described the moment of finding the ring as life‑changing, and the auction emphasizes the historic value and the shared prize with the landowner.