The Fascinating Story of the Escrick Sapphire Engagement Ring

Each year, dozens if not hundreds of brides and grooms set out to their nearest jewellery store to purchase a sapphire engagement ring for their significant other. Much like similar jewels such as rubies and emeralds, sapphires have been growing in popularity as engagement ring toppers over the past few decades, to the point where they threaten to topple the mighty diamond in the long run.

As such, it is safe to assume that many of the couples opening their wallets to get a dream sapphire engagement ring to signify their love would be thrilled to be as lucky as one Yorkshire treasure hunter in 2009, when he found an antique ring buried in a field in his native county.

Michael Greenhorn was engaging in his hobby in a field in Escrick, a village near York, when his metal detector picked up the invaluable sapphire engagement ring. When he took it to the local museum, specialists informed him that the bauble was possibly dateable to the 5th century, when it would have very probably been worn by a member of nobility. Were that to be the case, this ring would be the first of its kind to be found in the UK, where no item of jewellery quite as old has ever surfaced.

The Escrick Ring – given that name after the village near which it was found – measures about 2.5cm (about one inch) across, and it is made of intricate gold and prestige glass patterns, topped by a blue sapphire. It is believed to have been made in Europe – possibly in France – and some of the experts at the museum have postulated that, due to its shape, it may originally have been a brooch, which was later converted into a sapphire engagement ring. Wear and tear on the ring also suggested that it may have been worn for no less than fifty years prior to being dropped or lost.

It is also possible that the ring is from a later period, but inspired by styles from a few prior centuries. This seems unlikely, however, as close examination has shown the ring portion to be significantly more recent than the sapphire and setting, leading some experts to date the latter to the classic age of Rome!

These conclusions, reached in the course of an all-day seminar at the Yorkshire Museum, fascinated the original finder of the ring. Mr. Greenhorn said it had been a fantastic experience to receive so much information about his find, and to hear from so many experts on the subject. Perhaps he will be equally flattered to learn that he is likely to be the object of the envy of thousands of engaged couples both in Britain and elsewhere in the world!

Frank L Orman is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From a diamond to a sapphire engagement ring from a princess cut to a platinum band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.