REVIEW: DETECTORIST FINDS GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AT NOONANS

Detectorist finds and early jewels going from strength to strength at Noonans. The demand for early jewellery continues to rise, an area of the auction market that has seen rapid growth in recent years.

Due in part to the increasing popularity of metal detecting clubs and aided by the hugely successful TV series The Detectorists, more treasures are being discovered all the time and coming to the auction market.

Noonans Mayfair are proud to be London's leading auctioneers specialising in the sale of early jewels and detectorist finds and include a selection of early jewels in each of their quarterly jewellery auctions. The charm and academic interest associated with these historic jewels has led to highly successful auction results.

Highlights so far in 2026 – in our 10 March and 23 June sales alone – include examples spanning the centuries from the beautiful 9th century Allerdale Viking silver hoard, through to Medieval silver vervels, brooches and pendants, stirrup rings, posy rings, iconographic rings, epigraphic rings, seal rings, memorial rings and gemset rings.

Memento mori and memorial rings have their own macabre charm, and those dedicated to known individuals are always sought after, as demonstrated by The William Ellis and The Richard Busby Memorial Rings, together with the death head skull memento mori ring, all three offered for sale in our 23 June auction, and all selling well over top estimate, achieving individual results ranging from £2,200 to £3,200 hammer.

The Richard Busby Ring was successfully acquired by Westminster School, where Busby had been headmaster for 55 years, during the years 1638-1693 – a remarkable 55 years – and will now form part of the school’s important archive.

Romance always proves irresistible with early jewels, and a fine Medieval gold love brooch offered in our March auction attracted strong interest. The late 14th / early 15th century heart-shaped bifacial brooch, the front with wreath border, the reverse with French black letter script translating as TO YOU I AM BOUND/TIED IN LOVE', sold for a hammer price of £7,000.

Posy rings are increasingly popular and highly collectable. An unusual example included in the June auction caught bidders’ attention. Dating from circa 1580, the plain gold band was inscribed to the interior A FAT WENCH HATH NO FELLOW. Initially appearing to be somewhat derogatory, the wording was likely referencing Shakespearean texts, where the word 'FAT' would suggest ‘wealth or prosperity’, and HATH NO FELLOW would have been understood to mean ‘hath no comparison’. Hence the contemporary meaning of the posy could be ‘A wealthy young woman has no equal’. The ring sold over three times top estimate, finally achieving a hammer price of £3400.

The June sale also saw the impressive 16th / 17th century Evesham Diamond Ring, set with a cluster of hog-back diamonds, a stunning detectorist find from 2024, sell above top estimate at £17,000, to the delight of the finder.

Noonans are accepting entries for our 22 September auction, with highlights so far including a 3rd century Roman gold and nicolo ring, a 17th century silver hawking vervel, fine posy rings, and a selection of beautifully engraved Medieval gold iconographic rings. For further enquiries, please contact the Jewellery Department on 0207 016 1700 or email [email protected]