Manadatory Credit: Photo by Kippa Matthews / Rex Features (1394018F) Michael Greenhorn wearing the unique sapphire and gold ring that he found Only Anglo-Saxon era sapphire ever found in the ground in Britain to go on show, Yorkshire, Britain - 27 Jul 2011 The only Anglo-Saxon era sapphire ever found in the ground in Britain is to go on show in Yorkshire. The unique sapphire and gold ring has been acquired by The Yorkshire Museum for GBP 35,000. The ring, which measures around 2.5cm across, is intricately made of gold, prestige glass and a large sapphire. According to historians it would have belonged to Anglo-Saxon or Viking royalty, very senior clergy or a leading member of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy. The ring, which is thought to date from the early 10th to the mid 11th century, was found in a field near to York by local metal detectorist Michael Greenhorn. It is the only Anglo-Saxon era sapphire ever found in Britain and is also only the second known use of a sapphire in jewellery found in the country, the first being a Fifth Century Roman example.