Gold, 3.21 grams, 22.32 mm. 8th-10th century AD. Octohedral facetted finger rings were worn in the Middle Saxon period, derived from contemporary Byzantine fashion. The present example has a band up to 3.5 mm wide which is at the more delicate end of the range for this artefact type. It was adjusted in antiquity so that the flat surfaces would be visible when worn while the repaired or resized portion would have been hidden in the hand. Reference: Webster, L. & Backhouse, J. The Making of England. Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900, London, 1991, p.274 item 248(d). Purchased in Belgium in the early 1960's. An interesting ring in good condition.