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The 2,000 year old ring, featuring the head of Augustus, had been expected to fetch between £150 and £200 but sold for 450 times its estimate at a price of £90,000 plus fees. The first century piece of jewelry is thought to have been acquired by a traveler during a ‘Grand Tour’ to Italy in the 19th century. It was then brought back to Britain where it has since remained. 'Grand Tour' trips to Italy were popular among aristocrats and members of Britain's upper class between the 17th to 19th centuries.
Set in gold, the intricately crafted ring features the ‘intaglio’ - a carving in a gem or piece of metal which leaves a hollow impression used as a seal on documents - of a man’s head in profile.

It is believed to depict Rome's first emperor Augustus, who ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC until his death, aged 75, in the year 14AD. In securing victory against Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31BC, Augustus ended a bitter 13-year civil war.
The Roman emperor's reign is often associated with imperial peace - or ‘pax Romana’. The garnet ring went under the hammer for £90,000, or £117,000 including fees, following a heated bidding war which lasted nearly 20 minutes at the Fine Jewelry Auction held by specialist jewelry auctioneers Fellows in Birmingham. The ring was sold alongside an array of other jewelry items, including other intaglios. Though the jewelry team at Fellows had identified the fine craftsmanship of the garnet ring, experts failed to accurately estimate the sums bidders would be willing to spend on the ring. The British seller is private and no further details as to how they acquired the ring were available.