$3,000 ring found in charity haul

A Goodwill store in Arkansas is the beneficiary of an unknown patron, who has donated a gold ring worth thousands of dollars to the charity.

The unprecedented contribution, found in a box amongst some other loose trinkets and items of jewellery, was handed in to the store in Searcy and has been valued by a local jeweller at approximately $3,000.

The ring is a 14-carat gold band, adorned with a Tahitian black pearl surrounded by several real diamonds and is the most valuable item of jewellery ever donated, according to Goodwill.

Sales associate Diana Mohr was the lucky individual to find the hidden treasure: "I just seemed to notice that it looked like a good ring; better than costume jewellery.

"So, I looked and noticed it was marked 14-carat gold," she said. "I know someone with a diamond tester, so I had the diamond tested. And I knew the pearl would be real too."

The ring is on display in a prominent place at the Goodwill store until the end of May and bids are being taken on it until then to determine a buyer. Bidding is currently at around $700.