Few disasters are as intriguing as shipwrecks, sorry to say. Plenty of people have romanticized these tragedies because of movies like The Titanic while others are just captivated by the fact of things lost at sea rarely are found again. Some delve into the deep ocean to discover money, but the more personal obsession focuses on lost, sunken jewelry. Maybe because money is impersonal; maybe because jewelry tells a story, but one thing is for sure: Shipwrecks equal treasure frozen in time and some have resulted in breathtaking finds, hundreds of years later.

The Gold Locket

On the coast of South Carolina on September 12, 1988, the treasure of the “Ship of Gold” was discovered. Packed with over 33,000 pounds of treasure, this ship offered a bounty of gold in the form of currency and jewelry. Aside from the plethora of coins and statues discovered, rings, bracelets, and a precious golden locket were discovered. Though the ocean is able to tarnish most things that fall victim to it, this locket was reported to be very much intact, according to the documents on file with the court system. Though it is unknown whether or not a picture was inside the locket, it is safe to assume that this authentic gold necklace once meant a lot to somebody.

The Spanish Emerald Ring

Found in a Spanish galleon known as the “Holy grail of shipwrecks,” this emerald and gold ring has been recreated by jewelers for decades. Carrying more than seventeen billion dollars worth of treasure, new details of the 300-year old wreck surface each day. Those with an eye on wearable treasures will follow the story further in the hopes of discovering some more beautiful gems, no doubt.

The Amethyst Ring

The Nuestra Señora de Atocha is a ship that sank alongside others during a hurricane in 1622 off the coast of Florida. While plenty of coins were discovered aboard the ship, the jewelry was also in high volume. Silver and amethyst were among the most common items, including a gorgeous purple ring that many try to replicate to this day.

The Ring with the Gold Coin Inside

Sinking in 1784 in the Gulf of Mexico, the El Cazador shipwreck offered plenty of treasure to those lucky enough to have found it. While most ships found had millions of dollars worth of coins on board, only this carried jewelry adorned with coins, too. Among the treasures was a gold ring that housed a shiny gold coin where a gem would typically be.