The name inscribed inside the hoop tells us that this ring belonged to William Wytlesey who was consecrated Bishop of Rochester in 1362. He was transferred to the See of Worcester in 1364, and was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1368 and his death in 1374. The ring is said to have been found in his tomb but may also have been preserved in the cathedral treasury. Bishops were given a 'pontifical' ring and a crozier as part of their investiture, symbolizing their spiritual and temporal powers but would also have owned personal rings. The ring and crozier played important symbolical roles - the crozier was based on the shape of a shepherd's crook and symbolised the bishop's role as a leader to his Christian flock. The ring could be understood as a sign of faith and commitment but in continental Europe, particularly in the Holy Roman Empire, it was used to show the spiritual marriage of the bishop and the Church. From the 10th century, the investiture ceremony, in which the bishop was consecrated, used the words 'Receive the ring, the sign of faith, so that, adorned with pure faith, you may preserve without harm, your bride, namely the holy church of God.'

It is still customary for a bishop to receive a ring at their consecration which is then worn as a symbol of office. St Isidore of Seville (died 636) explained that 'the ring is given to the Bishop at his consecration, as a mark of the Episcopal dignity, or as a seal of things hidden'. Around 1294, the Pontifical compiled by William Durandus for the diocese of Mende, France stated that 'the Ring being of gold and round, signifies perfection; being jewelled, the splendour of the Gifts of the Spirit, which Christ has received without measure.' The bishop's ring performed some of the same functions as a wedding ring. The twelfth century commentator Honorius of Autun stated that 'The bishop consequently bears a ring, that he may perceive himself as the bridegroom of the Church, and if it will have been necessary, lay down his life for her, like Christ.'

Bishops frequently chose sapphires for their official rings and of the 20 found in the graves of English medieval bishops, twelve are sapphires. Sapphires were believed to be particularly suited to bishops because of their heavenly colour. They were thought to expel envy, comfort the heart, detect fraud and witchcraft and obtain esteem from the wearer's lord. The hole drilled through the sapphire was believed to increased its power or 'virtue' but may also show that the sapphire was reused from an earlier piece of jewellery.

Although this ring may have been William Wytlesey's consecration ring, he is likely to have owned and worn a number of other jewels.