Ring designed for Ozzy Osbourne goes up for auction

Osbourne died days after his farewell concert at Villa Park in July

A silver ring designed for Ozzy Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates for their farewell concert in July, days before the frontman died, is going up for auction next month.

The ornate piece of jewellery features the Aston Villa crest and the year 1968, which was when the band was formed.

It was created by the street artist known as Jagga and was one of a set of five rings which were each presented to Birmingham-born Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bass player Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, who played drums.

The fifth spare ring from the set will be sold by Hansons Auctioneers on 17 September and is expected to make between £1,200 and £1,500.

Hansons music memorabilia expert Claire Howell said Jagga had designed the rings for Osbourne personally to celebrate his last concert.

"Given the close timing to Ozzy's sad death just over a fortnight later, the gesture is all the more poignant," she said.

She said that the auction at the firm's Derbyshire sale room in Etwall was a "rare and unique opportunity" to buy the last remaining ring.

The ring features the Aston Villa crest and the year 1968, which was when the band was formed

Ms Howell said jewellery was central to Osbourne's rock persona from the earliest days of Black Sabbath to his later incarnation as a TV reality star, with silver his favoured metal to best contrast his black gothic look.

She said while skulls and crosses predominated his style, his beloved Aston Villa also featured.

Thousands of heavy metal fans were at the final Black Sabbath concert

Thousands of heavy metal fans made the pilgrimage on 5 July to see Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park on 5 July.

Osbourne, who is credited with inventing the genre, died less than two weeks later at the age of 76.

During the Villa Park show, he performed some of his biggest hits while seated on a black throne.

He was then joined by the full original Sabbath line-up, with the four members not seen on stage together for 20 years.

Days later, Osbourne's family accompanied the rock legend's coffin on a final journey through his home city, watched by thousands of fans.

The funeral procession was led by a brass band playing Black Sabbath songs, with Osbourne's body transported in a hearse topped by a purple floral tribute in the shape of a cross.