Jim Wren, Author at The Ring Finders

2 White Gold Rings – Wedding band and Engagement Ring Lost in the Yard, Found and Returned Galivants Ferry SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Around 5 pm on Tuesday, June 3, 2026 after finishing up another search, I saw a text message on my phone. The text read, “Hi is this Mr. Wren? I found you on Google. I’m in Galivants Ferry SC, but wanted to see if this is too far out for you to help find my wedding ring and band.” I called the number attached to the text and talked with Sophia. She explained that she had lost her rings in her front yard. She gave me her address and I plugged it into my phone map. Told her I’d be there in about an hour and 20 minutes and was on my way.

When I arrived, I saw Sophia and her husband   Hunter sitting on the front porch. I met both in the front yard and Sophia showed me the area she thought the rings would be from the day before. However, she also said that she and Hunter had been out until late in the night with flashlights with no luck. She also said it had rained hard that night and was afraid the rings may have washed away. I assured her the rings were still where they fell. Although I had my Equinox 800, this was going to be a completely visual search. After searching the majority of the front yard, I decided to move my car out of the driveway. Hunter followed suit and moved their vehicle as well. I extended the search out and by now Hunter, Sophia, a neighbor and her son had joined in the search. Shortly after moving the cars, I spotted the wedding band and handed it to Sophia. A few minutes later Hunter spotted the engagement ring. Both rings had been hiding under their car the whole time. Another great ending!!!

Sophia – Thank you for calling me to help find your treasures and get them back where they belong. I wish all the best to you and Hunter!!

Jim

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White Gold w/Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring lost in the Ocean. Found and Returned Wrightsville Beach, NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Friday, May 22, 2026, just after 8:30 am, I received a call from the Oak Island, NC.  Ring Finder, John Finnerin. He asked if I could take a call from a young lady, Amanda, who lost her engagement ring on Wrightsville Beach, NC. I told him I’d be glad to and we hung up. Amanda called me and explained that she had lost her ring the day before. I told her I’d be there in about an hour and 30-40 minutes. On the way, I ask for an address where we could meet and a few more details. In some of her response she stated she probably lost it around 2 or 3pm and wasn’t sure if she lost it in the water or where they were sitting. She also said that they were in the water and did go out to chest deep around 2pm. I looked at the time I’d be there and where the tide was going to be and it didn’t look promising.

When I got to the meeting area, Blaine, her fiancé was waiting at the corner to direct me to parking. We walked up the street to the beach access and I met Amanda. We walked out on the beach and over to the area they had been sitting, Blaine thought it was another 30 yards south. Looking over the situation, it was very close to high tide, and the sea breeze had picked up and blowing some pretty good size waves up on the beach. About the only thing I was going to be able to accomplish then was going to be a grid search of the beach down to the water’s edge. I did an east/west grid search and eliminated the entire beach area. At that point, I was stalling for time hoping that the sea and wind would calm down, didn’t happen! I did try and see how far I could get out in the water. Unfortunately, when a wave hit me and knocked me down, causing me to break the cuff on my detector, my day was done. I came to the conclusion that I’d have to come back and hit the morning low tide for calm seas and before the sea breeze started. I don’t remember if I told Amanda and Blaine that I was going to come back or not. This was Friday, and because of the Memorial Day weekend, I wasn’t able to get back out until Tuesday morning around 9 am. I called my good friend Burwin, who has helped me numerous times and asked him if he was up for an adventure. I don’t think he’s ever told me no.

We showed up a little after 9 am on Tuesday and I asked him to start on the east side, and I’d start on the west side, and we’d meet in the middle. Both of us were doing a north/south grid line. Since I was down a detector, I broke out my Surf PI. I haven’t used that machine in years; it just gets heavy. I was probably a quarter of the way across my area and maybe shin deep when I got a hit. I pulled out 3 scoops of heavy wet sand before I got the target out of the hole. Spread the sand out and ran the coil over the area. Boom! I saw a round object packed with sand and reached down to pick it up. I had Amanda’s ring in my hand. I cleaned it off and took 3 pictures of it. I called Amanda, who was working, and asked her what her ring looked like. I knew I had it from the description she gave me on day one.  I also sent her the 3 pictures. As she’s explaining, she stopped and said, “My Ring!” I know there were tears flowing down her cheeks, and she couldn’t talk. I love the surprise reactions, makes it all worthwhile!! I was able to make it to the Post Office and get it in the mail. She should get it Friday.

Today, Saturday I got a text message with a picture of Amanda attached. The text said, “Officially got my ring back! We’re beyond grateful for your help Jim!!”

Amanda and Blaine – I’m so happy I could find your treasure. Thank you for trusting me to help.

Jim

 

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Man’s Tungsten Wedding Band Lost in the Soft Sand – Found and Returned Ocean Isle Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On May 26, 2026, just before 6 pm, I received a call from Olivia about a lost ring. She said her husband Tyler had put his Tungsten wedding ring in a bag along with some towels and kid toys. Throughout the course of the day, things were removed and replaced in the bag. They suspected that at some point his ring had been accidently pulled out of the bag and fallen in the soft sand. She also said they had been sitting in the upper part of the beach and left the beach around 4 pm. This would have been right at high tide. To complicate matters, we’re in the King tide cycle, meaning excessive high and low tides. Olivia also stated that the high tide had come in and covered the upper beach, including the rental house stairs to the beach. I told her the best thing would be for me to come out around 11 pm to ensure the tide had gone back out. She agreed and we hung up. Around 7 pm, Olivia called me back concerned that I might have too late of a night. So, I asked her how about 9 pm and she agreed.

I showed up at 9 at the address she had given me. Tyler and Olivia’s uncle met me in the driveway. We walked about a block down to the beach access and out on the beach. We walked about another 30 yards east and they showed me the suspected area. Tyler confirmed his ring was silver Tungsten. I turned my Equinox 800 on, took a step and hit a solid 20 on the VDI (visual display indicator), definitely in the Tungsten ring range. I took a shallow scoop of sand, dumped it on the beach and took my foot and spread it out. With my headlamp on, I could see the outside of sand around a round object. I reached down and pulled Tyler’s ring out, turned around and handed it to him. He and Olivia’s uncle were both caugt off guard and completely surprised. We walked back to their house, enjoyed some conversation with Olivia and then I was on my way.

Olivia and Tyler, thank you for calling and trusting me to help find Tyler’s treasure. Best to both of you!

Jim

 

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White Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Dry Sand, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This adventure started at 9:30 am on Memorial Day, 2026 when I received a text from Maureen saying, “Hi, is this the ring finder gentleman? She went on to say, “I apologize so much, I know it’s a holiday, but I was told the sooner I try to get help finding it the better.  We were in front of the Carolinian Beach Resort on 25th Ave in Myrtle Beach with some friends yesterday and I lost my wedding band. It’s just a straight band with 5 diamonds across. It was given to me by my husband by his mom to give to me and I’m just devastated. I’ve been out with my dad’s metal detector once, and we are going to try and go out with it again today. Do you think there’s any chance in a million of finding it?” I immediately called the number, and it went to voice mail, so I text her to call me. When she called, I asked her if she could meet me and told her I could be there in about 30-40 minutes. She agreed, and I told her I was on my way.

When I got there, I texted her and she responded their GPS said they were about 16 minutes out. I asked her if she could give me a location on the beach with some landmarks, which she did. Luckily the beach wasn’t crowded yet, but there was a family just getting ready to set up their spot and it was very close to where I needed to search. I explained what I was doing and asked nicely if I could check their area really quick. They agreed and I quickly went over the area and got a solid 26 on the VDI (visual display indicator). Well, the 26 told me the target was in the silver range. This was way outside the single digits I expected for a white gold wedding band, which was what Maureen’s wedding band was. I dug the target and found a ring, it was nice looking, but one of the cheap rings people buy at the beach shops for $10 bucks. I thanked the family and waited for Maureen, her husband Miguel and their children.

Maureen and her family showed up a short time later and met me on the beach. Maureen walked to the south side of the area where they had been sitting. She said that she had taken her rings off and put them under the strap of her swimming suit top to put sunscreen on her and the kids. After she was done, her engagement ring was there but the wedding band had fallen out. I turned the Equinox 800 back on and started a north/south grid. Within just a few minutes, I got a booming 6 on the VDI, Bingo!! This was exactly what I was expecting for her white gold ring. Took a scoop of sand, shook out the sand and saw her ring in the bottom of the scoop. I held the scoop out to her and let her pull her treasure out. She was so excited, and some tears started to flow. Perfect ending and another chapter to add to her ring story.

Maureen – Thank you so much for calling and trusting me to help find your precious ring, so glad I could help. I wish all the best to you and Miguel.

Jim

 

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Man’s Wedding Band Launched from the 7th Floor Balcony Towards the Beach. Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Monday, May11, 2026, at 9:45 am, I got a call from Cory asking if I could help find his wedding band. I asked him when he lost it, whether in the water or soft sand, and if he was still in the area, He filled in the details for me, and I told him I could probably be there in an hour after I finished a couple of errands. I asked him to send me the address and that I’d text him when I was on my way. He text me the address of the hotel, I finished up my errands, and I text him that I was on my way.

When I arrived at about 10:40 am, I met Cory on the beach behind the hotel. I got a few more details on what happened and about where he lost his ring. Turns out, he lost it last night and there was a little alcohol involved, combined with a lover’s spat, and a heck of a throwing arm. He tossed the ring from the balcony on the 7th floor and said he thought it made it to the beach. He also said that he saw the beach cleaning truck go by about 5 am right over the area. The truck claws they drag in the sand usually don’t pick up rings but can pick up chains. I started an east west grid search from the hotel beach entrance and found nothing but bottle caps. I moved to inside the entrance and checked around the undergrowth and along the sand path. I finally hit a solid 10-11 on the VDI (visual display indicator). Cory said his ring was silver, so I was expecting a number in the low 20s. I was digging everything, so I dug the signal – Bingo!!! I picked the ring up, put it on just over my first knuckle and walked out to where Cory was. I held my finger up and asked, “Is this yours?” A huge smile appeared on his face, he said yes, I handed him his ring, and I got a big bear hug. Nothing beats returning someone’s treasure.

Cory and Nikki – I wish you all the best. Thanks for calling me!

Jim

 

 

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3 Property Markers Found – Conway SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Terri on Thursday, May 7th asking if I could help find the property markers in her yard. We agreed to meet the next day on Friday. Unfortunately, Terri called me Friday and said something came up and she’d call me to reschedule. Today, Saturday, she called back and said she was available. Neither one of us had anything going on, so I jumped in the car and made the short trip.

When I arrived, I met Terri and Joe in the driveway, and they showed me the area of the front marker. They told me the first marker was directly off a sign posted on the side of the road. I turned on my Equinox, checked the area and got nothing. They were positive on the area, so I changed to my Gold Bug II detector. A few sweeps of the area and boom, I found the first marker. We moved to the back of the yard, and I lined up with the neighbor’sH fence and the first marker. Couple of swings and found the second one. Joe and I walked across the back of the yard to find a third marker. As we’re walking Joe mentioned that he had bought both lots, so we were looking for the back marker in the second lot. Luckily that marker had a white survey pole stuck in the ground just inside the wooded area. Bingo, all 3 markers found and marked.

Terri and Joe – Thank you for calling me to help find your markers.

Take care – Jim

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White Gold Diamond Wedding Ring Lost in the Dry Sand, Found and Returned Litchfield Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Shortly before 5 p.m. on April 15, 2026, I received a phone call from Amy saying she lost her ring. She described the Wedding Ring, and I told her I could be there in about 55 minutes to an hour. Enroute, I called her to get more details on how and where she lost it. She explained that she had put her ring in the cup holder of her chair so she could apply suntan lotion. When she packed up to leave the beach, she forgot the ring. She said that she didn’t realize it was missing until she got back to her Condo. As I’m driving, she sent me a text asking, “Do you think we can find it?” I responded, “Yes, if you put me in the right area, we’ll find it!”

When I arrived at the gated resort, I had to get Amy on the phone so the gate guard would let me enter. I kept Amy on the phone, and she steered me to where she was waiting. We walked out on the beach, and she showed me a group of sticks stuck in the sand showing about where she had been sitting. Unfortunately, there was a couple just a few feet away and basically sitting in the search area. Amy must have told the couple what was going on, so they were happy to leave. Amy also mentioned that the ring could have fallen out of the cup holder on her way to the access. I started an east/west grid search about where Amy had put the sticks and worked my way out on all sides. Since Amy told me her ring was white gold, I knew the VDI (visual display indicator) was going to be in the 9 to 11 range, or there about. As I moved closer to the access point, I got a solid 11 on the VDI. I looked down and saw a little edge of what appeared to be a white gold piece of metal. I reached down and pulled out Amy’s beautiful ring. She was standing about 20 feet away, near where she had me start, when I held her ring up. She couldn’t believe it was found and just stood there. I think she said, “Is that my ring?” It took her about 2 seconds to close the distance and retrieve her ring. What a smile I got. It’s moments like this that make it all worthwhile!

Amy – Thank you for calling me and allowing me to help find your lost treasure. All the best to you!

Jim

 

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Rose Gold Floral Band w/Diamonds Lost in a Field, Found and Returned Florence, SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This adventure started just before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026, when I received a call from Rick about a lost ring. He said his wife Rona had lost her Engagement Ring somewhere in a field. They were in the process of checking out of a Howard Johnsons Hotel and loading a truck to continue their trip when her ring slipped off her finger. I asked him to send me the address, and I’ll send him my ETA once I got on the road.

It took just under an hour and a half to get to the address; unfortunately, Rick had been given the wrong address to give to me. I quickly asked Siri for directions to the nearest Howard Johnson, which ended up being another 3 miles down the road. Once I drove the 3 miles, I didn’t see a Howards Johnson in any direction. I pulled into a gas station and called Rick. Luckily, he was standing in the field across the highway and saw me walking around the gas station parking lot. We finally met next to the field where the ring was lost, which maybe was half a football field.  He showed me the suspected loss area, where the truck was parked and the area he and Rona had been. Looking at the whole situation, loss was that day, grass was short with bare areas I’m thinking this would be more of a visual search. None-the-less, I turned on the Equinox 800 and tested Rona’s Wedding band, a solid 13 on the VDI (visual display indicator). I started a north/south grid search starting at the curb and working towards the Howard Johnsons. There were a lot of targets, but they were all trash, mostly pull tabs which were ringing up as a 13 on the 800 and bottle caps. Rick was sure of the area it should be in, so I shortened my grid lines. It finally got dark enough to use head lamps for a visual search, thinking that gold ring should shine when the lights hit it. I finished up the area and moved to the far end of one side and started an east/west grid, moving my grid line further out from my original grid lines. Before I did, I talked to Rick and asked him if he would get my other head lamp and start a grid search of his own, going back over my search area. As I got finished with my first east/west grid line, I saw Rick and Rona arm in arm bent overusing their phone flashlight and my headlamp searching like pros. I stopped to see how things were going and as I was talking to Rona, Rick rose up and said, “I just found the ring!” He showed both Rona and me and boom, with the light shining on it, it was obvious as could be. I joked with Rick that he needs to become a ring finder now.

Rick and Rona – Thank you for contacting and trusting me to help find your lost treasure. Best wishes to both of you. Take care!

Jim

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Man’s Silver Wedding Band Lost in Thick Dune Weeds/Grass, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This search and recovery started with a phone call from Madison on Thursday, March 26, 2026, just before 8 p.m. She asked if I could help find her husband’s silver wedding band at the beach. She told me that her husband had tossed her his keys and his ring. She caught the keys, but the ring had gone a totally different direction. She also told me it happened in the dune with grass and weeds, and the ring could also be in some bushes. I told her I was tied up until about 9:45-10:00 p.m. and asked if she would be able to meet me. She agreed and told me which beach access it was.

We met up as planned and she walked me out between houses to a sandy beach access foot path and showed me the overgrown area where the ring was. She showed me about where her husband was standing when he tossed his keys and ring. She then showed me the direction she saw the ring fly. I had my Equinox 800 and knew a silver man’s ring was going to ring up in the mid to high 20s depending on the size of the ring. I attempted to do some sort of a grid search but found that difficult with the high grass and weeds. She thought the flight path was towards, what looked like, a small pine tree. I was able to check the branches and maneuvered enough to get under the tree and check that area. I ended up doing a kind of a circle search and stretching it out as I went. At some point, she had mentioned that her husband was leaving town the next morning and he was watching the kids. After maybe 20-25 minutes or more, I told her that she didn’t need to stick around and I’d call her one way or the other. She agreed and headed home. I decided to start over from where he was standing and work my way in straight lines. Within 5 minutes, I got a solid 32 on the VDI (visual display indicator). The only 32 signal I had ever received on the 800 was a silver dollar. I turned my headlamp on and searched the ground where the signal came from and saw a little tiny sliver of something peeking out of the sand. I reached down and ran my finger over it and uncovered a beautiful silver hammered ring, just like she said it was. She also told me their wedding date was engraved inside the ring. Bingo! I couldn’t read the engraving, but it appeared to be a date. I took a quick picture and sent it to her saying, “This it?” She immediately responded, “oh my gosh, Yesss.” She called and said she was turning around. I told her we could meet in the middle and picked a MacDonald’s. About 15 minutes later she had her husband’s ring back in her hand, a big smile on her face and heading home. I got a text from her the next day saying, “That her husband is so so happy. You really saved the day and more. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am.” This is exactly why I do this! I wasn’t able to get her picture, so I filled in for her.

Madison – Thank you for calling me and allowing me the opportunity to find and return your husband’s ring.

Best wishes, Jim

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IPhone Lost in the sand, Found and Returned in the Wet Sand at Garden City Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Right around 10 am, Monday, March 23, 2026, I got a phone call from Luke saying he lost his IPhone on the beach in Garden City and asked if I would be able to help. Luke sent me a couple of pictures and the coordinates. He also sent me the address of the Resort. I told him I’d give it a shot and grabbed my gear and headed out on the 45-minute drive. Along the way Luke text me, “The phone should be about 1/3 to ½ from the hotel to the water and if you’re facing the hotel with your back to the water, it should be more towards the left side of the hotel.” He didn’t say and I didn’t ask about what time it happened, but I knew I’d be working against an incoming tide with high ide in a couple of hours.

I arrived on site and took and sent him a video to make sure I was in the right spot. He replied that I was, so I started a perpendicular grid line from the top of the beach to about knee deep in rough surf. I knew an IPhone rings up crazy, anywhere from high 20s to mid 30s on the Equinox 800 VDI (visual display indicator). I think I was on my 6th grid line and got the high signal (34) I was looking for. It took me 3 scoops of wet sand to get to his phone, but I got it. I tried turning it on with no luck. I was concerned the phone may have been under too much water to work. I took a couple of pictures of his phone and sent him a text saying, “This it?” He immediately called me and confirmed it was his. We discussed how to get it back to him in Charlotte, NC the fastest way possible. I told him I’d go to the Post Office and call him back.  I took my equipment and his phone back to the car and decided to get one more picture. I walked back down to the beach just in time to watch a guy with a detector walk within 2 feet of where I had found Luke’s phone. Glad I found it first. Ended up sending the phone thru USPS and he got it back within 3 days. Luke let me know he got the phone, charged it up and it works perfectly. A little back story is that Luke, his wife; brother-in-law and his brother-in-law’s girlfriend were enjoying the beach. Luke took a little nap and soon after waking up, they packed up to go home. They checked the area and it wasn’t until they got about ½ way home before he realized he didn’t have his phone. He did call the local police, who sent a couple of officers down to see if they could spot the phone, with no luck. The next day Luke was able to find me on The Ring Finders and gave me the call.

Luke – Thanks for trusting me to help find you phone. Best wishes to you and yours.

Jim

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