Rob Ellis, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 3 of 6

Lost and Found Ring, Woodbridge, Virginia

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text ASAP, (703)-598-1435

July 25th, 2021: Found and returned an antique ring, Woodbridge, VA

 

Jonathan was having fun playing Frisbee fetch with his dog in the field behind his home. When he went back into the house, he realized the ring he inherited from his grandfather was missing. He immediately retraced his steps and visually searched the field. Then he obtained a metal detector and searched again, but there was too much EMF interference and too many targets. While researching how to find a ring, Jonathan read an old post on Redit recommending The Ring Finders. He contacted my friend Ray Jones (571-258-7217), but Ray knew he would be delayed, so he asked me to take over.

100×50 area

The next morning I made the 30 minute drive and met Jonathan. We walked the field and he showed me where he was throwing and walking. Jonathan was very helpful in defining the boundaries of activity and explaining how the ring might have come off. I set-up my search grid lines and started sweeping the area. After covering the field where Jonathan was throwing, I expanded to where he had picked-up his dogs waste. I heard the detectors signal saw the lovely ring at the same moment. There it was, sitting on a patch of dead grass. We had both walked over the spot, but never saw the ring. I marked the location and texted Jonathan “I found it!” As we walked over, he and I both remarked how easy it was to see…when you knew where to look!

Grandfather’s Ring

Jonathan Smile

Don’t give up. Many of my clients have bought, borrowed, or rented a metal detector and then called me. Just because you have a tool, doesn’t mean you know how to use it. I have thousands of hours detecting on land and underwater. If you have tried using a detector without success, please call to see if I can help.

I am expert detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703)-598-1435

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Ring lost in Burke, Virginia found and returned!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

July 23rd, 2021: Returned ring lost in shallow water, Fairfax County, VA

I was eating dinner when I got a text from Isabella. Earlier that day, she was playing fetch with her dogs in a local lake.  She lost the ring while throwing a stick. When I called, she explained the stainless-steel ring belonged to her recently deceased father and it was very important to her. I quickly grabbed my gear and we met at the lake.

Isabella led me through the woods to the spot she was exercising her dogs. While throwing, she felt the ring slip off, but didn’t see it or hear it hit the water. I asked her to throw a stick to observe her technique and how far she was throwing.

The water was about knee deep, and there were weeds and silt. There were so many potential stainless-steel targets, I focused only on shallow hits. I concentrated in potential areas in which the ring may have landed based on how Isabella threw the stick.  I expanded my search to the left. Within a few minutes I reached down into some weeds to pull out a beautiful, shiny ring with diamonds! I immediately texted Isabella “I found it!”. After hiking back to the parking lot, I handed Isabella her ring.

A special shout out to Isabella’s friend Danielle, who had heard about The Ring Finders. Thank you for telling Isabella about our international online directory of metal detecting specialists.

I am expert detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703)-598-1435

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Wallet lost underwater in Annapolis, Maryland, found and returned!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

July 7th, 2021: Recovered wallet underwater in Annapolis, Md

Here it is!

Bill’s wallet was missing. He deduced it must have slipped out of his pocket while stepping out of his boat to the dock. Though he searched in the murky water, it was too deep and muddy for him to search effectively. Since Bill kept two metal keys in his wallet, he thought it might help while searching with a metal detector. He was correct. Modern credit card chips are detectable, but they are weak targets. Without the keys, a search next to his dock would be by touch alone.

After an internet search, Bill found my information and called me to arrange a search. Upon my arrival, we walked down to the dock so I could observe the area and plan my underwater recovery. Bill had really thought through the most likely location of the wallet.  Because he didn’t see or hear it drop, I thought it was possible the wallet could be somewhere else, and a dive would unnecessary. It turned out the one place Bill didn’t look was in the family cars. I asked if I could search his vehicles, and Bill was happy to oblige. The searches turned up two very neat and clean cars, but no wallet.

I got my SCUBA gear loaded on Bill’s garden cart and we went down the large hill to the dock. I did a quick reconnaissance with snorkel gear and determined the water was about eight feet deep. Visibility was very poor and the bottom was covered by a deep layer of silt. I donned my SCUBA gear and began my search. As anyone who detects next to mature docks can verify, there are usually many metal targets. When I heard a probable hit, I used my fingers and raked through the muck. On the seventh target, I reached out and felt the shape of a wallet! I carefully closed it and placed it in my finds bag. I immediately surfaced and waved to Bill and his mother who had joined him on the dock.

I know how devastating it feels to lose a wallet. A modern man has a lot of important things he depends on in that piece of leather. I felt a great deal of joy when I handed that wallet to Bill. Afterward he looked at me and said, “Now I don’t have to go back to the Motor Vehicle Administration!”. That I could help him avoid a trip there, made me even happier!!

 

Bill Smile!

Wallet

Rob & Bill Smiles

 

I am expert detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703)-598-1435

 

Note to other U/W Ring Finders:

6×8 finds bag with Velcro closure

My custom finds bag is designed by Instructor and master detectorist Ed Finck of Woodbridge SCUBA. It’s made of very durable mesh, with a brass snap clip.  I recommended it to all my underwater TheRingFinder friends. Please note I receive nothing in return for endorsing this bag. I just want to see more cool stuff for detecting!

 

 

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Gold pendant lost for 11 months, found in Richmond Virginia!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

June 18th, 2021: Recovered a gold pendant missing for 11 months in Richmond, VA.

Ashley lost a delicate 10k pendant almost a year ago while having a family celebration in her yard. She had given up on finding it, until she came upon my contact information on TheRingFinders.com. The pendant has a great sentimental value for Ashley as it was a gift from her mother, and could not be replaced.

After arranging a date and time, my son Matthew and I arrived at Ashley’s and she provided us a detailed account of the activities from the party.

There were two areas where Ashley’s chain may have broken. One area was around a portable pool. The other possible search area was where she and her guests had played human bumper ball. Both areas are on the side of the house. Matthew and I set up search grids and combed the area. We found several targets which sounded like 10k gold, but no luck.

After a couple of hours, we expanded the search area toward the back of the house. A few minutes later, I heard Matthew say those wonderful words, “Dad, we found it”!

Uncovered!

pendant

 

As you might imagine, Ashley was elated and we all celebrated a joyful outcome to the search.

Surprise!

Reunited

 

Rob and Ashley

I am an expert detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Please text or call as soon as possible: (703)-598-1435

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Lost Sapphire and Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings, Midlothian Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

March 15th 2021: Found a wedding band and engagement ring lost while playing softball.

 

Jocelyn, her husband and friends were playing family style softball in a field behind their house. She removed her beautiful rings and put them in her pocket before starting to play. After the game, she found her rings missing! Family and friends searched the field for several hours. They even borrowed a metal detector and a rake, to no avail.

Field

 

 

Jocelyn then turned to the internet to seek professional help.  She found my contact information on The Ring Finders site (https://theringfinders.com/Rob.Ellis/) and texted me the next morning.  I made the 2 hour drive to Midlothian, Virginia to assist Jocelyn.   When we met, I could see the disappointment in her eyes.  She probably thought the rings were gone for good. After showing me the field, I assured her there was a good chance of recovery.

 

 

 

 

First Ring

I began my search pattern in the area behind “home plate” and worked toward the “outfield”. I searched into the woods several feet on either side of the field. Within 40 minutes I located Jocelyn’s wedding band to the right side of the home plate area. I left the ring exactly where I’d found it, marking the location by sticking a pencil into the ground.

 

 

 

2nd Ring

Over the next hour and 20 minutes, I searched the rest of the field. I then expanded the search area behind “home plate” and recovered the second ring. I marked the location of the second ring using a softball.

 

 

 

 

I sent a text to Jocelyn asking her to join me. When she arrived, I showed her the pencil indicating the location of her wedding band. She was incredibly happy to have her wedding band back, but the engagement ring held more sentimental value. I then asked her to pick-up the softball and, to her amazement, there was the ring.  We both shared the delight and relief of finding her treasures.

Smiles!

 

Please see this short video for a recap of the search, recovery and return:

 

I am expert detectorist with the knowledge, skill, and experience to recover your lost items on land and underwater. Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

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Lost Diamond Earring, Vienna Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

October 15th, 2020: Fairfax County gave permission to search park, and I recovered a diamond earring

Sydney was playing with friends on the field at Nottoway Park when she realized one of her lovely diamond earrings, a gift from her father, was missing. She looked for it, but quickly realized the impossibility of finding it in the grass. She contacted me and we discussed the possibility of a search. Sydney was a great help, obtaining photos which showed her earring on her ear for part of the event,and then showing how it was missing later. I think she was a detective in another life…

 

Nottaway Park is part of the Fairfax County Park Authority and is adjacent to the historic Hunter House mansion. To use a detector in a county park is forbidden.  The County rightly is concerned detectorists will dig up the lovely fields. They are also very protective of historic sites like the Hunter House. I’m very grateful to Ms. Stratford of the Park Authority.  She contacted various County departments and encouraged them to give me permission to search. Also, a shout out to the maintenance manager Mr. Sullivan who postponed grass cutting so I could search.

 

Without boring you with too many details, let me say this was a very difficult recovery. It’s like searching for a needle, in a haystack full of needles. I used a small coil on the end of a special detector so I could hear small items like earrings. To cover the field I needed to scan every inch. Think of it like painting a floor with a 4” brush.  It took six trips to the park, and 21 hours to find. When I saw the look on Sydney’s face, it was so worth it!!!

 

 

Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

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Lost Diamond Engagement Ring, Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert… Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

September 27th, 2020: Found a beautiful engagement ring deep in a Virginia forest while dodging angry yellow jackets!

Devon and Gabby were hiking in a forest in Virginia when Devon accidently dropped her ring. Although they saw the ring drop to the ground, it seemed to magically vanish. They searched the forest floor for several hours and couldn’t find it. Not the kind of people to give up, they purchased a metal detector and returned to the spot and searched for another two hours.

Frustrated, they turned to the internet and found me in a Google search on The Ring Finders https://theringfinders.com/Rob.Ellis/. We met the following day to look for the ring. Accompanied by their spirited puppy “River”, we had a beautiful hike of about 0.8 miles to the drop site. Along the way we passed a nest of yellow jackets in a log which a bear had just ripped open. Both the ladies were stung, but I escaped unscathed. I don’t know why since I resemble a bear much more than either of them!

It was 5 hours of travel for me, but it was nothing compared to the many hours of persistence and optimism of Devon and Gabby.

Once we set-up, it took less than a minute to locate and pull the ring out of the detritus. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to use my experience as a detectorist and help wonderful people like Devon and Gabby.

Devon and Gabby

I want to thank some other people, without whom we would not have been able to conduct the search. However due to the sensitive nature of the area, they must remain un-named. You three know who you are, and without you, this happy story would never have happened.

 

Call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

 

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Ring lost for five years, Hamilton, Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert…Call or text 703-598-1435

September 22nd, 2020: Found a ring missing for 5 years, used a new detector to overcome interference, and teamed up with another Ring Finder!

Sandy called me in April after reading about some of my recoveries on the internet. Her husband Alan, lost his ring about 5 years ago somewhere between their garage and the end of the long driveway. My first search attempt was especially significant because it was very close to their 50th wedding anniversary. I searched for several hours with my reliable ATMax, and found many targets. One area I had trouble with was at the end of the driveway. There were underground cables producing a lot of interference with my detector. Despite adjusting my metal detector’s frequencies, sensitivity, and ground balance, I couldn’t reliably search the area. I tried another detector, but it lacked the discrimination necessary to ignore many old barbed wire pieces. I told Sandy I’d be back.

I considered buying an Equinox 800 after recommendations from others, including my friend and fellow Ringfinder, Brian Rudolph. I researched the detector’s capabilities and was impressed with the technology allowing it to function in areas with interference. So, I bought one specifically to look for this ring. I tried my new detector a few times around my neighborhood until I felt comfortable with the settings. Since the search area was so large, I called my friend Ray and asked him to join me. Ray is also an excellent Ringfinder (https://theringfinders.com/Raymond.Jones/), and I knew he would be a great help covering such a large area.

We met on a beautiful morning on the 22nd of September and planned to search for several hours. Ray started at the top of the hill by the garage, and I worked at the end of the driveway where I experienced the interference in April. I set my Equinox to Park 1, and the frequency to 20 kHz. This resulted in nice clean signals. In less than an hour I found the ring two inches under the soil.

 

Five Years Buried

Reunited

 

Sandy Smile!

All recoveries are special, and this one was no exception. When I handed the ring to Sandy, she dropped some laundry she was holding and with an expression of surprise and joy exclaimed “I don’t believe it!”

Sandy, Ray and I basked in that moment of happiness and the return of Alan’s ring, missing for 5 years!

If you lost something, call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

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Today I received the following from Al & Sandy. Words can not express my feelings…

 

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Wedding Ring lost in the James River, Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Ring Recovery Specialist…Call or text 703-598-1435

September 9th, 2020: A couple of days ago, Zach was tubing with his wife and sister in-law when his ring was lost. When he realized the ring was dropped, Zach carefully took note of where their party was located using the Huguenot bridge, some logs, and a boulder he could stand on. With rain in the forecast, we decided to meet as early as possible the next day to conduct the search.

When I met Zach, I was very impressed with how well he had observed the location of the ring drop. He drew a very good map with a circle illustrating the location in which he thought the ring landed. It turns out Zach is an Advanced SCUBA diver, and a mechanical engineer. His education really paid off. As I did recover the ring from within that area!!

Zach is a strong swimmer and offered to tow out some of my equipment. He found the boulder and I set an anchor for a modified jack-stay search. The visibility was poor and there was a moderate current. The depth near the bridge varies from 3 to 10 feet. Luckily the search area was about 5 feet deep. I made the first half circle sweep and moved the anchor 15 feet down river. The skies were getting darker and it started to rain. Time was short. I was concerned about safety because of rising water and an increasing current. I was a little more than half way through the second pattern when I heard my Excalibur make that tone indicating platinum! Once I knew where to look, I could see the ring sitting on the bottom. I was so happy to pick it up and hand it to Zach. The look on his face was priceless!

It was fortunate we decided to search sooner rather than later. With the rain, the current was increasing and it would take days to slow back to normal. Zach and I both had that goose-bump feeling that “it was meant to be”!

Huguenot Bridge

Zach Smile! 

 

 

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Lost wedding ring, Lake Montclair, Dumfries VA…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)
Contact:

Rob Ellis: Metal Detector Expert…Call or text 703-598-1435

August 13, 2020: A couple of days ago, Eddie was playing in the water with his children. When he realized his ring was missing, he searched as well as possible. He soon realized he needed a waterproof metal detector. Eddie called the Woodbridge SCUBA Dive Shop to see if someone could conduct a search. Since no one was available to immediately help, my friends at Woodbridge SCUBA referred me to Eddie.

 

West beach is private for the Montclair Property Owners Association members

We were supposed to meet at 0800, but we were both 15 minutes early. It was raining very hard the whole time and I was watching for approaching lightning. After Eddie showed me the potential areas the ring could have fallen off, I started the search. Something made me go just a little further out for my first leg of the pattern. Within a few minutes, I heard that lovely tone of gold and recovered Eddie’s wedding band. By this time Eddie’s wife had arrived and they were both there when I handed over the ring. It was then that they told me that tomorrow was their anniversary!! We were all soaking wet, but full of warm feelings.  I love this hobby!!!!

Smiles in the Rain 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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