Demi from Essex was devasteated to have lost her Grandmas wedding band in the sea in Swanage during a weekend trip. She had felt it slip and knew of the approx area which for ring finders like me really helps.
I visited several times during low and high tide and on my forth visit up came the ring. Demi was very appreciative to have the ring back on her finger and made a kind donation to the Margaret Green Animal Charity. 
On Friday October 4th, 2024! Cheryl and I were on our way, to Franconia Notch State Park, in the White Mountains, of New Hampshire. We intended to hike the Artists Bluff Trail Loop, on Bald Mountain . On our way we stopped to see the Parsonsfield – Porter Covered Bridge, in Parsonsfield, Maine. While visiting the bridge, my phone rang at 8:28am. The caller identified himself as Tim and Tim had lost his Wedding Ring, 3 days earlier, on the job, in Biddeford, Maine.
Now, Tim is the owner operator of a local Landscaping business, T.A.P. Lawn & Landscape, out of Saco, Maine. On Tuesday, as he was dumping mowed grass and raked up leaves, just inside a wooded area, Tim saw his ring slip off his finger and into the pile of leaves and grass clippings. Tim told me that in the last 3 days he and his wife were really anxious, to get his ring back. Tim had spent 1 1/2 hours, on his hands and knees, going through the pile, with absolutely no luck. Tim also rented a metal detector and even though he had one target, he still couldn’t find the object, in all the leaves and grass clippings. Tim then knew he needed help and a friend of his recommended me.
I then told Tim that I should be home, in Saco, at approximately 5:00pm and I could search , at that time. Tim said that would work because he had clients to tend to and he could meet me there, after 5:00pm. I told Tim, I would call him , when I arrived home and we could meet up then. Since the ring was lost on private property, there was no concern that someone would find the ring.
Tim and I ended up meeting, at 5:30pm, at his client’s property and we immediately walked to the pile of leaves and grass clippings. The pile wasn’t very large and my first thought, to myself was that this lost ring, should be found and fairly quickly. Tim pointed out the location, on the pile, that he had seen his wedding ring fall into. You could actually see where he had been searching, in the pile.
I walked back to my vehicle and grabbed my Minelab Manticore, with the 15 inch coil. I also grabbed my Garrett Handheld Pinpointer, which I just knew would be invaluable, in this search. As always, I asked Tim what the metal content of his wedding ring is. He answered that the ring was a Tungsten Carbide ring. I then took a Tungsten Carbide ring out of my bag of test rings and threw it on the ground. I then proceeded to run the coil of my metal detector, over the Tungsten Ring, so Tim could see and hear the Tungsten Ring being detected. My clients seem to like knowing what the sound/tone, of their ring, will sound like. Once I finished showing Tim, how the detector works, I immediately started searching the pile of leaves and grass clippings. Within a minute or so, I received a signal and it was an extremely low conductor, of a target. An extremely low tone and the reading, on my VDI screen, was a 07/08. Being such a low conductor, I didn’t think this would be a tungsten ring. Once I located the target, in the leaves, with my pinpointer, I ended up pulling a used packet of ketchup, out of the pile. I immediately started searching again, It took another minute or so, before I received another non ferrous target. This time the target was nice and loud and was reading on the VDI screen was 55. I told Tim that this very could be his Tungsten Wedding Ring. I located the target, once again with my pinpointer and slowly removed a few leaves from atop the target. Still couldn’t see the target. Removed some more leaves and still couldn’t see the target. Pinpointer still locked in on it and I didn’t want to move the target, further down, into the pile and that is why, I was being so careful, removing the leaves. A third time, removing some leaves, proved to be the winner. I could see just a small area of the ring and Tim could see it also. He was just overjoyed and couldn’t wait to get the ring back, on his finger, where it belongs. Tim texted his wife, told her the good news and she was also overjoyed, with Tim relaying her thank you , to me. Tim said he was going to sleep well tonight and that he also learned a lesson and will no longer wear his wedding ring, while performing his landscaping services m to his clients.
Another smile, or three and I just love being able to help people like Tim, in their time of need.
after finding the ring finders website I received a call from Andrew who told me the story about losing his sentimental gold ring that was given to him from his father after passing. He told me the story of doing yard work 7 years ago shortly after buying his new home but when work was done for the day he noticed his ring was no longer on his finger. Andrew and his family spent many hours and days searching without success and said that after all these years he would still search whenever he did yard work . Finally his son found the ring Finders which I am a member of in Sarnia Ontario his son told Andrew and the next day I received the call. He gave me an area of the most likely spots that his ring may have been lost. I began searching and quickly realized how difficult the Terrain was consisting of Vines bushes and twigs. I searched for a couple of hours and was very close to giving up but something inside me made me take one more walk around the yard with the detector. I was definitely close to calling it a day when I got a signal that sounded like the many hundreds of other trashy signals I was getting however this time after scraping some dirt away I saw a glint of gold. I said a small prayer before I pulled the clump out of the ground and low and behold it was the ring. Andrew and his whole family were very shocked and very pleased and I wouldn’t doubt if they have a family celebration.
Rebekah sent me a text and stated she was playing with her dog in the backyard and by pushing him back between her legs she thinks her ring flew off. They went and rented a metal detector but did not find the ring. I met Kevin, her husband, at the door and he showed me where she was standing when she thinks the ring was lost. Kevin goes back into the house and on the second sweep I find the ring about 3 ft from where she had been standing. It was deep down in the lush green grass and very well hidden. I knocked on the door again showing Kevin the ring and he nearly crushed me with a bear hug. They have been married for 2 years and added to the family with the arrival of August. Smiles all around and what a way to brighten your day.
I got a call from a young woman who had lost her engagement ring – not an unusual situation – and I agreed to help her recover it. In talking with her, the story emerged… she had been in the parking lost at work and in having a discussion with a co-worker, flung her hand in the air and the ring came off. The good news: she actually saw the ring come off and go over the fence. The bad news: the area where she thought the ring had landed was large and fairly trashy (gum wrappers, pop tops, bottle caps, etc.). After thoroughly searching through the trashy area and not locating the ring, I expanded my search and found the ring considerably farther out than I had originally thought, nestled in a nice (and relatively clean) grassy area. Being able to reunite the ring and the distraught fiance was a great feeling for both of us.
I had just returned home, after picking up my granddaughter, at Fairfield School, in Saco, Maine and walking home. I wasn’t home 5 minutes, when I received the following text, from Christina
“Hey! Found your number on ring finders. We think my husband lost his ring in our back yard and can’t seem to find it. Would you be able to help? Thank you”
I immediately replied and I asked some questions
“So sorry to hear this. Where are you located?
A few questions
1) How long ago, was the ring lost?
2) What makes you think it was lost, in the backyard? Did he see or feel the ring coming off?
3) How large is the yard and what type of terrain? So, is it woodland, grass, bushes, etc? This will let me know size coils to bring.”
Christina replied
“ Saco, off of 112. Ring was lost today but we do not know exactly when. I took a picture of his wearing it around 9am and he noticed it was missing around noon. I have checked all our sinks and shower if it may have come off there.
My husband was tinkering with the power washer that he could not get to work about 5 feet from the back of our house.
Back yard is mostly grass where we think it may be. I would estimate the total back yard as 100 feet by 40feet. I am happy to provide a picture if that helps.”
Christina did send me a few pictures and I told her I would be there, by 3:30pm. It was now 2:50pm and I just needed to change and get my equipment, into the car. I arrived at their home at 3:15pm and was promptly met by Christina’s husband. He introduced himself as Justin and told me he was the one, that lost the ring. Justin explained that he was working on the pressure washer, out back, when a bunch of hornets came at him, from under the back deck. Justin was getting away from the area,as fast as he could, as he swatted the hornets away. Once inside the house, Justin cleaned up and was ready to head to Lowe’s, to purchase a new pressure washer. As he was getting ready to leave, Justin noticed that his wedding ring was not on his finger.
Justin and Christina searched inside and out the house, particularly in the area he had been working. When their search didn’t result in finding the ring, Corina contacted me.
Once Justin showed me the areas, he thought the ring would be in, I showed and explained to Justin how my detector works and threw 3 different test rings, into the grass, so he could see and hear, the detector find the rings. This seems to soothe or calm my clients some. I then come up with a game plan, so to speak and told Justin, I would start searching on the side of the house , where he had been walking. I would then grid the back yard, going approximately 1/2 down the yard, turn around and head back towards the house. I would continue doing this, while Justin visually searched, for his wedding ring. I find that my clients like to be involved, whether it is using, one of my detectors or visually searching. Once I am onsite, it’s all hands on deck and a group effort.
My first pass , on the side of the house and halfway down the backyard, resulted in nothing but a few deep coins, that I didn’t dig. I took a 1/2 step to my left, explaining to Justin that by only taking a 1/2 step, to the side, this allows me to overlap my swinging of the coil, so I don’t miss any area of the yard. As I made my way, back towards the house and about 10 feet, from the house, I heard Justin say something. I looked up and Justin reached down and picked up his wedding ring, in the crushed rock, along the house. I could see his big smile and was so happy, for another successful recovery. I had Justin put the ring, back on the crushed rocks and swung my detector over the ring and it came back a nice and loud, repeating low tone.
So when I arrive on the scene, or a search, we all work together, as a team, to get the best results. I often bring extra detectors and let my clients search also. I have actually had 3 successful recoveries while doing this. I don’t care who actually finds the ring, as long as the ring is found. After a few photos of Justin and his ring, I left with a big smile. Maybe not as big as Justin’s, but big. I just love being able to leave, on a moments notice, to go and help people like Justin & Christiana.
What was a mother named Kelly to do? For her son had lost his wedding ring in a backyard game of football. Asking the almighty Google to show her the finder of rings, I the Idaho Ring Finder answered her call…aka text. After completing my noble work, I made forth my way to the house of the lost ring. As I grabbed my trusty Equinox I laid eyes on my evil nemesis. A well manicured lawn. It’s luscious green grassy fold clinged tightly around the cold metal tungsten ring. With quick swipes and long strides I tamed that evil grass and reclaimed the lost ring. Kelly’s surprised smile and joyful laughs warmed my heart and gave proof to the power of the knights of The Ring Finders. With my coil raised high I mounted my noble steed named Toyota and rode off into The Ring Finders golden sunset.
“May we all find what we seek and may we recover all that is lost.”
-me 2024
Hamilton High School football coach and Wauwatosa resident, Josh Neary, was moving training equipment off the field when he felt his tungsten wedding ring catch and fly off his hand. Despite his search efforts and those of several others, the ring was nowhere to be found. The loss was made all the more acute with Josh’s plans to celebrate his and his wife’s second anniversary the next day.
Josh found me on the Ring Finder’s internet directory of metal-detecting specialists. My wife and I were travelling in the Canadian Rocky Mountains when I received his text. After arriving home in Wisconsin, we arranged to meet at the Hamilto High School on Friday, September 27, four days after the ring went missing.
A systematic grid-search revealed the presence of many metallic objects. Thankfully, I had a sample tungsten ring for calibration purposes. This helped to ignore most of the signals. After, covering the most likely area without success, it was decided to expand the search grid. Soon, a shallow signal was promising. Using a pin-pointer, Josh’s wedding ring came to the light of day in the deep grass where it had fallen. 
I left the ring in its place and called Josh to come and look with me. Handing him the pin-pointer I explained how it worked and then let Josh ‘discover’ the ring himself. It didn’t take long. Josh pulled the ring from the grass and held it in astonished unbelief. The smile on his face tells the rest of the story!
It seems the whole school was aware of Josh’s lost ring. Students and staff alike expressed their well wishes and joy. It was obvious to me that Coach Neary holds a special place in the hearts and lives of many at Hamilton High School. I’m so glad to have had a part in your story, Josh.
If you or someone you know has lost a ring, even long ago, don’t let its story end. Call today. Who knows, we might just be able to put a smile on someone else’s face.
Jenni contacted me to see if I could look for a very sentimental ring that was believed to be lost by a guest on a private residence during a wedding. Even though there was the possibility it may not be there, I knew how important this ring was after hearing the story so I headed off. Unfortunately I did not find a ring but I did pull up a recently dropped earring. It was one of the brides that she wore in the ceremony. She had given them to her friend to hold onto as the reception picked up pace. She had not even told me about it because she had already written it off as being lost. I was disappointed that we weren’t able to find the ring but they can now rule out that area and hopefully it turns up somewhere else.
Bethany and her husband, Corey were celebrating their first anniversary at Rowley’s Bay in Door County when the unthinkable happened. Corey’s wedding band flew into the water when he was tossing a football to his friend. They searched the sandy shallows without success. I saw a Facebook posting about it in the lost and found section, which popped up automatically on my screen because I’ve recovered rings there in the past. I put my hat in the ring, and luckily was the first chosen to perform the search mission. Bright and early on Monday, September 23rd, I showed Bethany how to use a Garrett AT Pro while I swept a parallel path using my new Nokta Legend. The water was shallow, crystal clear, and the lake bed was very sandy. She quickly hit a few coins on edge, but the signals were too weak to be a man’s gold wedding band. After about 10 minutes of grid searching with no more signals, a clear, loud beeping sound was heard on my Legend! After three scoops, the ring was glistening in my scoop almost as bright as Bethany’s smile! Two bald eagles flew out of the treetops and circled overhead together at that exact moment, joining the celebration. That was a moment I will never forget.
Lost wedding band recovered!
