The Ring Finders Blog | Page 3 of 1074

Wedding ring lost in snow and found! Delafield, Wisconsin.

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

The day after New Year’s, Ian Clark was clearing snow off the driveway in Delafield, Wisconsin when his heavy yellow-gold wedding ring flew off his hand and disappeared into the snow. He was throwing ice-melt crystals when it happened. Despite his frantic search efforts, the ring seemed destined to remain hidden forever. Ian even tried using a metal detector but a large metal culvert in the area overwhelmed his machine as did the buried electrical cables and metallic objects in the ground, the kind that accumulates over a half-century of human occupation.

Ian reached out to me by text late that evening and we arranged to meet on location first thing the next morning. It was minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit (-22 Celsius) when I left my house in Waukesha. Upon arrival, a white-tailed deer walked across the road, creating a classic Hallmark winter scene in the gorgeous country subdivision. I also saw evidence of Ian’s search efforts in the snow alongside the driveway.

While I searched, Ian hovered close by; his hopes raised every time I knelt in the snow to probe a target. But a thorough grid search in front of the house failed to reveal the ring. Since a throwing action can fling a heavy ring quite a distance, I also checked along the road in front of the house. Again, no ring. I began to wonder if a neighbor had picked up the ring while out walking. Then I moved to the opposite side of the driveway. I was completing a third pass when a signal near the road invited investigation. It didn’t take long for my probe to isolate the signal’s source—Ian’s wedding ring! I left it in place and called Ian over to personally recover the love token from its frozen resting place. The emotions of that moment are hard to describe. Ian was on the verge of tears, clear evidence that the ring was, as I have so often observed, more than a ring!

Ian preferred not to have his photo published. Instead, he took one of yours truly inside his home where we both savored the warmth and success.

If you or someone you know has lost a ring, whether recent or long ago, call me. Lost in the snow, in a lake (underwater), or on land, chances are, the ring may yet be found. I would be delighted to add your smile to the list of very happy clients who are glad they called.

Lost Gold Wedding Ring Recovered at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe!

  • from Carson City (Nevada, United States)

At 2:18pm I received a ring recovery search request located at the south overlook parking area of Emerald Bay. Backstory: The client and family—tourists visiting Lake Tahoe—stopped at the south overlook parking area of Emerald Bay around 10am. The client climbed up on the snow embankment and began reaching into the snow with his hands and at some point his wedding ring slipped off his hand. The client and his family searched for several hours before calling me. Since the client and family planned on returning to the Bay Area that afternoon, I needed to get to the search location ASAP. Additionally, since I was an hour and a half away, I needed to begin searching before sunset. Arriving just after 4pm, and dealing with the hectic parking situation, I finally connected with the client. After getting all the ring loss details from the client, I jumped onto the snow embankment and switched on the XP Deus 2. Within a minute, I got a solid target signal with a VDI of 71. I scooped up a handful of snow and used the pinpointer to confirm the target was in my hand. Crushing the snow clump revealed a 14k gold ring with diamonds.
Another lost-ring-in-snow recovery!

Marital spat results in thrown wedding ring on New Year’s Day! Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

New Year’s Eve ended on a disappointing note for Washington State resident, Brandon. He and his wife were visiting family in Milwaukee for the holidays. They were staying at a Motel when a few celebratory drinks combined with a marital spat did not end well. Brandon threw his wife’s wedding ring off the top-floor balcony into the cold wintry night. It was not a good way to start the New Year! Given the unfortunate circumstances, I am protecting Brandon’s identity in this story.

It happeed like this. I received a text from Brandon asking if I might be able to help. He was understandably embarrassed by his actions but, as a man should, he owned up to the situation taking full responsibility. In a few hours I met Brandon on location and began searching in an alleyway below the balcony where they had stayed. It was very cold; my equipment was struggling in the extreme temperatures. A light snowfall during the night made the search even more challenging as did the presence of a dozen brass 9mm pistol shell casings. Being in a residential area, the bullet casings begged answers to all kinds of sinister questions, answers that are probably best left unknown. Hopefully, their presence was a benign remnant of someone’s earlier New Year celebrations in lieu of fireworks.

The ring could have landed in any number places including a roof of a nearby garage or in any of several open garbage bins waiting collection. As it turned out, the beautiful love token was hiding in the snow behind one such bin! A few inches further, the ring could have ended up buried forever in a local landfill. I can attest to Brandon’s relief when his ring was found. Hopefully his marriage will be stronger for having weathered the storm.

If you or someone you know has lost a ring, even under embarrassing circumstances, give me a call. Life happens. Maybe I can help put the not-so-pleasant memory behind you—without judgment.

Security badge lost in Manistee, Michigan

  • from Manistee (Michigan, United States)
Contact:

While working at the local casino Richard R. was clearing tables in the buffet restaurant. He came in to the Dish room where I work and emptied his cart full of dishes, glasses and table scraps. Before leaving our area he noticed his security badge missing. It clips on his collar and must have slipped off in the container holding table scraps while clearing tables. I told him I would search for it while he went back to the dining room clearing tables.

There are 2 50 gallon containers holding the table scraps, one was empty and the other one was almost full where he deposited his container. I proceeded to take handfuls of table scraps including crab claws and shells and emptying two handfuls at a time from one container to another while searching for his badge. This wasn’t my first rodeo with this type of search, I looked successfully for a mans retainer in his trash that he lost while in a nursing home (that time I was able to use my pin pointer). For Richards badge I got half way down the container and found his badge. After washing the badge off, Richard came back in to the dish room with another cart of plates and I gave him his access badge after getting a big thank you and a smile.

Lost Yellow Gold Wedding Band at Aulani Beach Ko Olina Resort…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)

This ring find began when I got a call from Matt who was on vacation from Seattle and after returning from a swim went to flick a piece of beach slime from his hand his ring flew off and disappeared into the sand.  I told him I just got back from Ko Olina but after grabbing a bite to eat I would return to find his ring in the dry sand near the beach chairs.  When I arrived Matt waved me down as I entered the beach area.  We walked over to the search area and Matt described what had happened.  I assumed this would be a quick find and I would be on my way back home.  I searched the area in front of the chairs where Matt thought the ring should be.  No Ring!  We moved the chairs out of the way and searched again.  No Ring!  I expanded the search grid to double the size in each direction.  No Ring!  I started discussing to Matt about other possibilities and he began to think it might have fallen off in the water or elsewhere.  I decided to do a grid search at 90 degrees to the initial grid but this time I went way down towards the water.  Actually about triple the grid size and BOOM!  One scoop Big Gold Ring Found!  Matt didn’t know his own strength.  That ring went for a launch!  Big relief for Matt and his lovely wife Katherine.  Aloha to Matt and his family!

Lost Sentimental Gold Ring at Aulani Beach Ko Olina Resort…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)

This ring find began yesterday when I got a text from Amanda who was on vacation from Brazil she texted, “Hi, we’re at the Aulani Disney Resort and my sister lost her golden ring, the lost and found gave me your number, in case we need the metal detector.  Can you help us?” Amanda sent me a pic of the ring and where in the water her sister lost the ring.  It was only ankle deep.  I told her I would return at first light the next morning for the recovery.  When I arrived I started a grid search.  It took less then ten minutes to locate the ring in the shallow calm water.  We met at Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals for the return and Amanda’s sister was extremely pleased as you can see by the smile on her face.  Aloha to Amanda & her sister!

Lost Gold Wedding Ring Recovered —in the water—Tahoe Vista, Lake Tahoe, California!

  • from Carson City (Nevada, United States)

January 1st, 2026: The Client and his wife went Polar Plunging in Lake Tahoe. The video showed him wearing the wedding ring as he entered the water and few minutes later he realized the ring was missing, apparently falling off his finger in waist deep water. Later that evening, the Client contacted me—Trevor Oxborrow, to schedule a lost ring water search.
January 2nd, 2026: 9:30am I arrived at the Tahoe Sands beachside resort to begin the search. The air temperature was 40 degrees Fahrenheit with an estimated water temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The Client described the ring loss circumstances and search zone. I geared-up with my wetsuit, blu3 Nemo and XP Deus 2. Thirty minutes into the grid search I got the perfect target signal, but typically it was just a dang old pull-tab. Five minutes later I got another solid target….dug my scoop deep….sieved out the sand….there it was….a brilliant yellow and white gold 14k wedding ring. Client and wife were very happy.
Another great day at Lake Tahoe!

Another Lost Ring in Toronto, FOUND in the Snow/Ice!

  • from Toronto (Ontario, Canada)

I was contacted by “anonymous” as she had lost her engagement ring in the mid Toronto area. During the search, she went inside, as she was very upset.  After searching the suggested areas by the customer, I expanded further & quickly found the very expensive ring within 5 minutes.

Another Very happy customer!

How to find a lost ring in the Snow in Barrie, Ont.

  • from Toronto (Ontario, Canada)

Following an early snowfall in Barrie, I was contacted by Alana. She had lost her engagement ring outside of her 2nd story condo, following the 1st big snow of the season. Once I reached site, I reviewed the situation & using my “Detecting Detective” skills, I was able to locate the ring in under 5 minutes. Urgency was required, as the snowplow was waiting to clear the snow.

She was SO happy! Another successful ring find, in the snow!

Alana said “I lost my engagement ring in the snow,  during the middle of the night and was so distraught. I messaged Paul in the morning and he came that day. Not only did he find the ring within 5 minutes but he was also very kind and positive the entire time. It was worth every dollar and I would 100% recommend him, without his service my engagement ring would’ve been lost forever. ”

Lost gold men’s wedding band found-Mine Hill, New Jersey

  • from Mahwah (New Jersey, United States)

Hem was playing with his dog in the fresh snowfall and suddenly he realized he had lost his beautiful gold wedding band. He contacted me through the Ring Finder website. I met up with him and searched the area where he felt he had lost the ring. I found it under some ice below the snow and as I found the ring I realized Hem had his Wife on a Facetime call from France on his phone-she witnessed the recovery live from France! They had only been married a couple of months, so they were both very happy I located the ring.