Dennis Tag | The Ring Finders

West Dennis Beach Takes and Gives Back Mother’s Wedding Ring Set

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 11, 2026

While I was outside doing some needed yard work a Text Message was left on my phone.

“I am on the west Dennis beach and I just lost my ring. It was mom’s wedding/engagement ring. She passed away in April. We are on vacation and are supposed to head back tomorrow.”

I knew I had to go and find this ring, a ring her mother wore for 66 years, ASAP.

I was on the beach about 45 minutes after calling Kristen. At the beach the necessary information was obtained. My bad was in thinking the tied was on the rise, it was really on the way out. To add to my problem was the locations I was given. At first they were to the west of the chair on the beach and out, then it moved to the east of the chair and closer in. Had the tide was on the rise I would have to search further out to be at the point Kristen was when she lost the ring. That is the way it went for about two hours. John had to leave and take their dog home. Kristen stayed and told me she thought I should be more to the west but closer in…the search went on and the sunset told me I should think about coming back in the morning’s low tide.

Kristen was almost off the beach and I was going to be very close behind. That’s when I heard the sound I was searching for: the low sharp tone of gold. Yes, it was the diamond white gold ring I had been searching for. Even before leaving the ankle deep water (it was now low tide) I shouted out “Kristen”. In hopes I had found her ring she sprinted to me, saw the ring in my scoop. WOW, another grateful person. I love it when I can return an item before a person had to sleep on the tragedy overnight.

In the parking lot Kristen told me about the fun in the surf and on the sand of West Dennis Beach since her early childhood. Many of the memories of those years with her parents had brought her back to the very area of the beach we were on.

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Claddagh Wedding Ring Lost, Found, Returned Dennis, MA by Richard Browne

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 10, 2026

Summer was ending soon and grand-kids would be off to school for the day and not playing on the beach. For one of the last days of summer fun Jack would take his ATV and the group out to the low tide line on Cape Cod Bay. This afternoon the children would not be thinking of school or be alone in the water, Jack would be right in there with them. A backward splash and a hand thrust was just enough with the cool water to rip his wedding ring, a Claddagh, with an emerald off into the water’s sandy bottom.

Days of searching with no success, it would be fate that would bring help. Sandra, Jack’s wife of 56 years was attending a physical therapy session and mentioned the loss to the PT trainer. The trainer knew of TheRingFinders and gave Sandra the information. Sandra called me and I would be on my way, but not until two hours before low tide.

I had been told were to park and that Jack would be right over. Well here he came in his ATV to give me a ride out about a quarter of a mile to the site of the loss. To cut to the chase; I had Jack “mark the sand”, with tire tracks, where he thought he had lost the ring. After almost two hours of searching, the marked areas in the sand as I had found just one quarter. It was time to mentally rethink about the information I had been given. The marked areas that I had made in the sand would not have been waist deep in water until hours after the time of the loss. And if that was the case Jack would have had to go through much deeper water with the grand-kids on the way back to the ATV. My thought was that I had to search the deeper gullies, not the gentle sloping sand that had been marked.

The next 5 minutes of searching passed and I had found a pull tab and a fishing weight. The lower area was proving that I might be on the correct track. Another quick chat with Jack and a new area to search was outlined. Jack went off to define still another possible area to search and I put my detector’s headphones on and started to swing. On the second stroke I heard a promising signal that sure enough was caused by Jack’s Claddagh ring. We had been standing right on the ring while making our next plan of searching.

An emotional couple of minutes for Jack to recoup from putting his wedding ring back where it belonged and we were on the ATV heading off the sand flats of Cape Cod Bay. Now I was awfully glad we did not have to walk the quarter mile back to the parking lot. However, it was time enough for Jack to give me a quick history lesson on the area going back into the early 1800s. At the parking lot, I wished we had another mile or two for story telling. But a pending meeting precluded that. The only thing left was to have a short meeting with Sandra to make sure she would thank the PT Therapist for passing my information on to her.

Sometimes it seams like an impossible task to drive many miles to search hundreds of square yards, with a coil of 10 or 15 inches in diameter and to put the coil over a one inch diameter “lost” ring. And this day was one of those days when all seams almost impossible, but it did happen. I only wish it could happen every time and end with a wonderful picture for the Book of Smiles.

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Found In The Dark Diamond Eternity Ring Returned Dennis, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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August 16, 2026

I received a text about a lost Eternity ring. Great, another chance to practice my hobby. Oh no, the ring had been lost on Mayflower Beach one of Cape Cod’s many bay side beaches. The reason for the “Oh no” is that the wet sand of the beach at low tide goes on for miles and pin-pointing a location is very difficult to say the least. A beach photo with a marking is of great help, but not always very accurate. And that was going to be the case in this search. A search at low tide is best on the bay side as I can drag my scoop leaving a mark as to the area covered, unlike when the tide is high.

All that being said, I had time for dinner and would fight the crowd trying to get onto the beach along with all the sunset seakers trying to get a good view of theevening’s sunset. That was the easy part. I geared up, and headed for the search area. The word about the lost ring had spread and a very helpful woman confronted me and asked if I was there to find the lost ring. I answered with a “yes” and was pointed to the woman who had lost the ring, Lauren. The photo I had was marked as the first sand bar and Lauren was on the second. I was not surprised. By the time I reached the area Scott, met me and pointed out the “pools” the children and been playing in and an area north just beyond a group playing basket ball, yes – basket ball on the wet sand of Cape Cod Bay at dusk. The area east and west was also pointed out. The search was on.

The area, less the basketball “court”, was covered with only one bottle cap being found. Not a surprise, the ball players were taking care of their trash. “Bravo” to them! The sun had set, the hoop was lost in the darkness and the game was called. Now it was my turn on the court, with high hopes the ring would be my next target. No such luck…back to talk with Lauren and Scott.

Well if it was not in this court, the ring might have fallen out of Lauren’s pocket while playing ball, an area as big as the one I had already covered. The last light had gone and soon Lauren and Scott were on their way home. Me, heck no, I had a ring to find. Lauren’s player position kept her closest to the line of pools. It was there I had my first signal in this area. Yes, it was the ring. I removed my gear, got my phone out and tested “COME BACK” but I did not get a reply before I reached the dry sand and the parking lot. I called the number on the phone and it went to voice mail. OK, I can return the ring tomorrow, and my wife would have a good look at the beautiful ring.

Almost ready to leave and a phone call and a question…Where are you? I put on my 4-way flashers and then a heavy panting Scott was at the car, he had run from home. About a minute later Lauren showed up with I think a tear in her eye and a big hug. Things could not be better until a truck full of friend and relatives showed up to join in on the joyous return.

Hey, this is why I enjoy my hobby so much. You could never get the feelings I do without experiencing the happening as I do. Offers from myself and the truck driver to give Lauren and Scott a ride back home were declined, they wanted a peaceful stroll back to reflect on the day’s experience and a good night’s sleep.

PS: Many thanks to Kelly for starting my experience with this great and wonderful group of family and friends. Rick

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Dennis, MA Lost Ring in Sand Found and Returned by Richard Browne

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 29, 2025 Debbie and her husband were out house hunting. My home was on the market and the Open House sign attracted them. While touring the home they noticed my metal detector and struck up a conversation with my realtor about my water detecting prowess. Little did they know the knowledge of my hobby would be beneficial to them within a few days when Debbie saw her wedding band slip from her finger into the beach sand as she was applying sunscreen lotion.

The smart idea of marking the area with shells and a few small rocks after hand searching the sand would be of help in locating the area the next day. A better marker media would have been anything metal i.e. coins or soda cans. Debbie had paced of the distance from a wooden structure to the point of loss. At home they called Tom, my realtor, for my contact information. Jack had to leave a voice message which Tom later played back to me over the phone. I took the information and called Jack. I had to leave a message on Jack’s phone as he did not answer. A bit later Debbie called me and we set up a 6:30AM meeting on the beach.

I arrived a bit early just as the beach sweeper went by, grooming the beach for the holiday weekend crowd. With my new VX9 detector, on its first search, in one hand and my scoop in the other, I looked for the land marks but they had been swept away. I took what information I had, started to pace off 35 feet but that would have put me in the water, somethings never go well. I had been on the beach for less than five minutes when Debbie and her girlfriend showed up. After a bit of an introduction and pointing to the area, Debbie started to pace off the 35 feet. I watched as she paced the 35 feet by putting the heal of one foot to toes of the other, repeating it 35 times. I followed, detecting the sand as I went. About five feet (60”) from where Debbie’s 35 “feet” ended and even closer to my last drag mark in the sand I had my second signal of the morning. A quick scoop and my searching was finished.

“Lets go back to the car so I can get more information.” Looking puzzled, I had to tell Debbie to look into my scoop. Yes the ring was the second target and the ring was in my scoop. All in less than a minute! Debbie and her friend Lynn were told I was good at finding a lost ring, but this morning I was great. But Debbie had one more up on me when she said she had a cup of coffee for me in the car. I often mentioned my thirst for coffee but no one had ever had a cup ready for me.

At the car we talked and the recent happenings just continued to amaze us. Jack and I are both retired sailors and worked with submarines during our tours of duty. This year is Debbie and Jacks 30th anniversary. She had lived on Cape Cod and I live here now. I could not convince her that she and Jack should buy my house, it was meant to be – not. If the house was smaller – maybe. At least all is well and Debbie has her ring back for the upcoming anniversary. What a wonderful way to have at the start of another day on Vacation Land.

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Craigville, MA Lost Wedding Ring Delays Trip Home

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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August 3, 2025 Mike and his wife were about to leave for home at the end of their vacation after one last dip to remember the great vacation by. The crowning event was to take a splash in Nantucket Sound even tho Mike was not fond of swimming. Little did anyone know their trip home would be delayed by Mike’s unfortunate loss of his yellow gold wedding band (that has more sentimental than most as it is a hand-down from his father) in waist deep water.

When I got a call for help my first request was to have Mike at the beach to put me on the right location in the very large swimming area. The first area description of: half way between two points and less than shoulder depth really needed, to be a but more precise. Both Mike and his wife Amy had their own idea of were the loss occurred. After lessening to the two search parameters, Jim, a visiting friend of mine, and I started to search first perpendicular to the shore then parallel to the shore. Not finding the ring we opened up the search area, still with no results. We then kind of went our own way with thoughts of our own where the ring might be. In a little over an hour of searching and the finding of a toe ring and a little heart ring passed before I found myself within the original search area when I heard the detector’s tone made when passed over a gold object. One scoop and I had the object I was searching for, Mike’s sentimental ring.

I have to say that Mike had a large support team present as Jim and I were searching. There was great fan-fare when I approached the group that was waiting for me on the beach. The one that had the most attention was Amy, as she was pregnant and now had one more joyful story to her yet to be born child. Lot of stories, pictures and plans on how not to loose a ring at the beach passed among all of us. Great family, friends and now memories along with best wishes for a safe trip home. I was off to my car, to take a sip of water, call my wife, before going back to the water for some recreational metal detecting with Jim. What a wonderful day with great beach going weather. It left everyone feeling complete and ready for a safe trip home.

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Centerville, MA Beach Holds a Ring for 3 Days, Found and returned by Richard Browne

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 8, 2025 I was having my second cup of coffee, catching up on the news and weather – thunder storms in the afternoon when a text came in for help with a lost wedding ring. I read the following: “I’m Mattie and I lost my wedding band at the beach. I found your profile on ring finders and was hoping maybe you could help. … I know it’s been a few days of shifting sands and beach goers, but I was curious if you might be available to check it out. … I’m at peace if the ring ends up being a beach treasure in the end: it was a family ring but my mother and her parents were huge beach lovers and in way it would be poetic. … it was a ring my Yia Yia (grandma) gave to my mom, who gave to me when I was about to get married and we used for our ceremony! I’ve worn it since. It was loose on my finger in the water so I asked my older daughter to bring it back to the chairs we had while I stayed with my younger daughter (safety first!) but unfortunately she dropped it in the way. I saw how heartbroken she was and I just knew that the right thing in the moment was to not stress and move on.”

What could I do but assure Mattie that I would go and search the area. I would also reach out to other detectorists that I know frequent the area in case I did not find the ring myself. Once on the beach and in the area, I could not guess why that one area was void of towel and sun umbrellas. There was one person with a metal detecting scoop, but no detector in sight. At the end of my first pass I stopped and talked with the gentleman with the scoop. A local that regularly detects the area. I told him what I was looking for and he assured me he had not found much of anything over the past three days. Oh well, back to detecting … a coin spill of 45 cents … well no one gets it all. Another two steps and another target was beneath my coil, a quick scoop and it was in my scoop. Boy will Mattie be happy was my thought as I saw what had to be her ring, and it was. No one had found the ring in its three days in the sand. It was truly a lucky day for Mattie and a happy ending to the story for her older daughter.

As the family had returned to New York, I would mail the ring the next day and wait for a picture for the Book of Smiles. Yes, I just love my hobby for making happen endings to stories just like this one.

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Sunshine Diamond Earring Found and Returned by Richard Browne in Dennis Ma

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 7, 2025 Dana lost an earring, a sharp eyed swimmer had found the wire half and returned it to Dana. Dana also snorkeled for some time but could not find the diamond studded sunshine disk.

The old saying about “When it rains, it pours.” was surely true on this day. I had been called to find a ring that was lost on the 3rd of July when the text to help to find Dana’s sunshine lost in a fresh water pond showed up on my phone. It was first come, first served and I was off to the salt water beach. Found the ring and off to the fresh water pond. On the way I lost contact with Dana as her cell phone’s battery was depleted. So I was clueless as to the location in the pond the earring had been lost. I started the grid search and found only one piece of tin foil and a small pendent. I left the water and did a grid search of the sand area. After finding only one more target, a penny, I went back to the car to see if there was any phone response from Dana. Low and behold there was from Dana’s father. In the text there was a picture of the one earring Dana had. I could not believe it but the “charm” I had found on my way out of the water to the sand of the beach was THE earring, shining gold with diamonds.

A text and within 5 minutes Dana and her father arrived to claim the earring.

I was getting ready for my next call, and read Andrew’s last text that read “Rick, thank you so much we found it! There was a guy with a heavy duty metal detector… He found it in about 15 minutes. That was good news for me as NOAA was transmitting a severe thunder storm warning. Time to head home for the safety of the house, out of danger’s way and dinner.

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Cartier Love Ring Found and Returned by Richard Browne

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 5, 2025 The 4th of July started with visions of a great day; but ended with despair after I failed to locate a Cartier Love Ring. I had come to the Dennis Beach where Jack had lost the ring. He gave me the area to search, but after 2 hours of sky rockets going off down the beach and over my head and the tide going out, but not far enough I called it quits until the next day.

The 5th of July was another beautiful day with the tide going low until 2:30 or so. I got ready about noon and headed to the beach. I had a better idea of the ring’s location after talking with other family members and started gridding the sandy area beyond the area I had searched the night before. I finally got out far enough that I was detecting in the water. About my 6th pass I heard the best signal I had heard all day. One scoop, a rinse in the salt water and the only thing left in my scoop was the Cartier Love ring.

There were no family members to share my thrill with, but the other local residents were more than interested in my find and were impressed with my success. Many wanted to know more about TheRingFinders.com and my hobby of metal detecting. I finally made it to shore and then to my car. On the way others were interested if I had found the ring, they had seen me the night before in the water doing something.

Back at the house and my car I was told Jack was working at a restaurant close to my home. So I was on the move again. At the restaurant Jack and I met for a quick photo and a long Thank-you. Jack went back to work and I to home to wait for the next call for help.

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Lost Ring Found Under the Starlight of South Dennis, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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October 2, 2023: While preparing for a monthly association meeting I just missed answering my cell phone. Luckily the caller followed the answering message and called my home line. My wife was near enough to get the phone to me before the caller hung up. The caller was Dennis and he had been cleaning off a swinging chair readying it for an hour or so of enjoying the morning sun and bright blue sky. Something that had not been seen for the previous few days of rain and heavy fog. As he brushed the leaves away, away went his wedding band.

In hours of searching he did not find the ring. At the local hardware store that rents a metal detector he was told that he would be very lucky to find the ring with their rental unit. With that said he was given information about the local guy (me) that has professional equipment for such a search and to contact him through TheRingFinders.com. And Dennis did.

As I said, I had a meeting to go to and the sun was setting about 6:30 with last light at 7PM. My luck and Dennis’s was that the meeting was very short and I could be detecting within 10 minutes, and I was. Twilight was replaced by moon light and flash lights so I could continue my searching.

I knew the ring would be somewhere within the area of the chair, fence, garden and grassy area. I covered the grassy area first as it was the easiest to detect over. No ring was to be found. Next I started between the chair and garden’s edge. I was going to leave the planted garden area for last. I had no need to, as the third swing between the chair and the garden’s edge I heard a very promising signal. A sweep with my pin-pointer and Dennis saw a glitter from his ring, even before I did. He was so fast in his motion of picking it up and putting the wedding band back where it belonged, on his finger. I never saw it happen.

Now it was time to do a bit of talking. Put retired Army and Navy men together and they can talk for hours. We cut it short and took a few pictures and said our Thank Yous and I was on my way back home knowing Dennis’s wife would have a bigger smile on her face than Dennis had on his, though it would be hard to do so.

Be All That You Can Be — Anchors Aweigh

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Black Diamonds ARE Forever. Lost,Cape Cod,Found,Returned, Yarmouth Beach

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A call came in yesterday, to help find a Wedding Band that was lost the day prior in waste deep water. Rick called and asked if I wanted to go, I said he was on his own for this one, that I had a few things to do. I thought about how vast the area was, so I called back, and said I’ll meet him at his house ASAP. We met Stephanie and Chris at the beach lot about an hour later. They seemed real precise as to where they thought it to be. They walked out ahead of us, as we got ready for the search. Rick and I walked out about a mile onto the sand, then into waste deep water. We both searched for quite some time with no luck two junk targets a bullet and a penny.

I asked Chris to regroup, and stand where he thought it was, he was having second thoughts, he moved about 150 feet over.  Again Rick and I searched, and searched, still nothing. I then asked Stephanie where she thought it was lost, and to go over and stand there, so I could start my search over. Rick was still out far and walking away from Chris with no targets at all. I headed towards Stephanie, as I approached her, I said ” I just don’t get it, I just don’t get it. Not a signal in that whole area, even after an hour, it’s crazy. I told her not to give up till she sees us walking toward the truck. That if it was there and I went over it that I would hear it. I think Chris and Stephanie were about to throw in the beach towel, but as I walked by her, finally a very loud signal 4 feet away from where she was standing in the water. I looked over to her and smiled, Her eyes got huge, her smile even bigger, she had a hard time controlling her emotions. Stephanie knew, I had just recovered what they both thought was lost forever, King Neptune finally gave in to me. Stephanie was shaking, I’m not sure if it was from the cold, or from being excited. She yelled over to Chris, he started to run fast as he could in the water, I yelled faster, faster, he couldn’t get there fast enough to see what the commotion was all about. Rick knew already I had just found Chris’s  beautiful 14K white gold wedding band, with black diamonds set into the center. I handed it over to Chris as he teared up also. So gratifying to see it back on his finger.

Lot’s of congratulations and hand shakes went around, Chris kept repeating he just couldn’t believe we did what we said we would do. Great team work is always a plus. Thanks again to Rick for the invite. Now I will say it myself. Congratulations Chris and Stephanie on your return. Thank You for getting in touch with Rick & myself.

14K white Gold Black Diamonds

Leighton & Chris after return

Chris with band

Stephanie & Chris

Sincerely Leighton

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