#how to find a gold ring in snow Tag | The Ring Finders

50+ Year Old College Class Ring, Lost In Ogunquit, Maine Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a phone call, from Diane, on Friday January 3rd, 2025. Diane explained to me that 2-3 days earlier, she and her husband Jerry had come up to Maine and were staying at The Beachmere Inn, in Ogunquit, Maine. They had come up with friends, to celebrate the New Year and had attended a New Year’s Eve event, at Jonathan’s Ogunquit, which included dinner and a show. After enjoying the dinner and show, they all went back to The Beachmere Inn and proceeded to sit around one of the fire pits, outside. It was cold and a little wet outside, so they all called it a night and retreated back to their rooms. Once back in their room, Jerry realized that he was no longer wearing his 1973 Boston University Class Ring. As Diane told me, Jerry was heartbroken and they searched the room, to no avail. To place a timeline on when Jerry may have lost the ring, he and Diane looked at some photos, from that evening, to see if they could pinpoint when he had the ring on and again, when he didn’t have it on. They found one photo, of him wearing the ring. The photo was taken at the Beachmere Inn, just prior to them leaving, to go out to Jonathon’s Ogunquit. This means that the ring could be anywhere on the premises of The Beachmere Inn or Jonathon’s Ogunquit.

Once Diane finished telling me the events leading up to the ring being lost, I asked her a few questions. Did they search or notify The Beachmere Inn or Jonathon’s Ogunquit? She replied that both businesses had been notified and had actively searched for the ring but had not found it. Both businesses would continue to search and would notify Diane, should the ring be found. Diane also told me that they notified The Ogunquit Police Department , just in case someone found it, at one of the businesses and turned it in. The Ogunquit PD had not seen the ring, turned it.
I then asked Diane if it could have been lost in one of the parking lots, as Jerry entered and exited the vehicle and if the parking lots were asphalt or gravel. She replied the parking lots were asphalt. I told her that after 2-3 days, the ring would have been found, on the asphalt lots and those would be a visual search only. The asphalt parking lots would not be searched, with a metal detector. So, since I can’t search the inside of the businesses or the asphalt parking lots, with my metal detector, I told Diane that the only area that makes sense, for me to search, was around the outside fire pits, at The Beachmere Inn. Diane agreed this would be the only place to search, with my metal detector. I also told Diane that if I didn’t find the ring, around the fire pits, I would walk the parking lots and give it a visual search, just to be thorough.
Once I arrived at The Beachmere Inn, I let the front desk know why I was there. Paul actually escorted me to the fire pits and I assured him I would not be digging up the lawn, as the ring would still be on top of the ground, not under it.
As I stood there, surveying the area and deciding how to approach this search, Sarah, the owner of The Beachmere Inn, stopped by and introduced herself and told me that she follows my Facebook Page and loves my stories. She also was offering any help I would need, in the event I needed to move any of the furniture or the heavy fire pits themselves. I was very appreciative and told her I didn’t think I would need any help, but would let her know, if I changed my mind.
I decided to search the fire pits, starting with the one, on my left side first, as it was the closest to the building. The grass area wasn’t very large and even moving the 5-6 chairs, out of the way, it only took me 6-7 minutes to search that area. Unfortunately, Jerry’s ring was not found. I then started searching the grassy area around the second fire pit and nothing was found on the left side of that fire pit. I replaced those chairs, to where I found them and went to the other side of the pit, and moved those chairs out of the way, so I could see and get up nice and close, to the fire pit, with my metal detector. Once I started searching, the right side, I had taken 2-3 steps and BANG, there was a large gold ring, laying in the grass. I actually saw it, before I could even get my coil, over it. It was just sitting there, in the grass. I couldn’t believe it. It’s been sitting out there for almost 3 days, in the grass area, near the fire pit. I took a few photos of Jerry’s ring, right where I found it and then picked it up, to verify it was a Boston University Class Ring and yes it was. I then sent a photo of the ring, to Diane and just said “Congratulations”. Once Diane saw the photo, she replied

“OMG!!!! NO WAY!!!!
“It says BU???!!”

I then sent her a second photo, showing the Stone and crest, of the ring. She replied once again

“THATS IT!!!! YOU EFFING ROCK, BABY!!!
If the weather isn’t bad tomorrow can we drive down to pick it up??
WE ALMOST JUST PASSED OUT!!!
He wants to know if his handwriting is still on the inside….. LOL”

I then took a photo of the inscription, on the inside of the band and sent it to Diane and Jerry. The reply came back

“OMG!! Jerry just said “thank you so much” (he’s chocked up)
We will be in touch later after we hear the weather report for tomorrow, etc
You must be touched by God”

I then went back inside The Beachmere Inn and let the front desk and Sarah know that the ring had been recovered. I also let them know that Jerry and Diane had been notified and were in disbelief and would be driving back up to Maine, in the next few days, so I could return Jerry’s precious Class Ring. Sarah and I then had a photo taken, with the ring, in front of The Beachmere Inn’s Christmas tree. I couldn’t help but think that Jerry was to be getting a belated Christmas present.

We in fact did talk later that evening and we made plans to meet, on Sunday, January 5th, at 1:00pm, to return the ring. Cheryl and I met Jerry and Diane, as planned and Jerry was extremely happy to have his very sentimental ring back. He has been wearing it, for more than 50 years and is extremely proud of his accomplishment, of graduating from Boston University. Both Jerry and Diane mentioned that they thought the ring was gone forever and are so grateful for me driving down to Ogunquit and finding it for them. Now Jerry has his ring, back on his finger, where it belongs and no longer has to worry, if he will ever see it again. There isn’t any better feeling than seeing the smiles, on the faces of people getting their lost items back. It truly is a blessing, to be able to help people like Diane and Jerry. They will now be in my growing, “Book of Smiles”, for eternity.

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Gold Heirloom Ring Lost In The Windham, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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At approximately 6:30pm, on Tuesday December 10th, 2024, I received a call from Chris. Chris told me that he had just lost his wedding ring and wanted to know if I could come up and find it. I then asked Chris, if he could tell me what happened and where did he lose it.

Chris explained that he had been cleaning his wife’s car off and his hands were cold and wet. So, before getting into the car, Chris shook the snow off his hands and once inside the vehicle, he noticed his wedding ring was missing. I asked Chris if he had felt or seen the ring come off. He hadn’t! But, he knew where he was standing when he shook his hands and had been searching the snow, in that area, but it was fruitless. No wedding ring was found.

His wife, Erin, then put a Facebook post out, on a local Windham, Maine community page, .

Once Erin had done that, she started getting many referrals, to call me. It was at this point, that Chris called me. Chris wanted to know if I could come search tonight. I suggested I could do it the next day, but then remembered that I was having a crown put on, a broken tooth. I also remembered that tomorrow’s weather was going to be heavy rain and very high winds. I wouldn’t be able to search tomorrow. The day after that, I was already booked, in Auburn, Maine and Friday I was taking my mother to her Dr’s appointments and then my wife and I needed to be in Portland, for 5:00pm. Saturday, I have tentatively scheduled a search, in NH. This means if I didn’t go tonight, I probably wouldn’t be able to search for Chris’s ring until Sunday. So I told Chris that I would search tonight but just need to load my equipment up and drive the approximately 40 minutes or so, to Windham.

I left Saco at 6:50 pm and arrived at Chris’s home at 7:30pm. I then asked Chris to show me the area that he had been cleaning the car and where he had shaken his hands. Chris showed me and I could see the disturbed and packed down snow, of where he had unsuccessfully searched. I would search this area first and if I wasn’t able to locate the ring, I would start expanding the search area.

I started searching, at the road and worked my way, onto the lawn, approximately 10’ deep. No ring but lots of high conductivity metals, where gold is considered a low conductor. So, I turned around, took a 1/2 step, to my left and headed towards the road. Still no ring. Turned around and headed back onto the lawn and still nothing. Turned around, heading back to the road and almost immediately received a very loud target. The VDI was reading higher than normal for gold but it was such a great sounding target. I slowly put my pinpointer into the snow and located the target. I started gently pushing the top layer of snow, off the target, when I caught a glimpse of something yellow and metallic, under the bright lights of my headlamp, that I was wearing. I looked up at Chris and said, “I found your ring”. Chris was almost in disbelief, “Really”, he asked. I then had Chris come over and I showed him the very small piece of yellow, showing in the snow. Chris was now smiling ear to ear and couldn’t believe I had found his ring, approximately 5’ from where he thought it was and where he was searching. Chris kept thanking me for coming so far to help him and he also told me that the wedding ring, was his deceased father’s ring p, that had been passed down to him. WOW, another Heirloom Ring recovered and returned. I am so happy to have been able to help Chris and Erin, in their time of need. As I always say, every ring has a story and Chris’s ring now has another story, to go with its history. I get to add another smile, to my “Book of Smiles”.

 

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Key Fob and Keys, Lost In The Limington, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I had just returned home from a successful Heirloom Ring recovery and return, in Acton, Maine, when I received the following text

“Hi I’m hoping to get in contact with Dennis of Ring Finders of Maine. My name is Tim and I live in Limington Maine (about 45 minutes from Saco, Maine). I’ve been missing my keys since yesterday morning, and my wife and I have torn our house apart looking for them. We believe they may be under a couple inches of snow along the edges of our driveway, I wanted to know if you were able to offer your metal detector services to help find them”

I immediately texted Tim back and told him that I could certainly help him, to try and find his keys. I sent the following text message back to Tim

“A few questions
1) what makes you think they may be in the driveway area?
2) Are these actual keys, a key fob or both?
3) How big and long, is the driveway? I could bring an extra detector, if you or your wife would like to help search.”

Tim replied

“The driveway is about 5-6 car lengths long and 2 cars wide.
There is a fob, but there’s also 4 or 5 metal keys, and it’s on a carbon fiber key organizer.
We think they’re in the driveway because I usually keep keys in one coat pocket and my wallet in the other, and I last had them Wednesday when I went out and came back. I was staking our driveway for our plow guy since we had some snow coming Wednesday night into Thursday and when I went to use my car yesterday my wallet was still in my coat pocket but my keys were not, and between staking the driveway and taking a couple patio chairs off the deck the only explanation for not finding them in the house anywhere is if they fell out of my pocket while outside.
I’m happy to help search if you can teach me what I need to do”

I replied
“Ok, are you available now? I can come up now, if this is ok.
What is your full name and address, I would need to go to? I will bring the spare detector”

Tim said he was home and I told him I would be there shortly. After being home less than an hour, after returning from Acton, Maine, I was out the door, to Limington, Maine. I arrived at Tim’s home, approximately 45 minutes later and was promptly met by Tim. I asked Tim to show me the areas, he thinks the keys may be in. Tim said the keys could be on either side of the driveway, where he had placed some stakes and cleaned back a little snow. They could be out back, where he had moved some patio furniture. The could also be along the walkway, to the front door, coming from the driveway.
I then retrieved both of my detectors, set them up and tested them, with my set of keys and key fob. After placing my set of keys, under the bank of snow, along the driveway, I showed Tim, what he would need to do and listen for, as he helped me search. The detectors were picking up the test keys with no problems, at approximately 10-12 under the snow bank. After watching Tim swing the detector, over the test keys, I asked him which side of the driveway would he like to search. He chose the right side, as you faced the house and I would start on the left side, of the house. As we were searching, we were receiving plenty of targets but definitely not in the key range. As we were finishing up the sides of the driveway, I heard Tim say, “Got em” and I looked up and Tim had found them, at the intersection of the driveway and walkway, to the front door. Tim was very excited and happy, with a smile from ear to ear.He surmised that they fell out of his pocket, while placing a stake, in the area and disappeared, under the surface of the snow and then more snow arrived, covering them even more.
Tim said he had been extremely stressed about his keys and key fob being lost. The key fob was extremely wet, from the snow and Tim was going to place it in a bag of rice, hoping to dry the fob out. Hopefully, it works.
So it’s not always jewelry that The Ring Finders of Maine help recover. Sometimes it’s Keys, Key Fob, Property Markers, Water Shutoff Valves, Cell Phones, etc.. Whatever the item is, I love being able to help people like Tim out, in their time of need. It’s such a great feeling when I am able to return a lost item and add another face to my “Book of Smiles”

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Four Generation Gold Diamond Heirloom Ring, Lost In The Snow, In Acton, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Thursday afternoon, I was driving home, from Norway Maine, after recovering a lost ring. I stopped to fill the car up with gas and that there was a Facebook PM. The PM stated, the following

“I lost a very special white gold and multi diamond ring on a trail behind my house this morning. I have walked the trail 3-4 times and borrowed a friends metal detector with no luck. At this point, I think I should wait till the 2″ of snow melts first before trying again. the only thing that goes on this trail besides me are turkeys and wildlife. would you recommend a different approach?”

I replied to Gail and asked where she was located and if I would be able to call in approximately a 1/2 hour, when I arrived home. Gail replied that she lived in Acton, Maine and I could definitely call her, once I arrived home.
Once arriving at home, I called Gail and she told me the previous evening, she had taken off a very sentimental ring, going back 4 generations. She then placed the ring in a small pocket, on the backside of her phone and intended to put the ring back on, the next morning. The ring was a little tight, on her finger and she didn’t want to wear it to bed, that night.

The ring was White Gold and contained the diamonds of not just her Engagement Ring, but the diamonds and rings, of her Mother’s, Grandmother’s and Great Grandmothers. WOW!!! What a ring. Gail also sent me a photo of the ring and also told me the gold from all 4 generational rings were melted down and that gold was used to make the current ring and setting, that the diamonds were placed in. I could hear the anguish, in Gail’s voice and told her that I could search for the lost Diamond Ring, the next morning, after rescheduling a search, due to the snow banks, along a road, I am to search. I told Gail that I would be at her home, in Acton, at approximately 8:00am. I also told Gail that I would be bringing a friend and fellow Metal Detectorist, with me, to search such a large area, Gary Hill. Gail had told me the search area would consist, of an area, of her driveway, yard and also a trail, through the woods, for approximately a 1/2 mile. Gail had stopped numerous times, in the yard and the trail, to retrieve her phone, to answer calls and text messages, along with taking photos, of the freshly fallen snow. Gail was certain that the ring would be in her gravel driveway where she was talking, on the phone, or one of the multiple places she stopped at, on the wooded trail and had taken the phone, out of her pocket .
Gary and I arrived at her home at approximately 8:15am. We would have made it on time but my GPS took me past her home and down an extremely long and steep mountainous road. Once at the bottom of this mountain road, all packed snow and ice, I could not get back up the mountainous road. My tires were spinning so much, we could smell the burning rubber. Gary’s face was going ashen, with concern. I backed down the hill, since I couldn’t go up and called Gail. She said, “ You didn’t go down that hill, did you?” Yup, too late, that’s where I am. She told me to get a good start and gun it up that hill. I did just that and after 15 minutes, I was about 1/2 way up the hill. I told Gary to walk, to the top of the hill and see if Gail had any sand, we could throw on the road. After Gary left the vehicle, I continued to burn rubber, going up the hill, inch by inch. I was approaching the 3/4 mark, up the hill, when Gary and Gail came to the rescue. Once they threw some sand down, I made it to the top of the mountainous road. Just another adventure story, in our Ring Finding. Now, we need to get down to business and find a lost ring.

With temperatures in the mid to high teens, winds at 15 to 18mph and gusting up to 25-30mph, the feels like temperature was near ZERO, BRRRRRRR🥶🥶🥶. Gail showed us the area, in her yard, she thinks the ring may have been lost in. I took out my White Gold setup and test ring, so Gary and I could properly calibrate our detectors. Once we were both good to go, it was decided that I would search the property near the house and Gary would follow Gail, into the woods and search the trail, behind her home. This is truly going to be a “Needle in a haystack” search.

I saw Gary and Gail, enter the woods and out of sight and I continued to search the snowy driveway area. I was getting lots of low conductors targets but once I removed the snow, the targets were all below the frozen ground. After approximately 35 minutes, I was almost done, in the driveway area, when I could hear some loud screaming, coming from deep in the woods. I kept my eyes, on the area where Gary and Gail entered the woods but couldn’t see them. I could still hear the loud excited voices and only one of two things were happening. 1) Gary found the ring, 2) Gary fell on the snowy trail and broke his hip😉. A few minutes later I see Gail and Gary walk out of the woods, so I knew Gary hadn’t broken his hip. Gary was carrying his metal detector and not searching, when I see Gail raise her hand and yell down to me, that Gary had found the ring. AWESOME JOB GARY!!! When they arrived at the driveway, they told me that the ring was found at the last spot Gail had been at, before turning around, on the trail and returning home. She had taken her phone out, at that spot and had taken a photo of the wooded wintery scene. The ring was out of sight, buried in the snow and as they were brushing back the latest snow fall, the ring appeared, standing straight up, with the beautiful diamonds pointing towards the sky.
Gail was very emotional and I could see her keep wiping tears away. It’s such a great feeling for Gary and I to have been able to reunite Gail with this amazing sentimental heirloom ring. Gail kept thanking us and was just so pleased with the outcome and so were we.
There is no better feeling that to be able to help people like Gail, in their time of need. Thinking her extremely sentimental heirloom ring was lost forever and then to see her tears of happiness and smile, makes this such a rewarding experience. A true blessing, for Gary and I to help. Tonight, Gail will be sleeping well, knowing her ring is back on her finger, where it belongs.
I would also like to give Gary a BIG SHOUT OUT, for helping me search such a large area and for finding Gail’s ring, deep in the snowy woods. Thank you so much Gary❤️🙏

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