# How To Find A Gold Ring In The Water Tag | The Ring Finders

Loves Park Illinois, 14K Diamond ring Lost in Rock river, recovered

  • from Rockford (Illinois, United States)
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Yesterday, September 14th, I received a call from a gentleman asking if I still metal detected for lost jewlery.  I told him, “I sure do!” He went on to tell me that he and his family were out boating on the Rock river near Loves Park and had stopped at one of the parks along the river. When they stopped Alli got out of the boat and was introducing their new puppy to the water. As she was holding the puppy above the water the little pup was still paddling in midair. When Alli went to pick him up he continued to keep paddling and managed to get one of his little toenails inside of Alli ring and pushed it right off of her slippery, wet finger, right into the shallow water along the shoreline. Luckily someone Googled “metal detecting service in Rockford Il” and found me here on TheRingFinders.com .

When I received the call I told them, not to dig anymore and that I’d be there in less than a hour. So I gathered my things and just before I pulled out of the driveway I received a text message from some people who were also there, and didn’t know that I’d already been in contact with them. I told them that I was on my way also. When I arrived I met Alli down by the water.  The first thing that I noticed was 2 big marks in the sand that were marking the area that the ring was lost in. Smart move! Next they told me that they actually caught the ring coming off of her finger on video! They showed me the video and with the video and the marks in the sand, I looked at her and said, “We’re gonna find this for sure”. I made one pass down the waters edge in about knee deep water with only a dime to show itself.  I turned back at their other mark in the sand and went up the beach a bit,  towards the bleachers, and as I got back to the mark on the other side I got a solid 8 on the Equinox 800. I grabbed my pinpointer and started checking handfuls of sand. On my 3rd handful I had the target in my hand. As I raised my hand out of the water I could see the edge of Alli’s ring in my hand!!!

Success!!

Another smile for the book!!

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/NftzhX6yYjg?si=oEhW2fUdDaIOqbjt

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White Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Ocean Park, Maine Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Wednesday, July 2nd, as I was driving, I heard a G-Mail notification, on my phone.

“My husband lost his ring in Ocean Park. I don’t have phone service to call because we’re Canadian. Any chance you could come out?
Thanks,
Heather “

I pulled over and replied
“Hi Heather, Did he lose the ring in the Dry Sand or Water?”
Heather replied that her husband thinks he lost his wedding ring, in the water. They are staying on Temple Ave, in Ocean Park, Maine and had walked down to the beach.
I then messaged Heather and told her I would head straight home, get my equipment, and head straight to Ocean Park. We made plans to meet at the beach access path, at the bottom of Temple Ave., in approximately 25 minutes.
After retrieving my equipment, from home, I immediately headed to Ocean Park and I was met by both Heather and her husband Quinton, at the bottom of the Temple Ave, beach access path.
After introducing myself, I asked Quinton to run me through the events, preceding him losing his White Gold Wedding Ring. Quinton told me that once he and his family arrived at the beach, he applied lotion to himself and then walked down to the water, with his children. As the children were playing in the water, Quinton was also playing around with the children and they were in approximately 4’ of water, just prior to low tide. After playing in the water for a while, Quinton noticed his wedding ring, was no longer, on his finger, while in the 4’ of water. After visually searching the ocean floor , Quinton and Heather went back up to their chairs. Heather then put a Facebook posting, about her husband, losing his wedding ring and if anyone finds it, to please contact her. Almost immediately people were commenting on her post and telling her to call me. Heather told me the comments were extremely positive about me being able to help that she decided to contact me, via the email.
As I was walking down to the water I asked Quinton if he knew the area, he was in with his children and what time he noticed his ring missing. Thankfully he knew the exact area but he lost it around 10:00am and it was now close to 12:30am. Not only has the ring been in the ocean for 2 1/2 hours, the tide was now coming in and had been, for an hour and a half. When the ring was lost, it was lost approximately an hour, before low tide and he was further out, in 4’ of water. The water would be deeper now but I needed to try and find the ring. I fired up my detector and headed out into the incoming tide and waves. Quinton accompanied me out into the water, to get his bearings and put me in the right location, which was between the signs on BillowHouse Beachfront Boutique Inn and The Nautilus at Ocean Park Beach. Maybe 100’ to 150’ between the signs and who knows how far out, into the water, would be my grid search area. Once we were in the water we went out as far as we dared. The waves were very large and a few of them literally were over my head. I had to jump straight up to avoid being slammed by the waves. After 15-20 minutes of being battered by the waves, Quinton and I exited the water. There was no way I could get any further out, with the tide coming in. I told Quinton and Heather, I would be back, the next morning between 9:30am to 10:00am. This would give me 2, 2 1/2 hours of searching, by following the tide out. I would search the wet sand, in the event, the ring was moved by the large waves and pushed closer to shore. I didn’t really think this would be the case but I just needed to cover all bases and search the area.
So this morning, my wife Cheryl and I headed to Ocean Park, hoping the waves weren’t as big as yesterday. Cheryl brought along her beach chair to enjoy the day, after her daily 5 mile walk, as I intended to search for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I brought two different metal detectors with me. A Minelab Manticore, with a 15” coil and a Minelab Excalibur, with a 10” coil. I planned to search the wet sand with the Manticore because of the large coil. I could cover the wet sand, fast and efficiently. The Excalibur is a waterproof diving metal detector and to me, is much easier to swing, in the water, waves, currents, etc.. The Manticore is also waterproof but I just feel much more comfortable with the Excalibur, in the water and definitely more comfortable with the Manticore, on the wet and dry sand. My plan would be to spend an hour or so, grid searching the wet sand, waiting for the tide to recede far enough out, that I could reach the area Quinton had been in, the previous day. Thankfully, the waves weren’t as big as yesterday but still big enough to knock you off your feet, if you weren’t paying attention and definitely big enough to just knock you around.
After an hour or so of grid searching the wet sand, I decided it was time to venture out into the water, hoping I wouldn’t get too battered around. Once in the water I would grid search the area by going straight out, as far as I deemed safe and would the take a half step, to my side and head back towards shore. I did this because I can keep a better grid search line by lining up with something on shore. I would just go out, come in, go out, come in and work my way from the Nautilus sign, to the Billow sign. As I made my way towards The Billow House. I saw Heather in waist deep water, with her children, as they caught the waves, with their boogie boards. I had covered a large portion, of the area, and with maybe 45 minutes of searching left, I told Heather it wasn’t looking good. Heather understood the difficulty of the search but kept hope alive. As I made my way to shore, I was about to turn around and head back out to the deeper waters, through those dang waves. I saw Cheryl standing at the water’s edge. I exited the water and updated her on the search. After finishing the update, with Cheryl, I re-entered the water and headed back out towards the deeper water. When I got to about knee deep or maybe a little deeper, I heard a nice loud low tone. This was absolutely the best sounding target, I had had all day. Unfortunately, The target was right where the waves were breaking. I didn’t dare to take my eyes off of the waves, while I tried to juggle my detector and scoop. I yelled over to Heather and asked her if she could hold my metal detector, while I tried to scoop up the target and keep an eye on the ever coming waves. Heather immediately came over and took hold of my detector. I kept the target, under my right foot, as I would brace for the waves. After a few waves went by, I saw an opening and I pushed the scoop into the sand, pulled up a full scoop of sand. I then shook the scoop in the water to wash the sand out. I could hear something in the scoop and when the sand was gone I looked into the scoop. A big smile broke out as I saw a big ring. I then tilted the scoop towards Heather to show her the ring. Her hand immediately went to her heart and she couldn’t believe it. She was so happy and she just kept thanking me. She also waved to Quinton, to come on down. I saw him running down to the water’s edge and Once he arrived, I showed him the ring and he gave me a big hug. He also kept thanking me and was just so overjoyed, at having his ring back. He told me he just felt naked without his wedding ring of 16 years. Now it’s back on his finger, where it belongs and he will sleep well tonight, knowing his ring is not on the ocean floor.
It’s truly a pleasure helping others out in their time of need. There are many, many rings, lost out in the water, that are never recovered. Thankfully, this isn’t one of them
I have the best job in the world.❤️🙏

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Lost gold ring found in Newcastle, Maine

  • from Rockport (Maine, United States)
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After receiving a call from Erin I headed to Newcastle, ME to locate this cigar band gold ring she lost while swimming at Colby wildlife Refuge.  The ring which actually belongs to her husband and is a family heirloom was lost last year. Although they had searched previously with a detector themselves, Erin kept my involvement a secret and couldn’t wait to surprise her husband with the good news at a family BBQ that evening. As you can imagine finding and recovering it from the mudflats was a sticky, gooey, muddy good time with a garden hose shower for me and my equipment as soon as I got home. A portion of the reward received will be directed to the MCST Outdoor Leadership Program.

 


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Tungsten Wedding Ring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Saturday morning, Saturday, June 14, 2025, my wife and I went up to Norway Maine, to visit her sister, who had surgery, earlier in the week. It was raining out and I didn’t think I would have any call outs, today. At approximately 10:25 am, I received the following text

“Hi! We lost a wedding ring on Old Orchard Beach, Maine and were wondering if we can get any help in finding it? Somewhere between The Brunswick and the OOB Pier. We will be checking for it in the morning- please let me know if you are available to assist at all!! Thanks!”

I replied

“Hi Rae, So sorry to hear this. I am in Norway, Maine, until late this afternoon. If you haven’t found it, I would be happy to help, once I get back.
Was it lost in the dry sand or wet sand/water?”

Rae replied

“Sounds great thank you so much!! We will definitely let you know if we find it. It was in the dry sand- thankfully it was also high tide so we don’t think it got washed away. I pinned our location when we noticed it was gone so it should be around this area”

With the text, she sent a photo, of the area to be searched.
She then sent me her husband’s name (Ben) and phone number.

Once I returned home, I gave Ben a call and told him I could be at the search area, around 4:00pm. I just needed to change clothes and get my equipment, into my vehicle. Ben told me he would meet me at The Brunswick and point out the area he thinks the ring would be in. I also conveyed a few concerns I had. 1) If the beach cleaning machine, had gone through the area, the wedding ring would most likely have been scooped up already. 2) Hopefully another detectorist hadn’t been through the area, as they may have found it already.
Once in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, parking was at an extreme premium. I ended up parking, down near Waves Motor Inn, close to a 1/2 mile from the search area and walked the beach, down to The Brunswick Old Orchard Beach.
I then met Ben, at The Brunswick and told him that the beach cleaning machine had not gone through the area. A definite positive for us. I then proceeded to ask him many questions, including why he thinks he lost his wedding ring, in this area and what metal is the ring made from? Ben told me that the ring was made of Tungsten and that he and his wife had been enjoying an evening at The Brunswick Nightclub . They left at approximately 12:30am, just before closing. They then walked down the beach a little bit and decided to take a swim. Ben took off his Shoes, Shirt, Watch and Wedding Ring, prior to going into the water. Ben had placed his watch and ring, inside one of his shoes and placed the shoes, on the beach. Once out of the water, Ben picked up his shirt and shoes, forgetting his ring and watch, we’re in the shoe. Before he knew it, the ring had fallen out, somewhere between where his shoes were, to where he now was, walking towards the street. Luckily he had the watch. He and his wife walked the area but could not find his ring, inside the extremely dark beach. They decided to come back and search, in the daylight, the next morning. Unfortunately, they still couldn’t find his ring and contacted me.
I told Ben that I would start, the grid search , at the top of the banking and grid search back and forth, working my way down towards the wet sand. After a couple of grid lines, I couldn’t go down any further, on the banking, because there were a group of people there. I told Ben I would go back up the banking and search that area, until the group of people left and if I didn’t find the ring, up in the dry sand, I would resume the search, down lower on the banking. Up on the dry sand, I was finding the usual pull tabs, foil and miscellaneous pieces of aluminum. I was also find some coins, but no wedding ring. I then saw the group of people had left and went back down, to where I had left off. As I was approaching the area, the group of people were in, I received a fantastic sound, from my metal detector and a VDI reading 30. I looked at Ben and told him that I really liked this target. I couldn’t guarantee it was his ring but it just sounded so good and definitely in the Tungsten range, with that VDI screening of 30. Ben came over closer to me, as I was searching the sand, with my pinpointer. I located the target with the pinpointer and as I searched the sand, with my fingers, I felt a ring. I pulled it out of the sand, looked at Ben and showed him the ring as I told him, “Congratulations, I got your ring”. Ben just looked at me with a big smile and said, “ Amazing, Thank you so much”. I had asked Ben earlier about how long has he and his wife been married. He told me a little under one year. Awesome, still newlyweds and I just recovered his wedding ring, just in time, for their first anniversary. I was smiling ear to ear myself. I absolutely love being able to provide this service to people who have lost very sentimental items. It’s such a great feeling and very addicting.
Here’s wishing Rae and Ben a very happy first anniversary, with many more to follow ❤️🙏🍾🥂💞

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“Do Not Duplicate Key” Lost In Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Found With A metal Detector and Returned To Owner

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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While out on a search, for some lost missing rings, I found a freshly dropped Key. Once home that night, I was looking at the key and noticed it was a “Do Not Duplicate” key and the locksmiths name and phone number was on the key, to call if found. The locksmiths name is Fortier’s Lock, and a Maine phone number is also on the key. After an internet search, I found Fortier’s Security Center, formerly Fortier’s Locksmith and is located in Lewiston, Maine,  approximately 50 minutes north of me. Now, Fortier’s Security Center is the oldest locksmith in Maine. It is family owned and has been in business since 1921. WOW, over 100 years old and still family owned.
So I called the number the next morning, Saturday, but they were closed until Monday. Monday rolled around and I called again. This time I was able to reach them and explained to her, what I had found. She told me they could locate the owner by the serial numbers, on the key. I gave her the serial numbers and she would call the owner. Perfect, I will be able to return the key, once the owner called me, after being contacted by Fortier’s Security Center. Wednesday came and I still hadn’t heard anything. I called Fortier’s Security Center and the employee told me they had left a message for the owner of the key because no one had answered their phone call. They would call the owner again and try to make contact. I received no call on Wednesday or Thursday.
So on Friday I decided to drive toLewiston, Maine and drop the key off myself, to Fortier’s Security Center. Cheryl and I were heading to Athens, Maine, for a funeral, on Friday and we would be driving right by Lewiston, on our way to Athens. We would just get off the Maine Turnpike and drop the key off to Fortier’s Center, on Lisbon Street. As luck would have it, Fortier’s Security Center is just off the turnpike exit and I would be able to get right back on the road. Once I arrived at the location, I went inside and was immediately approached by the owner. I showed him the key and explained the situation. He assured me that the owner would get the key back and they would call them again today. Thankfully the records show who the owner is and the owner will soon have their key back.  So, now I have returned the key and although it may not be as flashy as a diamond engagement ring being returned, it is a return of a key that may  unlock a safe deposit box that holds jewelry and gold coins. Well I can dream, can’t I.
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Gold Masonic Ring Lost Doing Yard Work, In Scarborough Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, from Sam, on Monday night.

“Hey there, my grandfather lost his Masonic Ring that was bought for him by my grandmother. He is extremely stubborn and insists if he can’t find it he’s going to buy a new one.. He lost it in his backyard somewhere, I haven’t had the chance to look yet, but I hear you guys are the best! Let me know if this is something you could help with!”

It’s always nice when someone tells you that they hear “you guys are the best!” It will also be my first search, for a Masonic Ring. I then replied

“Hi Sam, I am so sorry to hear this. We can certainly find rings, in backyards. So a few questions first, if you don’t mind. 1) How long ago did he lose it? 2) What makes him think it was lost in the backyard? Did he see or feel it come off? 3) What city or town would the search take place? Thank you, Dennis”

Sam replied

“He lost it while working in the yard, he thinks back, but could be the front. It was lost about a week ago. He says he didn’t feel it come off. He’s in Scarborough, Maine.”

I replied

“OK, So fairly recently then. I would recommend that the lawns SHOULD NOT BE MOWED, until the area is searched. We have found damaged and thrown rings, that a lawnmower has hit.
So I do not charge for my Emergency Metal Detecting Services or my time. I do however, require a Transportation Fee, to cover my Gas, Tolls, Wear and Tear etc.. The transportation fee to Scarborough is $25.00 and that’s it.”

Sam agreed to go ahead and search for his Grandfather’s Masonic Ring. I told him I would be at his grandparents home at 8:00am the next morning. Sam told me his grandparents were good, for that time and his grandfather would show me the exact areas, he had been working.
I arrived at 8:00am, as promised and Sam’s grandfather came right out to meet me. He introduced himself, as Lee. Lee then explains that approximately 10 days earlier, he had been doing some yard work. He had planted two new flowers, by digging the holes and bringing the dug up soil, out back and dumped in a pile. He then put new potting soil in the holes and planted the flowers. He had walked back and forth across the front lawn a few times, between the flag pole and the house. That was the extent of his movement that day, up until he realized he no longer had his Masonic Ring on. Lee told me he was extremely sure I wouldn’t find the ring, under the new flowers. He had already removed the flowers and the new potting soil, down to the hard pan dirt. Lee then visually and physically searched the two holes and the potting soil. No ring was found. If the ring was on the property, it would be on the grassy lawn. I asked Lee if the lawn had been mowed, since losing his ring. He confirmed it had been mowed and I just kind of lost a little bounce, out of my step, so to speak. Once a ring has a lawnmower go over it, all bets are off. The lawnmower could have hit the ring, sending it flying in all kind of different areas. The lawnmower can also damage rings, beyond repair. I then confirmed with Lee that the ring is a Gold Ring. I took out a sample gold ring, which happens to be my actual 1974 Thornton Academy High School Class Ring, which most resembled the Masonic Ring, according to Lee. Ithrew it up into the air a few times and each time the ring was still visible, to our eyes, on the well manicured lawn. I then set the detector up, to the best settings, to find the Masonic Ring. I then ran the coil over my class ring and it went off nice and loud, so Lee could see how the detector works. Now to get to work.

I told Lee that I would grid search, from where we stood, in the driveway, to the plants on the other side of the lawn. I would search just inside the flagpole, back ann forth, up to the house. The lawn to be grid searched wasn’t a large area at all and I figured I could cover the entire front lawn in 25-30 minutes. I searched the newly planted flowers at the end of the first line. Nothing under the plants, other than a small nail. I then turned around and took a 1/2 step over and continued the search, now heading back towards the driveway. I repeated this 3 more times and other than coins, buried in the soil, absolutely nothing was found. I started talking to Lee again, about that day. He was certain the ring should have been in the area but it could also be in the discarded soil. So we went out back and I searched the soil there. Nothing again. I then told Lee that the ring may have come off while he was taking the wheel barrel out back, to dump the soil. I explained that I would start grid searching, that area. Wasn’t a large area at all and wouldn’t take long. While standing there I reached down and gave Lee the nail, I had found under one of the plants. He told me that wasn’t one of the plants he had been working on. He then told me it was the two flower plants. One that we were next to and the other plant was two plants over, going towards the street. I had totally misunderstood which plants had been worked on. I told Lee I would check the other flower plant, right now. We both walked over and my first swing, under the flowers, produced a nice low tone. I swung a few more times and saw my VDI Screen was reading between three numbers,, 27, 28, 29. Those are definitely numbers I am interested in, while searching for gold rings. I took my pinpointer and stuck it into the fresh potting soil. Nothing found. I tried again and again. On the third attempt, I located the target and removed some potting soil. Didn’t see or feel anything. I then removed another handful of the soil and I caught a glimpse of something gold. I reached into the hole, grabbed it, stood up and flashed the Masonic Ring to Lee, “I found your ring”. Lee was absolutely stunned. He said “I was absolutely sure you wouldn’t find it under the plants. I had taken them out and searched the soil myself”. Lee kept saying how he just couldn’t believe I had found his ring and he was absolutely certain, I wouldn’t find it. Thankfully for Lee I let my Metal Detector do my looking. I know my eyesight isn’t isn’t what it once was. I also know Lee is one happy man, to have his ring back on his finger, where it belongs. I love helping others out, when they need my Emergency Metal Detecting Services. It’s truly a great feeling to return such a sentimental item back to the owner. Congratulations Lee❤️🙏

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Limited Edition Watch Lost In The Wells Beach, Maine Sand,Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, from Mike at 11:00pm, last night. I didn’t see the message, until this morning, when I promptly replied, at 5:43am.

“I recently lost a watch on Wells Beach is this something you guys might be able to find?

Somewhere in the red circle the blue is the beach entrance.”

Mike also sent me  a photo, of the area, he thinks he lost the watch in.

My reply to Mike.

“Good Morning Mike, I am so sorry to hear this. I can certainly attempt to find the watch and have found watches, in the past. A few questions first, if you wouldn’t mind.            

1)   How long ago was the watch lost?

2)  This area that the watch was lost in, did you see or feel the watch come off in this area? Just trying to figure out why you think this is the area, the watch was lost in.                                                       

3)   Does the watch have a metal band or other material? What king of watch, Apple, etc.?                                                                                                                                                     

       “Thank you, Dennis”

Mike immediately replied along with a photo of the watch!

“Hey! Thanks for responding Sunday afternoon i lost it, and no I didn’t feel it come off I was with my 2 kids messing around in the sand wrestling around and we took a photo after we started walking off the beach and it wasn’t in the photo. I have a wrist band on the same wrist and had a long sleeve on so must not have felt it. And yes it’s all metal heavy watch Oceaneva is the brand it’s all black. I’ve searched everywhere but the beach dude, to me not living near by there”

My reply to Mike

“Ok, A few concerns. 1) My 25 years experience is that unlike a ring, watches do not immediately disappear under the sand. They usually fall on top of the sand and are visible, until someone steps on it, the wind blows sand over the top, etc.. 2) I am not familiar with the cleaning schedule, of the beach, in Wells. I have been told that Wells Beach has a dedicated beach cleaning machine. Not positive but  it’s likely that tractor-towed sand cleaning machines or smaller, self-propelled machines are used, along with manual cleanups by volunteers. With Memorial Day weekend this weekend, I would assume the beaches are being cleaned, before the rain starts tomorrow. Do you know if the beach cleaning machines have been out yet?

If you are interested, I can certainly search for it this afternoon or very early in the morning, around 7:00am. I am already booked this morning and not sure how long it will take me.. I may even be able to get another detectorist to go with me, to cover a larger area, quicker. I do not charge for my time or service but do require a $25.00 Transportation Fee to Wells Beach and that includes my buddy, at no extra charge, as he will ride with me. The Transportation Fee is to cover my Gas, Tolls, Wear and Tear, etc.. Let me know if this is acceptable and I will get on it today or tomorrow morning.”

As I started to think of the situation, I just knew I had to get to Wells Beach, right now, this morning. So I contacted my client, in Cape Elizabeth and explained the Emergency situation, concerning a missing watch, in a public place, where a beach cleaning machine, could sweep it up and be gone forever. My client was in complete agreement and we rescheduled the search for her property marker, until tomorrow morning, early, before 2-3 days of rain arrive.

I then contacted Gary Hill, to see if he was available to help me search, the fairly large area. Gary was available and on board with helping me. My estimate was a 3-4 hour search, by myself and Gary would help me cut that time in half, by helping me.

So Gary and I set out to Weels Beach, to search for the watch, which had been lost, three days earlier. Once we arrived, the parking situation was very dire. Atlantic Ave is a “No Parking, Either Side of the Street” area. Understandable as the area is extremely busy in the summer and the Avenue is not very wide. The beach entrance, we needed to use, to access the beach, is almost directly across from Seaside Cottages, a summertime favorite of vacationers, visiting the area. I went to the office and met Pauls, the owner and explained the situation and Paula recognized me and enthusiastically, without hesitation, agreed to  let me park, on her property. A BIG SHOUTOUT TO PAULA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Gary and I then got our gear and headed the the beach. We decided to grid search the area, horizontally to the water. Gary would start up near the beach entrance and I would start down at the high tide mark, in the wet sand. We also decided to expand the search, to the north and the south, by approximately 25-30 feet, just in case the watch was lost, outside of where Mike thought it would be. Back and forth we went, finishing a grid line and then taking a 1/2 step over, turning around and heading back to the area, we had started. The 1/2 step over would also let us overlap our swings, making sure we don’t miss any areas. Neither one of use were finding much of anything at all, a penny, a few pull tabs and some small pieces of foil. After 40 minutes,  I sent a message to Mike , telling him we weren’t having any luck, locating the keys The beach seemed to be too clean and I started to worry the beach cleaning machine may have already gone through. Truthfully, I am not even sure Wells Beach has a beach cleaning machine but assumed so, because other major beaches, in the area, do have them. As time passed Gary and I were getting closer and closer to echoer and the real estate between us was shrinking. Time was running out when I finally heard a strong signal, to my right. I swung my coil back to the area, looked down and could see something black, partially covered in sand. The Watch? Keys? As I took a couple steps over and looked down, I could tell it was a Black Watch. I had found Mike’s watch. I took a few photos of the watch, as I found it and the picked the watch up and yelled over to Gary, “ARE YOU READY TO GO HOME”.? Gary smiled and laughed and came right over.

As we are standing there, I get a message from Mike,

“Ok, maybe someone picked it up already.”

Mike’s message was perfect timing and I replied to Mike

“NOPE! I just found it”

Mike replied

“Nooooo Wayyy. Oh my God. You guys are the best. That’s so crazy

I’ll leave work right now and meet you guys somewhere.

I honestly can’t thank you guys enough.”

We then made plans to stay put and Mike would meet us at the location, we had found the watch. Because he works at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, in Kittery, he told us he would be there at 12:25pm, approximately 30 minutes later. Gary and I then went and thanked Paula again, for letting us park, on her property, while we searched. Paula was also amazed we ad found the watch and extremely happy, for Mike.

Mike arrived as planned and was extremely happy and in disbelief, the watch had been found. Mike explains to Gary and I the significance of the watch. The watch was a numbered watch. Only 1,000 were made and he had #58/1000. The watch is also a diving watch, filled with helium and able to withstand the pressure, up  to 9,900 feet down, not that he would.The watch was also presented to him, by a family friend, a former Navy Seal. WOW!!! This watch has so much sentimental value to Mike. So much, that he immediately left work, to come and get the wash, right then and there.

It looks like the pin, holding the watchband together, had broken and that is probably why it fell off. This most likely happened as he and his two boys, as they were wrestling and running around the beach. Mike said he has spare parts, for the watch at home and would try to fix it himself, after a thorough cleaning.

It was a pleasure and honor to find and return Mike’s very precious and sentimental watch. To see his beaming smile, when he received the watch back, is so rewarding for Gary and I. Now, Mike can sleep easier tonight, knowing his watch is home, where it belongs.

 

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Dangerous Sharp Shafts, Lost In Gorham, Maine Deep Grass, Found With Metal Detectors

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Yesterday was a first for me, searching for a Well Cap. Today was another first and really different, from my usual searches. I would be searching for, as many as I could find, sharp metal shafts with plastic insulators, on the top.

I was contacted by Jim, owner of Vienna Farm, in Gorham (Maine). Vienna Farm is a Horse Farm, providing Lessons, Training and Boarding, of horses, of course. Jim had a peculiar request of me. He wanted me to find sharp metal shafts with a plastic insulator, on the top. The sharp metal shaft would be anchored to the top of a fence post and the plastic insulator held a low voltage wire and these would run the length of the fences. Horses would sometimes hit the low voltage wires, knocking the sharp shafts and insulators, onto the grass below. Weather and age of the shafts/insulator/wood, also caused some to fall off. The low voltage wire helped keep horses, in adjacent fields, from trying to get to each other and keep them in their own grazing field. The fences are approximately 600’ long and Jim had three of these fences, that need to be searched, on both sides, of the fences. Jim told me that he and his employees do walk the fence lines, looking for the sharp shafts but knows there are some of these sharp shafts, still hiding in the tall grass. Jim’s concern is that one of the shafts could potentially impale a horses foot, causing an injury to the horse and a very expensive veterinarian bill. Although this has never, ever happened, Jim wanted to be pro active and find as many as possible.
Since this was an extremely large area to searched, I asked Gary Hill to assist me and he gladly agreed to help. Gary and I arrived at Vienna Farm and was promptly met by Jim. Jim proceeded to show us the three fences to be searched and also provided a sharp shaft with plastic insulator, for testing purposes and to set up our Minelab Manticores Metal Detectors. Doing this will help us achieve the best results. Jim had to leave so Gary and I got right to work. I would walk one side of the fence and Gary the other. The search was slow, as the grass was tall. We would receive a signal and we would then use our pinpointers, to determine if the target would need to be dug. If our pinpointers could detect the target, it meant the target was approximately 3 or 4 inches from the surface and a potential danger, to the horses. We needed to dig all targets within the 3-4 inches, to prevent any injuries, to the horses. Any target that was not picked up by the pinpointer, was deep enough to not be a danger and we did not dig those targets.

As we started searching Gary found one of the sharp shaft and insulator, we were looking for. I then found a horse shoe, imagine that. As we proceeded along the fence line. we started finding more of our desired targets and some undesired targets, mostly old nails, probably from fence repairs. As we finished the first fence line, we had 12 shafts and plastic insulators, along with three horse shoes. Gary and I then searched the next two fence lines and we were able to recover 5 more shafts/insulators and 4 more horse shoes, along with more nails. An extreme unusual item to be searching for, but it is made of metal and why not help out a local horse farm. Gary and I loved being out in the fields, looking around the beautiful property and seeing the horses. A great day for us and grateful to know people think of us enough to place their trust in our ability, to help protect their horses. Thank you Jim and Vienna Farm, for having us today.

So, there were 17 total sharp shafts/plastic shafts found and seven horseshoes. Jim told us he was extremely pleased with the results and our effort, to help protect the horses. You could tell by talking with Jim, just how much he cares for the horses and his beautiful farm. If you or someone you know, is interested in horses, please contact Vienna Farm. I promise, You won’t be disappointed.

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Lost Well Cap, Found In Freeport, Maine, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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It isn’t always that I am called out to find someone’s lost ring. I have searched and found other items, such as keys, property markers, water shutoff valves, phones, etc.. Today was a first for me, a Well Cap needed to be located, in case the Well Pump failed.
I received a message from Karen. She and her husband had purchased their home 8 years earlier but had never been able to locate the Well, because the Well Cap was not visible, but buried somewhere, on the property. Now, I have never had a well so I knew absolutely nothing about them. I asked Karen some questions and she replied, with the following

“We are in Freeport, Maine. The well cap would be thick metal and approximately 5 inches diameter attached to metal piping. Most well caps stick out of the ground several inches so we think ours was buried possibly under our flower bed when the house was built. We know some parameters such as where the line comes out of the house and how far it has to be from the septic tank and leech field (which we know the exact locations of). Our yard isn’t terribly big”. Karen also sent a photo of a cast iron Well Cap.

I told Karen that I shouldn’t have any problems, finding the well cap, as long as it wasn’t too deep and out of the range of my detectors. We then agreed to meet at her home, today, at 10:30am. I arrived at 10:30am and was greeted by Karen. Her husband had run an errand and would be back shortly. Karen took me to her neighbors homes and I saw two Well Caps, above ground. I then tested the Well Caps, on my detector and they both rang up as ferrous metals, ringing up in the 90’s, on my Minelab Manticore. As I was finishing up my testing, Karen’s husband, Andrew arrived home.
Andrew explained that the Well Cap should be a minimum of 100’, from the leach field and Andrew knew where the leach field is. So we grabbed my 300’ tape measure and measured out 100’ from the leach field. This put the search area, near the flower garden, with bark mulch and a little of the lawn. Since it is supposed to be a minimum of 100’, Karen and Andrew also thought it could be on the other side of the driveway. We decided to start the search, at the 100’ mark and perform a grid search of the lawn, leading up to and including the flower garden. I was finding many ferrous targets, but in my mind, I didn’t think they would be the Well Cap. The targets didn’t seem big enough to be the Well Cap, but we need to check the targets out anyways. If it was a ferrous target, we dug it and on every occasion, the ferrous targets turned out to be many different sized nails. After I finished the flower garden area, I started grid searching the lawn, from the garden, to a tree, next to the road drainage gulch. After 15 – 20 minutes I received a strong signal, in the ferrous range, but reading much lower on my VDI screen, than the test Well Caps, at the neighbors homes. The target was very large, in area and Andrew started digging. At about 5” down, we still couldn’t see anything but my pinpointer was still picking up a large target, just another inch or so, in the hole. Andrew put the shovel, back in the hole and he hit something hard. As he scraped the soil away, the white cover of the Well Cap appeared. We had found it, and both Andrew and Karen were elated. After 8 years of living there, they finally knew where the Well Cap was. No more worrying about a Well Pump failure, they couldn’t fix, because they didn’t know where the Well Cap was. It turns out the Well Cap is just under 100’, from where we measured from, in the leach field and we started searching about 10’, from where we thought it would be. Andrew isn’t sure if we measured from the right location, in the leach field but we were put in the general location. That’s why when you don’t find your target, you just keep expanding the search, until you find it. If we hadn’t found the Well Cap, in this area, we were going to search the other side of the driveway. Thankfully that search was not needed.
Karen and Andrew measured out the Wells Cap location, from an area on their porch and now know the location, whenever they will need to access the Well Cap. Andrew is also going to check into seeing if the Well Cap could be modified, so that it is slightly above ground, rather than buried, 6 or 7 inches deep.
Karen and Andrew’s smiles were big and very satisfying to see. So, even though this wasn’t a wedding ring, engagement ring or another piece of sentimental jewelry, the satisfaction for my clients and myself, was just as great. It’s always a great feeling to be able to help and make people happy 😃

 

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15 Keys on a Key Ring Lost in Tall Grass, Found and Returned Rocky Point, NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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May 2nd, I got a call from Sherry telling me she had lost a set of keys while weed eating around her house. She said she had a hole in the pocket of her pants and didn’t realize her keys had fallen through. She also said that the grass was about 8 inches high. We agreed to meet and I set out on the hour and a half drive.

When I met Sherry, she showed me where she had started her weed eating that went around the trailer. The grass was probably thigh deep and I started detecting as well as doing a visual search. About half way around the trailer, I eyeballed the key ring with 15 keys nestled down in the grass. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a pewter charm that was also on the key chain that had evidentially come off the ring. None the less, Sherry was grateful to get her office, house, car and various other keys back.

Sherry – Thank you for allowing me to help find your keys.

Jim

     

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