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

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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Tungsten Wedding Ring, Lost In A Durham, Maine Yard, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following text, from Kelly, on Easter night.

“Hello, Can you help find a ring in my yard in Durham? I believe it is Tungsten”.

“I replied, “Hi Kelly, So sorry to hear this. I have found dozens of Tungsten Rings, over the years. When was the ring lost”?

Kelly replied, “Yesterday. I had it on my hand while I was weeding, it fell off, I found it and put it in my pocket. Did a couple of other things in the yard came inside and went to get the ring out of my pocket and it wasnt there.

I am guessing I put my phone in that same pocket and when I checked my phone at some point the ring came out”.

I then agreed to help Kelly and would meet her, at her home. I told Kelly it would be late morning, as Gary Hill and I had a previous commitment.

I was extremely confident the ring would be found, knowing Kelly knew exactly where she was, when the ring went missing. I just didn’t know how long it would take, because I didn’t know how big of an area, needed to be searched, on her property.

Monday morning, Gary and I finished up our commitment,  I phoned Kelly and told her we would be at her place, shortly. Kelly said she was home and would be waiting for us. Once Gary and I arrived, Kelly was already outside, talking to her neighbor. After brief introductions, I asked Kelly to go over the details of 2 days prior, when the ring went missing and if it was her ring. Kelly told us the ring was actually her husband’s, who had recently passed away, approximately 4 weeks ago. She had been wearing the ring, since his passing and the ring was big on her finger. WOW, Gary and I just glanced at each other and we knew we couldn’t leave until we found this very sentimental and emotional ring.

Kelly then told us the rest of the story.  Kelly was performing some weeding, around the property and after losing the ring once and finding it, she put the ring, in her pocket, for safe keeping. She continued weeding and working around the property. When she finished and went inside, the ring was missing, from her pocket. She said she also had her phone, in her pocket and had removed the phone a few different times, while working outside.

Kelly then showed us the areas, she had worked in and we could see the clumps of weeds, still on the ground.  Kelly also had gone into the tool shed, towards the backyard and she also had gone into the backyard. So it was a fairly good size area that Gary and I would have to search. We wanted to find this ring fast and get it back to Kelly. I would start grid searching the front of the house and Gary would start outback, near the tool shed.

As we searched, Kelly continued to visually search and answered all the questions that Gary and I were asking her. We were finding lots of targets but they were all in the ground, not above the ground, where the ring would be. I finished the front of the yard and now would be grid searching between the house and the raised flower bed and tree. Gary had finished the area near the tool shed and was now searching the lawn, on the side of the house. After 30 minutes of searching, still no ring. It’s amazing how rings just blend in the grass. After approximately 5 minutes of searching between the flower bed and house, I received an extremely loud signal. I looked down, towards the coil and didn’t see anything, for a few seconds and then, BANG, the ring came into focus. It was slightly pressed, into the ground and I suspect that the ring had been stepped on, by Kelly, the previous day. No one had walked in that area, while we were there.

Kelly was standing a few feet, to my right and I took my phone out, set the camera, to the video and then looked at Kelly

I said, “What if I told you I found it”? Kelly replied, “I would be ecstatic”. I then proceeded to tell her that the ring was right in front of her and yes, she was ecstatic, as she saw the ring, in the grass. I could sense the emotion overcoming her and I was so happy for her, to be getting her late husband’s ring back. Gary and I then gave her a hug and her tears of joy and all the other emotions of the last month, just overwhelmed her. Kelly was overcome with emotion and just went inside to deal with everything that had just happened.

Gary and I were also touched by all her emotions and we are so grateful that we are able to help others, like Kelly, in their time of need. There is no better feeling than seeing the happiness and joy we bring to others.

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White Gold Wedding Ring, Lost In Springvale, Maine, Found While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I was contacted by Christina about her wedding ring. She had lost it on Friday, April 4th, while helping her husband, move a refrigerator, into their home, in Springvale, Maine. Christina told me that she had taken her Engagement Ring and her Wedding Ring off, and put them in her pants pocket. She was nervous about damaging them, while moving the refrigerator. When they finished moving the refrigerator, Christina reached into her pocket to retrieve her rings but only the Engagement Ring was there. The Wedding Ring was missing. Christina asked me how much my service was and I told her that I did not charge for my Emergency Metal Detecting Service or for my time. I just required a Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear etc.

When I arrived at her home Christina met me promptly. After a few pleasantries, I got down to business, by asking her many questions, about the day the ring went missing. I asked about where she was when the rings were put into her pocket and where was she when she reached in to take them out. I asked her the path they took, with the refrigerator. Have they done a visual search of all the areas that she had been in.
Christina told me she couldn’t remember if she was in the bed of the truck or in the house, when she took her rings off, but she and her husband had visually searched the truck and inside there home. They had removed the refrigerator from the truck and brought it into the home, through the front gate and down the walkway. They had also searched all of these areas. Once they were done with the refrigerator, they went for a walk, heading down the middle of the street and while walking, Christina reached into her pocket, to retrieve the rings. It was at this point, she realized her wedding ring was no longer in her pocket. She and her husband retraced their steps, in and along the street, but the ring was not found.
I told Christina I would search the entire lawn, on both sides of the walkway and on the outside of their fence, along the street. The area wasn’t very large and the search went quickly. I then asked Christina how far they had walked, down the street. I would search the grass, along the street and hopefully find it in the grass or gravel and Christina was walking down the middle of the street, as she had done, 5 days earlier. As I finished up in front of her house, I was halfway done searching in front of her neighbors house. I stopped and asked Christina where she was exactly, when she took the rings out of her pocket. She said “Actually, right in this area” and made a motion with her hand, outlining the area, in the street. As she was saying that, she said, Oh My God, there it is”. Christina was pointing into the street and THERE WAS HER WEDDING RING. She couldn’t believe it and mentioned that they had searched the street a few different times. She then texted her husband and he came out to see where it was found. I took some photos and we were all extremely happy that the ring was found. I really couldn’t believe the ring was in the street for 5 full days. Just crazy!

I try to ask my clients all kind of questions, concerning the circumstances of the ring going missing. It just might trigger something that helps in locating the ring. I would like to think that me asking her where she was, when she pulled the rings out made her stop and look at the area. Either way, when I am searching, many of my clients like to visually search, along side of me. As far as I’m concerned, it takes a team to be successful and today the Teamwork worked out just fine. Christina was extremely happy to have her wedding ring back and we both had big smiles.

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Diamond Wedding Ring Lost in Gorham, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Tuesday morning, April 15th, it was raining outside. I would be driving my 8 year old granddaughter to school and then continuing to Market Basket and Hannaford’s, in Biddeford, Maine with a honey do shopping list. As I arrived at the school, I noticed I had a voicemail, from 13 minutes earlier.

The voicemail was from someone named Tom. Tom explained, on the voicemail, that he is in the process of building a house and had lost his wedding ring, the previous day at the construction site. The crew needed to start in, on the leech bed and septic system but unfortunately there was too much wood, metal and other building materials, in the way. So Tom started picking up the construction materials and debris and throwing it into a trailer and also stacking some on a pile of wood. At the end of the day, as Tom was getting ready to strap down the trailer, he noticed his wedding ring was missing. He knows he had the ring on and at the construction site because he had just picked the wedding ring up, at the jewelers, at noontime, as Tom was having 3 loose diamonds checked and fixed. Tom started searching for the missing wedding ring, at the construction site, in all the area’s he had been. He visually searched with a flashlight, after the sun went down. He looked through the stacked piles of wood and couldn’t find his wedding ring.
This morning, Tom was back at the site, searching once again. Still nothing. The driveway is just nothing but mud, with some areas, very deep. Tom told me he thinks the ring imay be under the mud. Could I help him out and give him a call back?
I immediately called Tom back, as I sat in the school line. I told Tom I would be there, as soon as I dropped my granddaughter off, went home and loaded my equipment up. Now I just need to tell my wife Cheryl, the honey do list will need to wait 😉

AS soon as I finished talking with Tom, I called Gary Hill, to see if he would like to help me out. I did not know what the construction site looked like or how big the areas to be searched were. I just knew that I didn’t want the septic system and leech bed coming to a screeching halt, because I couldn’t find the ring fast enough. Gary would be a big help on this and thankfully he was available and I would pick him up, on my way to the Town of Gorham construction site.
Once Gary and I arrived, Tom promptly met us and explained everything once again. He pointed out the areas he was working in and it was going to be a challenge to find his ring, with all the mud and lots of metal and piles of wood everywhere.
I had Gary start grid searching the grassy area, where there was a pile of lumber and the large trailer. Hopefully the ring wasn’t in the trailer because it would need to be offloaded and physically searched with our Twin Optical Scanners 👀🙄
I decided to grid search the mud, from the pile of lumber, in the driveway, towards the road. If the ring was in this area, I didn’t want the trucks, trailers and lifts running over the ring, driving it down deeper and out of the reach of our metal detectors. As I was gridding the mud, I was slipping and sliding and my boots got stuck a few times, in the mud. Same with Gary, when he came over to the area.

After approximately 35-40 minutes, I had completed about 25 feet of the driveway and no signals even close to a gold ring. Gary was back over on the grass area and was attempting to get closer to the stack of lumber and construction materials. The metal was everywhere, including the ground and it was not easy, searching there. All of a sudden, I hear Gary yell over to me, “I found it”. Wait, What? Gary then says it is “right here, come and get some photos”. When I arrived, Gary pointed out the wedding ring, blending in with the grass. Gary told me he was trying to get as close to the pile of construction debris and material, when he heard a slight low tone. When he looked down, there was the ring.

Tom had left for a few minutes and when he returned, we asked him to show us once again what he had been doing around the pile. Gary asked him, were you over here? When Tom got over to Gary, Gary pointed to the ring, in the grass but Tom still couldn’t see it. Gary really had to point it out, because the ring was blending in very well, with the grass. Once Tom saw the ring, in the grass, a big smile swept across his face. Tom was really surprised he hadn’t seen it last night or this morning. Unfortunately, once a ring is the grass, they can be very difficult to see.

A very sentimental wedding ring is now back on Tom’s finger, where it belongs. There is no better feeling for Gary and I, than to reunite a lost item, with the rightful owner. Another smile for my “Book of Smiles” makes for a great day.

So Tom is happy that he has his wedding ring back and it will no longer impede the progress of the septic system and leech bed. Gary and I are happy for putting another smile on a client’s face. Now I need to go start the honey do list and that should put a smile on my wife’s face.

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