Lost Diamond Ring Westport, Massachusetts
A lost ring in Westport, Massachusetts, brought me to Horseneck Beach State Reservation. Adjacent to the cow farm I was hired to search, lie hundreds of acres of barrier beach and salt marsh. As I drove through, I quickly realize why this particular area is one of the most popular in the Massachusetts State Park System. Miles of pebble stone beach overlooking Buzzards Bay make this a one-of-a-kind destination for bird watching, camping, swimming, fishing, boating, biking, and many other recreational activities. After a couple of hours of driving and a bit of tourism, I finally arrived at the cow farm to search a tomato patch for a lost diamond ring. I was greeted by the ring owner’s parents and was provided a hand-drawn map of the landmarks and activities of that dark day when the ring was lost. The loving family’s effort to find the ring and the touching backstory gave me an unbelievable drive to find what is more than just a lost ring.
The Backstory
“Sam worked with his mom and my sister to create this ring for me – the stone he chose is my birthstone, aquamarine, it’s also the color of his eyes. His eyes are a window to his soul, and every time I look at the stone, I think about looking into his eyes and my gratitude for his soul EXPLODES (and all sort of other cheesy cliche things that my heart genuinely feels for this INCREDIBLE MAN).
Sam and I hiked a quarter of a mile into a rustic cabin that we’ve enjoyed staying at before in Hope, ME, last March, right around my bday. We trudged up in 1-2 foot snow to a cabin with no heat or running water. Sam decided to hike up in his flimsy. Sneakers rather than put his boots on. In retrospect, he worried about the ring falling out of his pocket in the process of changing his shoes. We got everything up to the cabin, started a fire in the woodstove, and we began to warm our buns by the fire. Then Sam turned to me and said, “Oh no, I forgot something down at the car.” To which I responded with, “Sorry, love, there’s no way we’re going back down there.” Then he said, “Oh wait, no, it’s right here!” and got down on a knee in front of the stove and proposed to me. We both cried and enjoyed a night of reverie. I had planned to propose to him the next day, and did! A joint proposal – something I feel captures our union and partnership, the desire to have the other heard and seen.”
The Search
Luckily, the ground was clear of vegetation and stalks due to the recent tomato harvest – ideal search conditions for a metal detector. Except for the single ginormous rhubarb plant right where the X on the map marked the location where the ring was taken off her finger and placed in her bra! No sign of the ring yet as I carefully searched in-between each rhubarb shoot. I got a few signals that turned out to be lead scraps, pull tabs, and coins moving on to the remaining garden area. All of these finds are evidence the ring could still be here, even though the family already searched with a rented metal detector. In the garden center, I heard a soft signal and brushed away the top layer of dirt. Ring found! Sitting just under the surface, I plucked the lost diamond ring from the soil and proudly waved in front of the family members like a winning lottery ticket! We rinsed and cleaned off the ring for a good photo. The mom and dad made a video call to their worried daughter and revealed the good news! I think there were tears of joy, but I couldn’t tell because my COVID-19 mask was fogging up my sunglasses, and I couldn’t see anything. Another lost ring reunited with its owner!
The Ring Owner
“In a moment of immense transition – I feel I need to slow down and take a moment to appreciate my partner, my community, and Keith Wille. Sam, the most thoughtful person who has ever existed, worked with his mom and my sister to create my engagement ring. He chose my birthstone, aquamarine, as the center stone. That color blue happens to be the color of Sam’s eyes – a color I now associate with deep conversations, compassion, seeking to understand, strength, conviction, joy, and love. I lost my ring in a tussle with a tomato patch a couple of weeks ago 🍅 Unsurprisingly, Sam was massively attentive to me, my feelings and assured me that our union lived far beyond the ring. While I appreciated his reaction and that attitude… I still wanted to be able to look at my finger and see Sam’s eyes there! My community rallied 💪🏼Even though I was no longer in physical proximity of the devilish tomato patch, Margot & Finn, my mom, my pops, Susie Dorr, and Greg all returned to the scene to comb through weeds, grass, and dirt to try to find the 💍 – an object they know is such a powerful symbol of partnership and union for me! GRATITUDE ✨The ring remained a faux tomato despite everyone’s tremendous efforts. Enter Keith Wille ⚡️🙌🏽 The man is an absolute treasure, and he finds other people’s treasures🕵️♂️ My mom researched Keith and went to enormous lengths to get to my fated tomato patch. Within 10 minutes he found the ring! Thank you for your skills and talents, Keith, GRATITUDE ✨ Once more, when I’m not with Sam, I can look down at my finger and find myself comforted by his compassion, strength, and partnership 💙 If you’ve ever lost a piece of jewelry that is near and dear to your heart, check out Keith’s website www.metaldetectionkeithwille.com.
Obviously, when I lost the ring, it didn’t impact our relationship, but the symbol of true partnership is very important to me! You’ve restored that symbolism for us :)”
The Parents
“Keith Wille saved us last Sunday. Our daughter lost her engagement ring while gardening in Westport, Mass. We rented a metal detector and spent two hours searching the dirt, the weed pile, and the paths on the grass, all to no avail. Someone suggested either renting a more professional metal detector or, better yet, a professional metal detectorist. My wife did a google search, and Keith’s name came up, along with a New York Times article describing his helping archeologists find a lost historic Native American community. Keith was readily accessible and was both hopeful and helpful on the phone. He even said, “If it’s there, I’ll find it.” Keith came the next Sunday and, in ten minutes, found the ring. And he has found many peoples’ valuables in the past. And what a nice guy, to drive from Groton, Connecticut, to treat us with dignity, and to share our joy in retrieving the ring. His equipment and technique were impressive. We recommend him highly if you are in the same situation.”
Find a Lost Ring in Two Steps
First – mark the area to the best of your memory. Second – bypass the metal detector rental and call a professional detectorist. I serve Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and short distances into other surrounding states. If you lost a ring or something of value, contact Keith Wille now uncoverthings@yahoo.com | Call or text 860-917-8947 | www.metaldetectionkeithwille.com
Keith Wille’s Media Mentions:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/science/archaeology-metal-detectorists-pequot.html?_r=1
http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-lost-jewelry-hunters
http://www.wfsb.com//Clip/12684346/mans-missing-wedding-ring-found-at-waterford-beach#.V7693rpuG4k.email
http://www.theday.com/local/20160823/with-stroke-of-luck-waterford-resident-gets-his-ring-back
http://patch.com/connecticut/waterford/widower-embraces-man-after-finding-treasured-wedding-band-waterford-beach
https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/surf-gives-back-ring-with-a-little-help/article_4252dcae-7f1c-5d66-8f39-376da5db5929.html
Amy emailed me to see if I could help locate her husband Matt’s custom made white gold wedding band, which was lost as he swam in front of their Hopkins Pond Camp, in Clifton, Maine. Despite very clear water and minimal bottom silt, the search area was challenging due to being strewn with rocks and boulders. Upon exhausting my first tank of air, I began to fear the ring may have slipped into one of the many deep crevices and out of detector range. Shortly after starting my second dive, my Minelab Equinox 600 located the ring in 9 feet of water, buried in a thin layer of silt. A portion of the generous reward received will be donated to The Landing Place in Rockland, Maine to help their efforts to combat homelessness of local teens and young adults.
