Wedding Ring Lost in Bay, Surf City NJ, LBI, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder
I noticed a text from Michelle, asking if I could help find her husband Jeff’s lost wedding ring. I asked her to call, as it’s much easier to discuss details over the phone. She explained that they were at the beach with their children when Jeff’s ring had been pulled off his finger. Fortunately, Jeff was certain of the general area where it was lost, as their daughter is young and they had stayed in a fairly small section of the beach. I told Michelle I could meet them shortly, and we agreed on a time.
One concern she had was that they had dinner reservations for 5:30 and didn’t know if they needed to stay while I searched. I reassured her that as long as Jeff could meet me at the beach to point out the spot, they wouldn’t have to stay the entire time.
A short while later, I arrived, grabbed my gear, and we headed out to the location where their chairs had been set up. Jeff suggested we start in the deeper part of the area where he felt the ring had slipped off his finger. We began working in a back-and-forth pattern, covering about a 75-foot-wide area, but after six or eight passes, there was still no sign of the ring.
At that point, I decided to return to where we had started and gradually work my way closer to the shoreline. I could see the concern growing on Jeff’s face as time was ticking, and every search path was coming up empty. After covering such a large area without success, we decided it was time to change strategies. I planned to search a new section further south, but before moving on, I made the decision to do one or two more passes toward the shoreline.
It was a good thing I did because just a few feet into the next path, my metal detector let out a sweet tone that I was almost certain was Jeff’s ring. On the first scoop, there it was! I held it up with a shout of, “I’ve got it!” Jeff was overwhelmed with joy, amazed that I had found the ring after nearly an hour of searching.
Just as his wife Michelle arrived, we all shared in the excitement. Moments like these—seeing the relief and happiness on people’s faces when their lost valuables are recovered—are what make this work so rewarding. Another successful recovery for the 2024 season!
Kate reached out to me wanting to know if it was possible to locate her engagement that slipped off her finger during the day somewhere at the beach. It was late in the evening, and after determining that it was close to high tide when it most likely came off, it would be best to wait until the early morning low tide. We arranged to meet early the next morning at the dune walkover. As we were heading to the location I had asked her to mark in google maps we talked about the main things she could remember leading up the the ring disappearing. Once we got to the spot, she showed me some pictures she had, before and after the ring went missing. Something didn’t look just right, but I figured I would check the area that was marked. After coming up empty handed I asked her to see the pics again, it was then I knew that was not quit the right location. I adjusted the location about 40′ to the north, and things looked just right, including the piles of seaweed that had pushed high up on the hill the prior day when the pics were taken. Kate confirmed after looking at the pics that this was absolutely the right location. Combined with the rough surf, was the fact that she was boogie boarding, and that is never a good thing when doing a recovery. Kate did remember one wave that knocked her down, where she lost the board, and that was luckily close to the beach in waist deep water. I decided to hit that area real quick, and while Kate was in about knee deep water looking, I got a signal that made my eyes open wide. With the waves crashing right where I was, I took extra time to zero in on the exact spot, and hoped to grab it on the first scoop. Sure enough I had it on the first try, BINGO, it was her absolutely stunning ring!!!!! Kate had no idea what had just taken place just a few feet behind her, as I scooted up the hill , past the waves to get a better look and clean it off. At that moment I decided to make a video to capture her response, which you will see I’m not very good at. (Will be posted soon) Her reaction was something that makes this profession SO SO rewarding that no words could ever explain.
Trish called and said she was at the beach with her son Shawn, his ring slipped off his finger in shoulder deep water. It was a large med school ring that I figured wouldn’t travel to far due to its size. She gave me all the details and that she also spoke to the lifeguards, and they were going to keep an eye open for it. Luckily we have had very light breezes, and a pretty calm surf for New Jersey. We arranged to meet at the next low tide, and that’s where I started, right at the waters edge. After one pass I went right into the trough, it wasn’t easy working there with the waves breaking, and the strong moon current pulling. I only worked a small area because the life guards had pointed to the spot they were standing when the ring slipped off. I got a nice strong signal and prayed it wasn’t a penny, knowing the ring was quite large, and would signal the same. With a few small shakes to clear the sand I felt klunk, klunk, and was almost certain it was the ring, YES!!!!!!! it was. This ring is extremely special, Shawn’s dad had given it to him for his Med School graduation, and unfortunately he passed last year. 
ty NJ. It had great sentimental value to her, as I could tell after just a short time on the phone. Lucky I was able to arrive promptly, as she had made reservations for later in the afternoon. Kudos to her and her husband for preparing the area it was lost, which made for a quick recovery. A very short time later they were on their way, with her cherished ring back on her finger. So many happy memories doing this.
