#LostRingMaine Tag | Page 2 of 2 | The Ring Finders

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🌊 THE RING SHOULD HAVE READ 50… IT READ 21. WHY? 🤔💍

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #231

I received a call from Kevin late Sunday afternoon. He told me that approximately five hours earlier, he had lost his tungsten wedding ring while in the water at Old Orchard Beach. 🏖️
Kevin was not far from the Oob Pier lifeguard stand, right in front of the carousel at Palace Playland. He had lost the ring at high tide, and as the tide receded, he searched the area where it had come off.
After hours of searching, the ring was nowhere to be found.
As you all know, once a ring comes off in the surf, it settles under the sand and out of sight. 🌊⏳
Kevin wasn’t giving up, though. He asked the lifeguards what else he could do to find his ring. The lifeguards told him to call The Ring Finders of Maine—and here we are! 📞✨
I told Kevin that I could be down there in about a half hour, at 5:15 p.m., and Kevin agreed to meet me there.
He told me he would meet me after helping his wife get their four children back to the cabin they were renting for their week-long vacation in OOB. 🛖👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🔍 The Search Begins
Once I arrived in OOB, I made my way down the beach to the area near the lifeguard stand.
Kevin hadn’t arrived yet, and not knowing the exact area where he lost it, I just started searching at the bottom of the beach bank slope.
As I finished my first pass without finding the ring, Kevin arrived. He said he wasn’t that close to the slope, and he sized up the area to establish the parameters of where I should search. 📐
I decided to grid search from the lifeguard stand to the carousel, going back and forth while working my way toward the water. 🚶‍♂️🔙🔛🔜
I started in front of the carousel as I made my way toward the lifeguard stand and pier. I received a few targets, including the storm runoff pipes deep under the sand.
The only non-ferrous item was a recently dropped quarter. 🪙
When I dug it up, I could see Kevin watching intently. I told him that this wouldn’t be his tungsten ring but would be a quarter. When I pulled the quarter out of the sand, he was impressed that I knew what it would be before digging it! 🎯

📱 Talking “Shop” & Target ID Numbers
I told him that modern U.S. quarters ring up on the Minelab Manticore metal detector in the 88–90 area on the Target Identification (TID) screen.
I told Kevin that his tungsten wedding ring should have a TID of around 45 to 55, although I have found them as high as the 60s. Size, thickness, and purity play a role, but for the most part, I find them in that 45 to 55 range.
I finished up my first grid pass, turned around, and headed south. Within a minute of this grid pass, I received a nice non-ferrous target of 21. 🤔
Lots of low-conducting metals can have a TID in the low 20s, including gold. I told Kevin it probably wasn’t going to be his ring, but it was too nice of a target to pass up.
I dug a scoop full of sand, and the target was out of the hole. I used my pinpointer to locate it, and once it was located, I was completely surprised to see a tungsten wedding ring! 🤩💎
I showed it to Kevin and asked him if it was his. As he took it from my hand and looked it over, he said:
“Yup, that’s mine. I can see the crack in it.”
AWESOME!!!! 🎉🥳
Kevin thanked me, shook my hand, and asked, “Can I give you a hug?” Of course! I love smiles and hugs. 🤗
Kevin then sent a photo of the ring to his wife, still smiling ear to ear. 📸😁

💡 The Science of Eddy Currents
I told Kevin that I really didn’t think a TID of 21 would be his wedding ring. But once I heard him say the ring had a crack in it, it all made sense! Metal detectors work like this:
Metal detectors rely on a phenomenon called Eddy Currents. 🌐
1️⃣ The Loop Effect: A metal detector’s search coil sends an electromagnetic wave into the ground. This induces circular electrical currents (eddy currents) to travel around the unbroken, continuous loop of a ring. ⭐
2️⃣ The Result: This unbroken loop creates a strong, secondary electromagnetic field that the metal detector detects as a highly conductive, solid object (giving you that clean 45–55 reading for tungsten). 🔋
3️⃣ The Break: The moment a ring is cracked—even a hairline fracture that goes all the way through the band—the continuous loop is broken. The eddy currents can no longer travel around the circle. 💥
Instead of detecting a large, round object, the metal detector now views the ring as a bent strip of wire or an open staple.
Because the electrical path is restricted, the detector perceives it as having drastically lower conductivity (hence the reading of 21!). 📉

⚙️ My Past Career Connects!
Now, for 26 years, I worked at Nichols Portland (NP) in Portland, Maine. 🌲
NP is a manufacturer of gerotors, among other things. Gerotors are powdered metal components that were prone to cracking if not handled properly.
Because Nichols Portland takes cracked parts seriously for both us and our customers, we actually used an eddy current machine (a crack detector) to detect cracks in our parts prior to shipping them out. Our reputation for quality parts was second to none! ✨
Eddy currents are nothing new to me, and as soon as Kevin told me about the crack, I knew immediately why the ring had such a low TID. 🧠
Sorry for my rambling, but I haven’t talked “shop” in five years since my retirement. Some things you just never forget! 🛠️👴

❤️ A Heartwarming Ending
As Kevin and I parted ways, I kept metal detecting as I walked down the beach and back to my vehicle. All of a sudden, I heard Kevin and turned around to see him running toward me! 🏃‍♂️💨
He held his phone up and said, “My children want to thank you for finding my wedding ring.” 📱
I saw four young children all smiling and thanking me for finding “Daddy’s ring.” 🥹
I told his children it was my pleasure as they waved to me over the phone.
It just doesn’t get any better than that. It warms your heart to know you’ve touched theirs. ❤️
✨ Remember: “If it Matters To You, It Matters To Us.” ✨
I have the best job in the world. I love my job! 🔍🏝️👑

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Sentimental Sterling Silver Ring Lost In The Sand, Found With A Metal Detector In York Beach, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🏐 Lost Ring at Short Sands Beach, in York Beach, Maine! 🏐

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #230

On Tuesday evening, just after 8:30 PM, I received an urgent call from Andrew. 📱

His daughter, Kristen, had just lost an extremely sentimental sterling silver ring. She has worn this precious gift every single day since she was 14 years old! 🥰

This ring has traveled the world with Kristen, accompanying her on trips across three different continents. 🌎
Needless to say, it is irreplaceable.

Kristen had lost the ring just thirty minutes before Andrew called me. The family is currently on vacation and was enjoying some time at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine. 🏖️

While playing volleyball on the beach just before sunset, Kristen felt the ring slip right off her finger as she was serving the ball! 🏐💥
Andrew and his family immediately began searching, but they just couldn’t spot it in the sand.

However, Andrew made a brilliant move—he marked the exact area where Kristen was standing when the ring flew off! 📍

Knowing that precise location helps immensely during a recovery. 🧭

As they were searching, a kind person walking their dog on the beach saw their plight and gave the family my contact information. 🐕‍🦺

After checking out The Ring Finders of Maine Facebook page, they liked what they saw, and Andrew gave me a call. 📞

I told Andrew I would be there in approximately 45 minutes. He said he and his family would wait and continue their search. 🕒

Once again, thoughts of a beach cleaning machine crossed my mind. 🚜 I wasn’t sure if Short Sands Beach uses mechanical cleaners or not, but I didn’t want to take any chances!

Cheryl and I quickly packed up our gear and jumped on the Maine Turnpike , heading south once again. 🚗💨

It was now 8:45 PM and completely dark—but at least it wasn’t raining! 🌙✨

🕵️‍♂️ Under 30 Seconds to a Miracle! ⏱️💍

We pulled into the parking lot near Fun-O-Rama @ Short Sands Beach , and I called Andrew. 🚗

He immediately came over to Cheryl and me, walking us over to where his family was sitting in their beach chairs, patiently waiting. 🏖️

The family had brilliantly placed a volleyball at the exact spot Kristen had been standing when she served the ball and the ring flew off. 🏐📍

I explained my game plan to the family. I would start just in front of the volleyball and swing my detector back and forth, making my way toward Fun-O-Rama .

If it wasn’t found within 30 feet or so, I would then search behind the ball—just in case the ring slipped off during her backswing. ↩️

I started the search right near their beach chairs and began walking toward the water. Within just 10 seconds, directly in front of the volleyball, I got a non-ferrous target signal! 🔊

At first, it was a slightly scratchy tone, and the TID (Target Identification) was jumping around in the 80s.

That definitely indicated a high-conducting metal, right in the sterling silver range! 🪙 (However, modern quarters also ring up in the high 80s).

I used my foot to push some sand away and scanned the area again. This time, I got a very solid 88–90 on the TID! 🎯

Honestly, I thought it had to be a quarter. There was no way Kristen’s ring fell directly in front of where she was standing, just a couple of feet away… right? 🤔

I reached into the sand, fully expecting to pull out a coin—but it was the silver ring!!!

💍✨ Unbelievable!!!!

I raised my hand with the ring and held it up to show the family. 🙋‍♂️ I watched jaws drop and heard nervous laughter break out as the entire family rushed over to me! 🏃‍♂️💨

I handed the ring to Andrew, with Kristen right behind him. As soon as she saw it, she cried out that it was her ring! The smiles, high-fives, and pure joy instantly erupted! 🙌🥳

It is absolutely crazy—just 5 seconds after I started swinging the detector, I hit the target. The ring was back in my hand after just 27 seconds total! (Cheryl’s video helped me time this out perfectly!). 📹⏱️⚡

The entire family was ecstatic, telling me all over again just how much this ring meant to Kristen.

Kristen and her family thanked us repeatedly as she looked down at the ring, safely back on her finger where it belonged. ❤️
As we were wrapping up the celebration, a woman walking her dog strolled over. The family pointed her out as the incredible person who had recommended The Ring Finders of Maine to them in the first place! 🐕‍🦺

I thanked her for her amazing support and referral, and she smiled and told me, “I love what you do.” It is always such an incredible feeling to hear positive feedback from our followers and fans! 🥹🙏

All that was left were the big hugs before we said our goodbyes. Everyone was still smiling and laughing as Cheryl and I walked away into the night. 🌙

Now, this wonderful family can fully enjoy the rest of their Maine vacation without the heartbreak of a lost ring hanging over their heads! 🌲🦞☀️

🤯 Lightning Strikes Twice! ⚡🏐

Another ring is back on the finger where it belongs! 💍 For the second night in a row, we successfully completed an evening recovery in pitch-black darkness. 🌙

But here is the truly crazy part: for the second night in a row, a ring was lost while playing volleyball! 🏐😲

In my 25 years of metal detecting, I have found well over 500 rings. I’ve found them in the dark and I’ve found them around volleyball courts. But in a quarter-century of doing this, I have never been called in to specifically search for a ring lost during a volleyball game. ❌

Now, on two consecutive evenings, I’ve been called out to find rings lost while serving a volleyball—first in Old Orchard Beach, Maine (OOB), and now in York Beach! 🏖️💥
What are the absolute odds of that happening?! 🎲📊

Just remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” ❤️

I truly have the best job in the world. I love what I do! 🙏😊

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

⏱️ 45 MINUTES TO VICTORY: From a Panicked Call to a Found Ring in the Rain! 🤝🎉

“Hi, my name is Ryan. I just found your services online. I’m vacationing at Old Orchard Beach, Maine and I was playing a game of volleyball. I actually lost my wedding ring… I wasn’t sure if you guys would be able to help me out. My phone number is 603-***-****. All right. Thank you for your time.” 📞

I immediately called Ryan back.

He told me that he and his family had just arrived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine about an hour earlier. Even though it was getting dark and raining lightly, Ryan’s children really wanted to go see the beach and ocean. 🌧️🌊

Ryan and his wife said, “Why not? We’re on vacation.” 🏖️

The family left for the beach. They walked into the square and entered the sand right next to the carousel at Palace Playland, across from the Old Orchard Beach And Pier. Once on the beach, they took a hard right toward the volleyball courts next to Brunswick Hotel and Condominiums . 🎡🎪

While playing volleyball, Ryan felt his wedding ring slipping off. He didn’t see where it landed, but he knew it was very close to where he had been serving the ball. The family started searching, but the ring was gone—buried in the sand, out of sight. 🏐⏳

Ryan asked if I could help him, and of course, I said yes.

He told me they were in town for multiple days and asked if I could come down in the morning.

Now, my first thought was to go down early around 5:00 AM. The weather forecast was for rain all night into Tuesday morning. However, I wasn’t sure if the town’s beach cleaning machine—the Surf Rake—would be going out. 🚜🌧️

The beach rake could actually scoop the ring up and throw it into the hopper, and it would be lost forever. If the rake didn’t scoop it, it could certainly move it down the beach and way out of the search area. Both scenarios make me cringe. 😬❌

I told Ryan that I don’t like taking chances like that. I needed to search tonight, before the beach rake came out in the morning. Even though it was now dark and raining, it would still be dark and raining at 5:00 AM. Either way, I would need a raincoat. 🧥

Ryan and I agreed to meet at the volleyball court in 20 to 30 minutes. I just needed to get my equipment loaded up and drive down there. With all the gear packed, there was only one thing left to do:

“CHERYL, HAVE YOU SEEN MY RAINCOAT?” 🗣️🧥

Once I arrived, I walked the beach from The Brunswick for a couple hundred yards to the first volleyball court closer to Palace Playland. As I was walking, I could see a figure in the distance with a flashlight. 🔦

Arriving at the volleyball court, I could see Ryan still searching the sand with his phone’s flashlight. 📱

Ryan showed me where he had been serving the ball and where he had run up to the net when he felt his tungsten wedding ring coming off. The search area was very small, unless the ring had gone flying into the dune grass or outside the playing area of the court. 🌾

I told Ryan I would search east to west, pole to pole, from the net back to where he had served from. If I didn’t find it on this side, I would search the other side the exact same way. If I didn’t find it then, I would start searching outside of the volleyball court entirely. 🧭

The area he had served from was only halfway back on the court. I knew it would only take me 6 to 8 minutes to search this area. Since we were already at mid-net, I started my search there, heading west toward the amusement rides. 🎢

The beach and volleyball court were very clean and void of any targets at all when I arrived. I swung just past where Ryan had served from. Not one target at all. Very unusual! 🧐

I then walked back to the net to search the area I hadn’t checked yet. If the ring wasn’t found here, I would start on the other side of the net. 🔍

Within 30 seconds of searching the area under the net, I received my first target. It was a scratchy tone, and I wasn’t confident it was the wedding ring. But I needed to do my due diligence and check it out. 🎧🔊

As I located the target with my pinpointer, I removed the sand by sweeping the pinpointer across it. Then:
“THAT’S IT! THAT’S MY RING!!!” 🤩💍

Ryan had seen the ring appear in the dark and in the sand before I did!

The excitement of my clients seeing their lost ring again never, ever gets old. Now Ryan could enjoy his family vacation without having to worry about finding his ring. 🎉🥳

From the time he called me to finding the ring was only about 45 minutes. Time is of the essence, and Ryan knew that. He called me as soon as he knew he and his family weren’t going to find it on their own. ⏱️👏

After a high five and a handshake, Ryan and I took a few photos on the wet, dark beach. Ryan thanked me again and again for coming out on such short notice and in those conditions. 📸🤝

No worries—it’s what we do.

If the situation were different, I may have waited until the morning. But I just didn’t want to take a chance with that beach cleaning machine. 🚜🙅‍♂️

Remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” ❤️

I have the best job in the world. I love my job. 🤙🪙

📲 NEED HELP FINDING A LOST VALUABLE?
Have you or someone you know lost a ring, keys, or jewelry in the sand or surf? Don’t wait for the beach rake to bury it! Time is of the essence! ⏱️❌
📞 Call The Ring Finders of Maine ASAP and ask for Dennis: 207-423-3027

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