metal detector expert Tag | Page 20 of 101 | The Ring Finders

Dauphin Island – Lost diamond ring

  • from Mobile (Alabama, United States)

I got a call from Todd asking if I found rings. Well, yes sir, I do my best – tell me your story.

Todd and his wife were visiting Dauphin Island from Arkansas and this was their second day here. His wife had put her wedding ring on the chair and then accidentally knocked it off. He shared with me that they had been crawling around on hands and knees for a couple of hours looking for it.  They weren’t far away from me so I was there within 15 min.

Todd met me and took me down to the beach where they had set up. Fortunately it was a beach house that wasn’t on the public beach, and it was a fairly narrow strip of sand. The chairs had already been removed, so Todd pointed me to the area they had been sifting the sand with their fingers. It was hot as blue blazes outside with an excessive heat warning that day so I uttered a quick prayer that this would be an easy recovery ! Not to mention I was also recovering from a bout with Covid and my stamina and energy was definitely not back up to normal yet.

I set out with my trusty Minelab Equinox 900, mentally mapped out an area to grid, and started swinging. I warned Todd that pull tabs sound a little like rings and told him don’t get too excited if I scooped a target. Less than a dozen swings of my coil, I got a promising signal. A few gentle shakes of my scoop and there was his wife’s ring. Thankfully one of my easiest recoveries yet and another beach vacation saved !

Ring lost at Solana Beach found.

  • from La Jolla (California, United States)

Sara had tied her ring to some straps on her beach bag before going into the water. When she returned, she grabbed her bag and headed for the stairs up to her house. Upon arriving up to the top of the cliff, she discovered the ring was no longer tied to her bag. She retraced her steps, but, the ring was nowhere to be seen. Sara contacted me asking for help, so, I grabbed my gear, my wife, and headed for the location. Sara escorted us through the condo complex and down the steep cliff steps to the beach, and then across a couple hundred feet of sand to where she had first set her bag. I usually like to start at ground zero in my book, and work my way away from there as necessary. Even though we could still see her footprints and the exact path she took, it might still take a while to cover all that ground depending on where the ring slipped off. I didn’t want to even think about having to hunt the steep cliff and under it’s stairs. As it turned out, it took maybe 12 seconds! First pass, maybe 6 feet, and my first target was Sara’s ring. Way to go getting me on the X Sara! A happy Sara couldn’t believe how quickly it was found. She then escorted us back up the cliff steps and gave us a thankful farewell. A pleasure to meet you and thank you for the generous reward.

Ring lost at La Jolla found

  • from La Jolla (California, United States)

Nina was participating in a beach game at Marine St. when her engagement ring came off and disappeared into the dry sand. Everyone took a look for it, but, it eluded all efforts to be found. Nina found TheRingFinders.com and contacted me for help. I arrived shortly after and actually found a parking spot. Nina met me there and directed us to the search area. Withing a couple of minutes, a pull tab and a quarter later, I got a nice solid 18 on my Equinox 900. A gentle probe with my pin pointer and I had located what was giving me that nice sound. Her ring was soon up with the living and back on her finger. A pleasure to meet you Nina and thank you for the reward.

Chatham, MA Wedding Band Lost, Found and Returned by a RingFinder

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)

August 15, 2024

Brendan was enjoying a sunny day at the beach, his 39th year in doing so, when his wedding band slipped from his finger. After failing to find the ring he reported the loss to the gate guard who gave him my card, name and number. A text to me followed. Brendan’s was one of two requests I received within 30 minutes. I answered both with the same: first to respond will have their choice of day for me to help.

Brendan was the second one, Thursday would be the day set for the search. Detecting partner Leighton was off from work both days and we both would be helping search for the lost ring. We met Brendan on the parking lot, exchanged a few words dawned our gear, and headed to the water stopping to meet Brendan’s wife and 3 sons. Then as usual we had Brendan enter the water and stand just where he remembered loosing his ring. We started searching parallel to the beach from where Brendan was standing toward the beach and I to deeper water. About 20 feet from Brendan, Leighton dug his first signal and there was the platinum ring we were in search of.

A very joyful Brendan wanted to pull the ring from the scoop only to be told “wait”. The three of us headed to Chrissy and their 3 curious children. In the presence of everyone, Brendan retrieved the ring and put it back on his finger. Congratulations, pictures and exchange of info followed. For Leighton and myself, we were off to another beach to search for a missing engagement ring.

Osterville, MA Platinum Wedding Band Lost, Found and Returned by RingFinder

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)

August 14, 2024

Any chance you are available for a search? Was one of two requests I received within 30 minutes. I answered both with the same: first to respond will have their choice of day for me to help.

The days and times are: Wednesday 11am-2pm or Thursday noon to 6pm for low tide and the ability to search in the water. Let me know if either works for you… The reply was that “Wednesday works for us! Hannah & Jamin”.

Detecting partner Leighton was off from work and we both would be helping search for the lost ring.

All four of us met up in the parking lot. Leighton and I with our detecting gear, Jamin with fishing gear and Hannah ready to supervise and perhaps take a swim. As usual we started by looking for the pile shells marking the beach were they were a few days ago. Well the tides have spread the pile so we started detecting an area suggested by Jamin. A few minutes later Hannah signals us she had found the pile of shells. OK, we moved the search over to an area 50 or so feet along the beach. After a bit of searching the width of the search area widened and to everyone’s amazement the is found closer to the original area where we started searching. Memory is a wonderful thing and it is good, but a physical marking is better. That is why we suggest dropping a few metal objects where a ring or other object is lost. With a few targets to look for we would know that we were in the correct area.

A few photos for the book of smiles, a bit of story telling as each story has it’s own lesson to be learned and then the ThankYou and now the fishing was going to start as Leighton and I left to look for another lost ring. I don’t know how the fishing endeavor ended, but I do know Jamin with a bit of luck did hook onto two metal detectorists that are always willing to help and that made the day a day to remember.

Popponesset, MA Sentimental Silver Ring Lost, Found and Returned by a RingFinder.

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)

August 11, 2024

I can not count the times I have heard the words “I lost a ring of emotional significance yesterday.” and ”Thank you again so much Rick! It was great to meet you and so magical that you found the ring…!

Those words along with many others are why I enjoy my hobby so much.

Sarah was enjoying the art of teasing the incoming waves as they swept the slope of on of Cape Cod’s many fabulous beaches. The thrill was shortened when a ring slipped off her finger and beneath the beach’s sand.

Back at her grandfather’s home she searched the web for ways to find a lost ring. Her search was answered when she came across TheRingFinders.com article. She followed the link and contacted me. Of course I would search for the ring at the next day’s low tide.

With no other option on where to park, I parked in front of grandfather’s home. Sarah was right there as I exited the car. A short conversation was followed by a quick walk to the beach where Sarah showed me “where” the ring was lost. With that information I started my search pattern at the water’s edge working my way up the slope of the beach. Nothing! Maybe it is in the water, time to get wet. Four passes and nothing again. Enter Baron…”I’m pretty sure you should be looking over here.” That was some 20 feet away from the area I had been searching.

As I was in the water I worked my way up the beach going toward the dry sand. I was almost out of the water when my first signal proved to be a pull tab. Three swings later another, larger signal, I had to dig it. Yes, this one was the ring.

You can use your imagination on the excitement and joy that followed, not only by Sarah and Baron, but all those on the beach that had been watching me. Some had no idea what I was doing until they saw and heard the emotions shown by Sarah. That is my “reward” for enjoying my hobby, what could be better? Certainly not hitting a small white ball, chasing it so you can hit it again then watching it splash into a water hole and disappearing out of sight.

Next, of course, would be words of thanks, pictures, a few stories, and ways to wear a ring to the beach with no fear of having it slip off one’s finger.

Lost Gold Necklace, Honeymoon Island State Park, Fl….Found!!!

  • from Dunedin (Florida, United States)


Steve Thomas

Dunedin Ring Finder   lostringdunedin.com

“It’s only lost until I find it!”

Lost a ring or other metal valuable at the beach or in a grassy or sandy area? Jewelry slip off of you while working outside, playing with the dog or swimming? Please contact me ASAP at (843) 995-4719 or @dunedinringfinder. I offer a FREE metal detecting service, reward optional but appreciated upon recovery!

Nico and some friends were at Honeymoon Island State Park at sunset when he realized that his necklace had come off in the rough water. The necklace was a 14k gold chain given to him by his father to wear. Nico and his friend Tyler searched by sight in the water before it got too dark to see and then by feel after dark but were unable to find the necklace.

Nico googled “lost and found Honeymoon Island” and found my Dunedin Ring Finder page. He texted me the next morning to tell me what had happened and asked if I could help him find the necklace. Nico said that he and his friends had to return to Orlando that morning but that he had time to meet me at the loss location if I could. I told Nico how important it was to have him point out the exact location to me on site and also to begin the search as quickly as possible before another metal detectorist might find it. Nico and Tyler met me at the loss location and Nico said that he was swimming in about waist deep water when he felt the necklace come off of his neck. Thankfully the current tide time was about the same as at the time of loss. I placed my detecting bag on the beach as a marker and waded out to begin the search while Nico and Tyler grabbed some food to go from the nearby cafe. I searched for perhaps 30 minutes with just a few rusty coins and a piece of a throw net to show for my efforts. Nico and Tyler returned, I waded out of the water to meet them and then asked Nico to point out to me one more time where he was when he lost the necklace. He moved perhaps 50 feet further north and pointed out to a where a family was in about waist deep water. I moved my marker bag north to that location, wished Nico and Tyler a safe return to Orlando with the promise that if I found the necklace, it would be returned. I searched for about two more hours, working my way closer to shore with very few targets and none near the sand surface where the necklace should have been. At that point, I finally moved my coil over a surface target and although the tone and VDI number were a little lower than I thought the necklace should be, I scooped up Nico’s necklace from the sandy bottom on the second try! As soon as I was able to get back to the dry sand I texted Nico a photo of the recovered necklace and he called me back in a state of disbelief. As it turns out, Nico was only about 30 minutes away on his trip back to Orlando because he had to charge his Tesla so within about 45 minutes the necklace was back on Nico’s neck and he was happily on his way back home. Before he left, Nico asked me to speak to his father on his phone and he thanked me for finding the necklace. I told him that I made Nico promise not to wear it in the water again!

Nico, thank you for trusting the Dunedin Ring Finder with the search for your necklace and thank you for the generous reward!

Dropped Key In Cape Carteret Waters Keeps Kyle’s Truck Parked Until Found

  • from Emerald Isle (North Carolina, United States)

Kyle called me up to see if I could retrieve keys from the boat dock. He had dropped his keys close to where the boat was moored, and since he was nearby, I rushed over to help. The water was 3-4 feet deep and got deeper gradually. My magnet didn’t work, so I dived into the soft seabed and found the keys with my metal detector. Sadly, my long-handled scoop was useless against the muddy bottom littered with oyster shells and twigs. I then used my Garrett pinpointer, took a deep breath, and dove where the detector had signaled. With a clear tone, I scooped up the muck and found Kyle’s keys. He opted out of a photo op and removed the truck key from the set for a picture. The boat in the photo is where we lost and recovered the keys.

Rings lost at Breakers Beach on Coronado found.

  • from La Jolla (California, United States)

Thais, took off both of her rings and put them in a shoe before going out in the water. Good idea! Forgetting that they were in the shoe when leaving, not so good. As you might expect, the shoes were picked up by her spouse Syd and the rings ended up falling out and into the soft dry sand. What to do….leaving at 6am the next morning just 13 hours from then…..so, off to the internet for advice. TheRingFinders.com website to the rescue. I got the call from Syd about 4:30pm about a lost “ring”, grabbed my gear, and hit the rush hour traffic to the North Island Navy Base visitors parking to meet her. We then drove to the beach and walked a couple hundred yards to a distraught Thais guarding the likely drop zone. A couple of short passes later, I got a nice solid 8 on my Equinox 900. Not knowing at the time that more than one ring was lost, I said that this could be the ring, or, some foil. A probe with the pin pointer, and grab with my hand brought a beautiful wedding band out into the sunshine. I thought we were done….not. a second sweep just a foot away and I got a solid 13. I then popped out the even more beautiful engagement ring to Thais’s delight. I asked if there were more and was told no, that was it. They could now sleep easier that night and catch their plane in the morning without having to leave anything behind. A pleasure to meet you both, and thank you for the reward.

Yarmouth, MA Wedding Band Lost and Found. 2 Years Later It Is Returned by Richard Browne

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)

July 21, 2024

Well this return is my first of its kind a One in a Million chance, DONE!

Some two years ago Andrew was vacationing at one of my home town’s resorts. He was having a wonderful time playing ball, swimming, sunning and enjoying Vacation Land. All was a perfect vacation until his wedding band slipped from his finger. And as I told hundreds of vacationers that have asked for my detecting expertise help, what ever is lost is almost always still there. But you may not know just where that spot is. You will know where the spot is that you realize that you have lost the object. And the sooner I can start searching the better my chances are of finding it.

Fortunately my may success stories are gaining popularity and word is spreading along the shores of Cape Cod as is TheRindFinders.com web site. At one point this summer Andrew and his wife read some the postings and contacted me with a far out question about Andrew’s lost wedding band. It was lost at a South Yarmouth resort on June 21st/22nd 2021, any possibility you could look for it?

Knowing the area is well detected over by both vacationers and locals including myself, I knew it would be a fruitless endeavor to search for it. Also I could look at my records and ask other detectorists if they might have Andrew’s ring. My records showed that I had found such a ring after the time that Andrew had lost his ring. Now, how to verify that it was his ring. Pictures were sent back and forth and one with no inscription inside “Looked like that is the ONE! OK, I’ll send it to you, if it is yours it will be amazing. If not you can send it back.

On June 28th the ring was in the mail. One problem on my side is that the credit card machines at the post office were down, Cash Only. My luck I did not have cash enough to pay for the tracking option. I have send many rings through the mail with no problem…so away it went. Several texts back and forth about it not being received, we had almost given up hope – it must be lost in the mail. Then on July 20 a text I received read: “Envelope just showed up! It’s his ring!!! I can’t believe it!” Neither could I. All I can say is “It was meant to be”

 

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