#Ogunquit Maine Metal Detector Rental And Service Tag | Page 5 of 5 | The Ring Finders

White Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Ocean Park, Maine Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Wednesday, July 2nd, as I was driving, I heard a G-Mail notification, on my phone.

“My husband lost his ring in Ocean Park. I don’t have phone service to call because we’re Canadian. Any chance you could come out?
Thanks,
Heather “

I pulled over and replied
“Hi Heather, Did he lose the ring in the Dry Sand or Water?”
Heather replied that her husband thinks he lost his wedding ring, in the water. They are staying on Temple Ave, in Ocean Park, Maine and had walked down to the beach.
I then messaged Heather and told her I would head straight home, get my equipment, and head straight to Ocean Park. We made plans to meet at the beach access path, at the bottom of Temple Ave., in approximately 25 minutes.
After retrieving my equipment, from home, I immediately headed to Ocean Park and I was met by both Heather and her husband Quinton, at the bottom of the Temple Ave, beach access path.
After introducing myself, I asked Quinton to run me through the events, preceding him losing his White Gold Wedding Ring. Quinton told me that once he and his family arrived at the beach, he applied lotion to himself and then walked down to the water, with his children. As the children were playing in the water, Quinton was also playing around with the children and they were in approximately 4’ of water, just prior to low tide. After playing in the water for a while, Quinton noticed his wedding ring, was no longer, on his finger, while in the 4’ of water. After visually searching the ocean floor , Quinton and Heather went back up to their chairs. Heather then put a Facebook posting, about her husband, losing his wedding ring and if anyone finds it, to please contact her. Almost immediately people were commenting on her post and telling her to call me. Heather told me the comments were extremely positive about me being able to help that she decided to contact me, via the email.
As I was walking down to the water I asked Quinton if he knew the area, he was in with his children and what time he noticed his ring missing. Thankfully he knew the exact area but he lost it around 10:00am and it was now close to 12:30am. Not only has the ring been in the ocean for 2 1/2 hours, the tide was now coming in and had been, for an hour and a half. When the ring was lost, it was lost approximately an hour, before low tide and he was further out, in 4’ of water. The water would be deeper now but I needed to try and find the ring. I fired up my detector and headed out into the incoming tide and waves. Quinton accompanied me out into the water, to get his bearings and put me in the right location, which was between the signs on BillowHouse Beachfront Boutique Inn and The Nautilus at Ocean Park Beach. Maybe 100’ to 150’ between the signs and who knows how far out, into the water, would be my grid search area. Once we were in the water we went out as far as we dared. The waves were very large and a few of them literally were over my head. I had to jump straight up to avoid being slammed by the waves. After 15-20 minutes of being battered by the waves, Quinton and I exited the water. There was no way I could get any further out, with the tide coming in. I told Quinton and Heather, I would be back, the next morning between 9:30am to 10:00am. This would give me 2, 2 1/2 hours of searching, by following the tide out. I would search the wet sand, in the event, the ring was moved by the large waves and pushed closer to shore. I didn’t really think this would be the case but I just needed to cover all bases and search the area.
So this morning, my wife Cheryl and I headed to Ocean Park, hoping the waves weren’t as big as yesterday. Cheryl brought along her beach chair to enjoy the day, after her daily 5 mile walk, as I intended to search for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I brought two different metal detectors with me. A Minelab Manticore, with a 15” coil and a Minelab Excalibur, with a 10” coil. I planned to search the wet sand with the Manticore because of the large coil. I could cover the wet sand, fast and efficiently. The Excalibur is a waterproof diving metal detector and to me, is much easier to swing, in the water, waves, currents, etc.. The Manticore is also waterproof but I just feel much more comfortable with the Excalibur, in the water and definitely more comfortable with the Manticore, on the wet and dry sand. My plan would be to spend an hour or so, grid searching the wet sand, waiting for the tide to recede far enough out, that I could reach the area Quinton had been in, the previous day. Thankfully, the waves weren’t as big as yesterday but still big enough to knock you off your feet, if you weren’t paying attention and definitely big enough to just knock you around.
After an hour or so of grid searching the wet sand, I decided it was time to venture out into the water, hoping I wouldn’t get too battered around. Once in the water I would grid search the area by going straight out, as far as I deemed safe and would the take a half step, to my side and head back towards shore. I did this because I can keep a better grid search line by lining up with something on shore. I would just go out, come in, go out, come in and work my way from the Nautilus sign, to the Billow sign. As I made my way towards The Billow House. I saw Heather in waist deep water, with her children, as they caught the waves, with their boogie boards. I had covered a large portion, of the area, and with maybe 45 minutes of searching left, I told Heather it wasn’t looking good. Heather understood the difficulty of the search but kept hope alive. As I made my way to shore, I was about to turn around and head back out to the deeper waters, through those dang waves. I saw Cheryl standing at the water’s edge. I exited the water and updated her on the search. After finishing the update, with Cheryl, I re-entered the water and headed back out towards the deeper water. When I got to about knee deep or maybe a little deeper, I heard a nice loud low tone. This was absolutely the best sounding target, I had had all day. Unfortunately, The target was right where the waves were breaking. I didn’t dare to take my eyes off of the waves, while I tried to juggle my detector and scoop. I yelled over to Heather and asked her if she could hold my metal detector, while I tried to scoop up the target and keep an eye on the ever coming waves. Heather immediately came over and took hold of my detector. I kept the target, under my right foot, as I would brace for the waves. After a few waves went by, I saw an opening and I pushed the scoop into the sand, pulled up a full scoop of sand. I then shook the scoop in the water to wash the sand out. I could hear something in the scoop and when the sand was gone I looked into the scoop. A big smile broke out as I saw a big ring. I then tilted the scoop towards Heather to show her the ring. Her hand immediately went to her heart and she couldn’t believe it. She was so happy and she just kept thanking me. She also waved to Quinton, to come on down. I saw him running down to the water’s edge and Once he arrived, I showed him the ring and he gave me a big hug. He also kept thanking me and was just so overjoyed, at having his ring back. He told me he just felt naked without his wedding ring of 16 years. Now it’s back on his finger, where it belongs and he will sleep well tonight, knowing his ring is not on the ocean floor.
It’s truly a pleasure helping others out in their time of need. There are many, many rings, lost out in the water, that are never recovered. Thankfully, this isn’t one of them
I have the best job in the world.❤️🙏

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Tungsten Wedding Ring Lost In The Sand At Scarborough Beach State Park, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Just before 2:30pm, I received a call from Greg, the Park Manager, at Scarborough Beach State Park, in The Town of Scarborough, Maine. Greg told me that a gentleman had lost his wedding ring, earlier in the day. The person who had lost the wedding ring would be calling me and giving me the location, he thinks the ring was lost in. Greg had an idea and told me that the ring was lost just before the high tide line. With it now being 2:30pm, and high tide around 5:00pm, there wasn’t much time to waste. I told Greg I would leave my house, in Saco, Maine right now and be there very shortly, depending on the traffic. If I arrived at 3:00pm, that would give me approximately 1 1/2 hours to search, without having to worry about the waves and incoming tide.

Once I loaded my equipment in my vehicle, The Ring Finders Mobile, I left for Scarborough Beach State Park . As I was driving in, my phone went off, notifying me that I had a voicemail. At the next red light, I read the voicemail and it was from Ryan and he is the person that had lost the wedding ring. Here is the transcript of the voicemail,

“Hi, My name is Ryan and I was at Scarborough Beach State Park and they had given me your information. I lost my Wedding Ring on the beach today and they tell me you have incredible luck finding rings, so I was hoping to touch base. If you have a second and I’d like to let you know it’s a Tungsten Ring. I think it was Lost around the high tide line maybe a little bit more toward the waterside between the two of the lifeguard stands, um around that area. I can give you more information, if you can call me back at 207- ***-****, Thank you very much. …”

I immediately called Ryan back and told him I was on my way and I was just coming up on Funtown Splashtown USA, on Rt 1, in Saco. My estimated time of arrival was about 20 minutes. Ryan told me he was on his way home but would turn around and meet me there. Ryan told me that he went to SBST, to go surfing, for the day and had taken his wedding ring off and placed it in the beach bag. He didn’t want to lose his ring, out in the ocean, as he surfed. Ryan told me he believes he lost his ring, when after finishing up surfing, for the day, he was walking on the wet sand, to leave the State Park. As he was walking, he stopped to get his sunglasses, out of the bag. As he pulled the towel out, to get the sunglasses, he believes his ring fell out of the bag. Unfortunately, Ryan didn’t realize he had lost his ring, until he got home. He immediately drove back to SBSP and notified the lifeguards and Greg. That is when Greg called me.
Once I arrived at SBSP, the Lifeguards called Greg. Greg had me walk down towards the further lifeguard stand and he would meet me, between the two stands. Once I met up with Greg, he told me the ring should be in the area from where we were, to just past the lifeguard stand. As we were talking, Ryan approached us and Ryan confirmed the location to search. The tide was coming in fast and the waves were rushing up over the search area. We didn’t have long to search and I was already thinking of returning, tonight, to search as the tide was receding, around 6:00pm. I told Ryan to walk out as far out towards the incoming water and walk to where he thinks he took the towel and sunglasses, out of the bag. I would follow his path and then turn around and head back in the other direction, if I didn’t find the ring.
As Ryan started walking, I was right behind him. The waves were rushing up over the detectors coil and I knew we didn’t have much time. About a minute into the search, I received a target. The target was showing up on my screen as a ferrous target, so I didn’t dig it. Most likely a piece of a lobster trap or a bottle cap. We started back up searching and 3-4 minutes later, I received another target. This time it was a non ferrous target but it didn’t seem right. My detectors screen was telling me it was 7-9 inches deep and for being long for just 2 or 3 hours, the ring should not be that deep. The 38 on my screen was definitely in the tungsten range, so I dug the target. I always dig non ferrous targets, because you just never know. After a scoop of sand didn’t contain the target,bI dug another scoop of sand and dumped it to the side. Still no target. A third scoop and the target was out of the hole. I ran my fingers through the pile of wet sand and felt a ring. As I was pulling it out, Ryan saw it and said, “That’s it. That’s the Ring. You’re a lifesaver, you are incredible. Thank you “ No problem, I love doing this.
Thankfully Ryan knew where he had pulled the contents, out of his beach bag and he was pretty spot on. This is why it’s important to meet the client, at the location, whenever possible. Trying to describe an area, over the phone makes it just a little more difficult because what the client described, may not be what I see. Another advantage is the time factor. As soon as Greg called, I left to go search. Being retired allows me to just get up and leave. This is a major reason why I didn’t become The Ring Finders of Maine while still working. I would not be able to just up and leave work, unless I was looking to be fired. As I always say Time Is Of The Essence and this search was no exception. The longer an item is missing, in a public location, the ocean, etc, the more difficult it will be to recover the ring. Thankfully Greg and Ryan contacted me extremely quickly and everything worked out.
I am so thankful and happy that Ryan has his Wedding Ring back on his finger. Seeing the smile on Ryan’s face is such a great feeling. I have the best job in the world ❤️🙏

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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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Gold Wedding Ring Lost For 25+ Years, in The Greene, Maine Woods, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I will say,  if this wasn’t the most challenging search for me, it is in the top 2. It all started when I received a text message, from Randy. This is his original text, from March 12th, 2025.

“Hi my name is Randy
Saw your story on Facebook. I lost a ring in our back yard a number of years ago. I live in Greene and are planning to relocate in a year.
I’d like to be able to retrieve it before we leave the area.
Kindly let me know if you are interested in this challenging hunt. Thanks”

I replied

“Hi Randy, So sorry to hear this. Searching for this ring is certainly something we can do. A few questions 1st, if you wouldn’t mind

1) How long ago did you lose the ring and why do you think the ring was lost in the backyard? Did you see or feel the ring come off?

2) How large of an area is your backyard and is it grass, field, woods, etc.. If need be, I can bring someone with me to cover a larger area.

3) Were you looking to have the search, this spring, after the snow melt?”

Randy replied,
“The ring was lost 20+ years
I sadly threw it into a cleared wooded area on my property with about a few pine trees approx 6ft tall

It is overgrown now with 30-40 foot trees however storms have dropped many of trees

As far as timeline for searching, whatever is easier for you.
We still have a fair amount of snow here.
It’s my original wedding ring.”

WAIT, WHAT? 20 + YEARS AND IN THE WOODS?  Randy was certainly correct about this being challenging
I replied
“Ok, So the ring is in the wooded area and you remember the area? I will say that 20+ years is an extremely long time. Not impossible but it certainly would be a challenge. My concern would be a tree or roots are now over it. I can search as soon as the snow is gone and the ground is no longer frozen. I found a wedding ring, last August or September that was lost in 1982. It was only 5-6 inches deep, but on a manicured lawn.

Randy replied,
“Yes I know exactly the direction and approx 150 ft from edge of lawn
I searched by hand years ago but was not successful
I’m retired so just reach out whenever “

So today, just over 2 months after being contacted by Randy, I enlisted Gary Hill, to assist me on such a large and difficult search. We arrived at Randy’s home, in Greene, Maine at just after 8:00am. Randy showed us an orange traffic cone that he had placed on his lawn. Randy told us he was standing there when he threw his ring, “as far as I could”, after a disagreement, with his wife (Hey, it happens and who are we to judge). Randy immediately and seriously regretted his actions and went out in the woods, searching for his ring. Unfortunately he was not able to find it and he continued searching for days and would occasionally search, years later. Now Gary and I headed out into the woods with Randy and he showed us the area, he thought the ring would be in. We put up orange markers on the trees, to the north and south, that would serve as our boundary markers. The plan was to start there and grid search, as best we could, towards the house and orange cone, on the lawn. Unfortunately, the closer we got to the house the thicker the downed trees and branches became. So thick and deep, we couldn’t swing our detectors properly. It was that bad and I even got jabbed by some downed branches, on a tree. It caused a cut on my leg and drew blood, but not serious. We were very careful of the branches that were eye level. Gary and I did’t want to go home blind.

After searching for 2 1/2 hours, in the area that Randy thought the ring would be, Gary and I started to expand the search area, with a consultation, from Randy. He thought the ring may be further into the woods and possibly a little more to the north, of the original search area. I would search deeper into the woods and Gary would search just north, where the downed trees and branches were extremely troublesome. Gary and I told each other that it would be a 1 in a million chance of finding the ring, under all the downed trees and branches. My thinking was that the entire area, closer to the house was very likely the area the ring was in and Gary agreed. We just didn’t think the ring would be as far back in the woods, as Randy thought it would be. But how do you search an area, with dead trees, on the ground. Throughout the search, we would move branches, as best we could, but there were many, we were not able to move. Very frustrating to think the ring could be under one of the trees or branches, that we just couldn’t move. As I was finishing up the area, deeper in the woods, I started up towards the house, to see how Gary was doing. He was 50-60 feet north of the boundary, of where th ring should be and in a thicket of downed branches. I decided to search a little closer to the original area, but still just north of it. We have now been searching for 3 hours and 15 minutes when I hear Gary yell out, “I GOT IT. I FOUND THE RING.” I yelled back, “REALLY, THATS AWESOME.” I then made my way over to Gary and there in the hole was a Gold Wedding Ring, UNBELIEVABLE. GREAT JOB GARY!!!!! I then summoned Randy back into the woods and when he saw his Wedding Ring for the 1st time in almost 30 years, he said ”SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.” Randy then looked around to where the orange traffic cone was and just could’t believe how far north of the search are, the ring was found (Watch the full video of his reaction, posted earlier today.)

As all 3 of us were standing around talking about just how lucky Randy was that the ring was found. After all it was a good 60-70 feet from where Randy thought it was. Gary was expanding the search area and BAM, there it was. Randy the told us he didn’t remember the exact year the ring was lost, other than it was between the years 1997 and 2000. So 25 to 28 years lost in the woods and Randy has his original Wedding Ring back, just in time for his 35th Anniversary. Randy mentioned that he and his wife will most likely renew their vows, on their upcoming Anniversary. Now Randy will have his original Wedding Ring and another Wedding Ring he purchased, just after losing his first one.
Gary and I were just beaming, all the way home, knowing that we have put another smile on someone’s face, once again. Randy was just so happy and in disbelief of the ring being found. No better feeling in the world than to help others find their lost items and return them, to the rightful owner.

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