#Portland Maine Metal Detector Rental and Service Tag | Page 3 of 6 | The Ring Finders

White Gold Wedding and Engagement Rings, With Diamonds, Lost In The Sand, On Hermit’s Island, Phippsburg, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday, August 22nd, I received a phone call, from Nico., at approximately 11:40am. Nico conveyed to me that there is a large and extended group of family and friends, camping at Hermit’s Island Campground, in Phippsburg, Maine. Just minutes earlier a member of the group had just lost her soldered together White Gold Engagement and Wedding Rings. Jacquie, Jax for short,, had taken her rings off to apply lotion to her young children, while enjoying the day, at Sand Dollar Beach, on Hermit’s island U.S.A . Not wanting to get lotion all over her rings, Jax took the rings off and placed them on the beach blanket. It was then, right around high tide, at 11:18am, that a very large wave rushed up the beach, reaching the area of the beach blankets. Jax grabbed the blanket, so it wouldn’t get all wet but had forgotten her rings, were on the blanket. Jax immediately realized what had just happened and that was Hurricane Erin’s very rough surf and waves had just claimed Jax’s two rings, burying the rings, in the sand. The entire group of family and friends immediately started searching, for the rings, without success. It was then that Nico called me. By now it was close to noon time and I told Nico that I would get there, as soon as I could. Phippsburg, Maine is an hour and a half drive for me, if everything goes smoothly. Being a Friday, in the summer, I could certainly get stuck in traffic, on my way, to Phippsburg, ME. I also needed to finish something up, that I was right in the middle of. I told Nico that I could be there by 3:00pm, at the latest.

I was able to get on the road just before 1:00pm and I arrived, at the Hermit Island Campground, at 2:30pm. The check in booth for the Campground was expecting me and gave me a map of the island, to help me get to Sand Dollar Beach, at the northern end of the island. It took me another 10 minutes to find the very secluded beach. Once I got out of the vehicle , Nico was right there, waiting for me. Nico took me right to where Jax and her family were. Everyone there knew the rings were in an approximately 20’ X 20’ area of the sand. Everyone was very supportive and were willing to do whatever it took, to make this a successful recovery. I told everyone that I would grid search the area, starting near the high tide line and go back and forth, towards the sand dunes. On my first grid pass , just a small piece of aluminum. I turned around and headed back, in the other direction and nothing was found. Turned again started my grid pass and almost immediately received a nice low tone, reading 19-20, on my VDI Screen. Could I have just found Jax’s rings? I removed my pinpointer and located the target. After a few scoops of sand, taken out by hand, I felt something heavy in my hand and it fell out of my hand and back into the sand, but not before we all saw that it was Jax’s rings. I heard others yell out that they saw the ring. I then retrieved the ring, held it up to a now cheering and very happy group of people. Jax was so excited and thanked me over and over, for driving up there and finding her rings. The entire mood of everyone, in the group had just changed. Where there was once nervousness and uncertainty there was now laughter and smiles. We all talked for a while and I even found an avid metal detectorist in the group. Unfortunately,he didn’t bring his metal detector with him, but he will now bring it everywhere he goes. Jax, her husband, Nate and the entire group could now relax and get back to the vacation, without the weight of such a terrible loss, hanging over their heads.
One I had returned home, I received the following text message, from Jax

“Thank you so much there are no words on How thankful I am for you !!”

I love my job😀❤️🙏

Sentimental Gold Ring Lost At Range Pond State Park, Poland, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

At approximately 9:00am, Thursday morning, August 21st, I received the following message, from Renata

“Hello, last week a friend of mine and I went to Range Pond, in Poland, Maine and she lost her very sentimental gold ring. We have tried searching for it, someone came along with a metal detector and also searched but no luck!
I was wondering if this is anything that you could possibly help with?”

My reply
“Hi Renata, So sorry to hear this. I may be able to help. Does she know the location where the ring was lost, and the depth? “

Renata replied
“She does know the about location. I can’t imagine it would be very far down in the sand. She said it was lost while on the beach itself. When you are at range pond it would be all the way to the left side of the area where boats can come in and out. The exact location is about in the middle of that and the edge of the beach.
This is the ring.”

Renata then sent me some photos, of the area and of the ring
I replied
“ok, So it’s not in the water. If up on the beach, I would be concerned someone has found it already or even another Metal Detectorist. Let me look at an aerial view of the area and see if I can figure out the location. I will get back to you in a few minutes.”

I then sent Renata a photo and asked her if she could tell me if the ring would be in one of the 4 sections, that I had marked up and she then circled the area, of where she thinks the ring was lost. I then replied to Renata and reiterated my concern that they had already had another metal detectorist search that area, and hadn’t found it. I also told her that I could go and search the area once again. I really didn’t know if the other metal detectorist has any experience or what kind of detector they were using. After all, it was just someone that they saw and asked for help. I Also asked Renata if her friend, Hope, saw or felt the ring come coming off and if the ring could have been lost somewhere else.
Renata replied
She said that it was in the pocket of her bag and then was not when she was home. I suppose it’s obviously possible someone snatched it.”
I replied
“Yeah, It just seems strange the other detectorist didn’t find it. Since it was in a bag, could it have fallen out, in her vehicle, parking area, as she walked out of the park, etc? If she hasn’t, she should report it lost to the State Park. If you would like me to search, I could go up today, around 4:pm, when people are leaving.”
Renata told me that Hope had reported the ring lost, to the Park Ranger, at Range Pond State Park. I then told her that I would definitely go later, in the day, as people left the park and the beach would not be crowded. When a beach is crowded, you just can’t perform a proper grid search, with everyone on the beach. Renata told me she would not be able to meet me there because they were on Peaks Island. That was ok, because I had a very detailed area, to search.

Cheryl and I arrived at Range Pond State Park, at just prior to 4:00pm and found the Park Ranger to tell him I was there to search for Hope’s lost ring. The Park Ranger, Walter, then told me someone else had searched for the ring last night. Walter also told us the guy “looked like a professional” metal detectorist WOW! A second metal detectorist has now searched for the lost gold ring. Walter was told that the ring was not found. Now I’m doubting if the ring is actually there. Has it been found, lost somewhere else. It happens all the time. Walter also told me that he wasn’t very pleased the “professional” metal detectorist, from the night before . That metal detectorist has dug holes, in the beach and didn’t fill them in, but just leaving the holes, for anyone to step in. Definitely not good. Once Cheryl and I got on the beach, there were a few groups of people in the center of the beach, where the ring was thought to have been lost. So, I decided to start on the far left side of the beach, as you face the pond. I would grid search the area, from the water, up to the trees and back to the waters edge, working my way towards the middle of the beach. As I was grid searching, I was finding many small fishing sinkers and a few coins. I thought to myself that with two different metal detectorists searching the area, in the past four days, those should have been found. More importantly, more people had left the beach and now there were only a few people, on the beach. I was now approaching the center of the beach, after approximately 45 minutes of searching and I started to see the many dug holes, left by the ‘professional’ metal detectorist. To me this wasn’t a good feeling, concerning the lost ring. I decided to continue, until the entire beach had been searched. About 15 minutes later and just a few feet from some of the dug holes, I received a nice low tone, reading 27-28 on my VDI screen. I didn’t get too excited because that is also the exact VDI reading, of a nickel. The target was reading 0 (Surface) to 2 inches down, in the sand. I took my hand and started wiping the sand away. All of a sudden, there it was, a gold ring with some stones. I was stunned!!! Dug holes less than 10 feet away, two metal detectorists searched this exact area and yet, it was still here. Amazing. I looked at Cheryl , up under the trees, in the shade (yes, she’s the brains, of the family and I’m the sweaty brawn) and yells “I FOUND IT” as I gave her a thumbs up. Cheryl came right over and she couldn’t believe it either. Four days on a public beach and two other metal detectorists searched for the ring, in this exact area. Crazy.

I then took a photo and sent it to Renata, saying, “Does this look familiar?”
Renata’s reply was,

“Stop!!!! We both just screamed!!!
Literal tears of joy!!
How can we pick it up from you??”

We then made plans for Hope to meet me in Windham, as that is where she lives and it is on our way home.
Approximately 45 minutes later, Hope arrived and you could see just how much this ring meant to her. She was just so excited and happy, to see her ring again, after thinking it was gone forever. Hope was smiling ear to ear as she told us that the ring was actually a gift that she had fought for herself, after giving birth to her son, a few years earlier. She called it her “Birthing Gift, to myself, after her son was born. To Hope, this ring represented the birth of the most important person, in her life, her son. Thankfully the ring has had a rebirth and is now back on Hope’s finger, where it belongs. I am just so happy to have a small part in the rebirth. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

Gold Engagement Ring Lost In The Ocean Park, Old Orchard Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

I received a call, just after 10:00am, on Thursday August 21st. The caller was frantic sounding and she identified herself as Aryane. Aryane told me that she had lost her Engagement Ring, the previous evening, in Ocean Park, Maine. She and her fiancée had searched last night in the dark but unfortunately, they could not find the engagement ring. Aryane had returned to the beach this morning to resume the search. As she was searching, two lifeguards arrived, for duty and also help search, by combing the sand. Another beach goer saw what was going on and told Aryane to contact me. The woman told Aryane that she follows me, on Facebook, and I should be able to help her. This is when Aryane called me. I told Aryane that I could be there and help her, in approximately 20 minutes, as I live close by, in Saco, Maine. Aryane told me she was on the beach, at the end of Reggio Avenue.

Once I arrived I walked onto the beach and Aryane walked right over to me and introduced herself. I asked what had happened, the previous evening and did she see or feel the ring come off. Aryane told me that her boyfriend, Benjamin, had proposed to her, Tuesday evening and last night, Wednesday evening was their last night in Ocean Park, Maine. Aryane and Benjamin decided on their last night that they would go to the beach and do some star gazing. As they were star gazing and talking Aryane felt her brand new Engagement Ring slip off, as she was gesturing with her hands. Aryane told me the ring was a little loose and that she intended to get it resized, once her and Benjamin returned to their home, in New York. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to get it resized and was now worried she would never see her Engagement Ring of 1 day again. As I looked over the area, I told her she was lucky because I did not see any signs of the beach cleaning machine, having gone through the area. A big plus and I saw a slight smile on her face, when I told her that.
There were a few areas that I could see where people had been searching, as the sand was all disturbed. Aryane told me she remembered standing next to the burnt wood, of a bonfire, the night before. She and Benjamin were then just 10 feet or so, to the north west of the burnt wood and it was this area, that most of the searching by Aryane, Benjamin, the lifeguards and my follower had been taking place. I told Aryane that I would start my grid search, next to the burnt wood and work my way north, to where the lifeguards had the chairs, just 15’ or so away. I would grid search, towards the beach access path, covering the area, where they had been searching. With Aryane, the lifeguards and my follower watching me, I started my first grid pass. Within 30 seconds, I received a very nice sounding low tone, registering a 27, on my VDI screen. Definitely in the gold range but I tempered my excitement became nickels ring up as a 27 and are also a low tone target. I retrieved my pinpointer and located the target. I started running my fingers, down into the sand and felt the target and it had a hole in it. It had to be the ring and was very heavy, for its size. As I pulled the target out of the sand, I could see the brand new shiny gold just shimmering, in the morning sun. I had just found Aryane’s Engagement Ring, of one day and I then heard the shriek of excitement, clapping and hollering, from the people watching me. The lifeguards were just amazed that I had found it so fast and I told them that it’s better to be lucky, than good. As I passed the ring back to an extremely happy and excited Aryane, she immediately put it back on her finger and gave me a hug. All the nervousness had left Aryane’s body and she now had a happy bounce as she walked and it was a great feeling to see her smiling. I would like to thank my follower for the referral and for her concern for Aryane. It was a genuine concern and she helped Aryane with support, while they searched. I would also like to thank the lifeguards who helped look for the ring and also gave Aryane support.
Aryane told me that she is from Brazil and Benjamin from New York, where they now live and are planning their lives together. I wasn’t able to meet Benjamin, as he was packing up their belongings and had to be out of their rental. As Aryane left to meet up with Benjamin, she was all smiles and just overwhelmed and overjoyed. It’s such a great feeling to turn a potential gut wrenching nightmare into a happiness that resonates to everyone involved. I love my job 😀❤️🙏

Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Saturday August 16, I was headed to Boston, when I received 2 different phone calls, concerning lost rings, both located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Since I wasn’t available, I called Gary Hill, to help out. Gary searched the first location and found all three lost rings, that you have already read about. While Gary was searching, down in front of  The Brunswick, I called him with another lost ring, just south of the Waves Oceanfront Resort. Once Gary finished up at The Brunswick, he walked down to the next location and met with Jim and Sarah. While tossing the football around, with his son, Noah, Jim’s wedding ring came off and landed in the surf. Being in the water, while throwing the football around, Jim’s finger became wet and the cold water most like shrunk his finger a little, resulting in a lost ring. Once Gary arrived, Jim told showed him the area where the ring was but unfortunately, the tide was coming in and the waves were too large, to enter the water, for a metal detecting search. Gary told Jim and Sarah that he would return the next day, as the tide was receding and grid search the area.

Since Jim and Sarah were only down for the day, from Woodstock, New Hampshire, they gave Gary excellent coordinates. The ring was at the Bay Street access path and directly in front of the house, with the red roof. The ring was lost at approximately 2:00pm, halfway between high and low tide. Gary told them he would arrive at 8:30am, for an 11:54am low tide. Gary would have approximately 3 1/2 hours, to follow the tide out and locate the ring. Jim and Sarah. Gary started between the house with the red roof and grid searched back and forth, to the lifeguard station. Gary then split the distance in half, as he was approaching the low tide area. Gary received a nice loud low tone, reading 23 on his VDI screen. After almost 3 hours, Gary was sure this was the ring. He took a big scoop of sand and dumped it onto the hard wet sand. He removed his pinpointer, located the target and saw a White Gold Wedding Ring. He has found Jim’s ring. Gary call Jim, at his home in New Hampshire and they made plans to meet up today, Saturday August 23rd, for Jim to receive his very sentimental wedding ring back. Once Gary returned Jim’s ring, Jim couldn’t thank Gary enough and Gary couldn’t be happier for helping Jim out in his time of need. Thank you Gary, another outstanding recovery and 4 rings, in two days. Smiles all the way around. 😃❤️🙏

Three Gold Wedding and Engagement Rings Lost In The Old Orchard Beach,Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

After a late night recovery, at Longsands Beach, York, Maine, in York Beach Maine, I had to go to Boston, the next morning. As I was driving to Boston, Massachusetts, I received a phone call, from Lindsey. Lindsey’s sister, Paulette, had just lost 3 rings, in the dry sand, in front of The Brunswick, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. They were a Wedding Ring, Engagement Ring and one other sentimental ring. The rings were White Gold and one of them had diamonds around it. After losing the rings, in the sand, the group searched but could not find the rings. They reported the missing rings, to the lifeguards and the lifeguards recommended calling The Ring Finders of Maine. That is when Lindsey, called me. I told Lindsey that I was on my way to Boston, Massachusetts, but I could get someone there and quickly.
Now, I had arranged, with Gary Hill the previous week to be ready for some call outs, as I wasn’t going to be available. As always, Gary stepped up and said he would be ready, if I called. As soon as I hung up with Lindsey, I called Gary and gave him the contact information, for Lindsey. Gary called me back a few minutes later and said he was meeting the clients, at the Brunswick, as soon as he could get there and he was leaving immediately. Once Gary arrived he was met by Lindsey and Paulette. Since they had left the area they were in, there was a question,bat to where they had actually been sitting. Each woman thought they were in a slightly different area, than the other one thought and another person, in the group, thought they were sitting somewhere else. Since the three area were all close together, Gary told them that he could search all three areas. Gary immediately grid searched the first area and only found the usual beach trash and a few coins. He then walked to the next location and searched that area, as well. Still none of the three rings had been found and there was just one area left to search. Gary then went to the third area and almost immediately received a nice low tone. Using his pinpointer, Gary located the first target, put his fingers, into the sand, felt a ring and pulled out the first missing ring. Gary ran the coil, in the area of where he found the first ring and he received a “funky sound”. He then pinpointed the area, put his hand, into the sand and was able to pull out the other two rings. That’s right, the other two missing rings were just pulled from the sand. Lindsey and Paulette were ecstatic and were so happy to get the rings back. Gary was also smiling ear to ear and was just happy to have been able to help these women out, with his Metal Detecting skills. As Gary always says, “I’m in it for the smiles” and he certainly saw some smiles today. There is no better feeling than to see the faces of our clients, when they see their lost jewelry, for the first time. What started out as a stomach turning disaster, turned into smiles and hugs. Thank you Gary, for all you do.❤️🙏

Three Extremely Sentimental Gold and Diamond Rings Lost In The Kennebunk Kennebunkport Surf And Sand. Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

After finding an antique engagement ring, in an Acton, Maine pond, on Wednesday, I was certain I wouldn’t be called out again. Boy, was I wrong. At approximately 4:10 pm, I had a phone call, from a foreign country. The number was +44 **** ******, UK. I was in no way, answering a call from the UK because of all the scammers that call, on a daily basis. I let the call, go to voicemail. This is the transcript of that voicemail

“Hi, I’m looking for Dennis Boothby. I’m staying at the The Nonantum Resort, in Kennebunkport Maine. My name is Marguerite A***** and we are in room ***. I talked to the lady, driving the bus and she said you might be able to help. I’ve lost some rings, on the beach, Gooch’s Beach. I wonder if you could call me back, my number is, at the Nonamtum is 207-***-****. The UK number is +44 **** ******. Thanks so much.”

I immediately called Marguerite back and she told me that she had lost
“Not 1 ring, not 2 rings, but 3 rings. They are very special rings and I hope you can help. You have come highly recommended”

Marguerite then told me that she and her husband, Chris were staying at The Nonantum Resort and had taken the Nonamtum ‘s shuttle bus, over to Gooch’s Beach, enjoying the day, at the private beach area of Gooch’s Beach. Marguerite had taken her three rings off, to apply lotion and had placed the rings, in her lap, intending to put them back on. As she was sitting there, at the high tide mark, a very large wave rushed up at everyone, on the beach. She was startled by the wave and immediately jumped up, as the wave rolled past her. Her three very special rings landed in the surf, as the wave rolled past. When the wave retreated, she and Chris started looking for the rings. Even other beach goers were helping to look, for the now lost rings. Someone gave Chris a sifter and he would sift the sand, from the area, but couldn’t find the rings. They were convinced the rings had been pulled down, towards the water, as the wave retreated. I told Marguerite that it is my experience that the rings would be very close, to where she lost them and I would leave immediately and meet her and Chris, at Gooch’s Beach. Marguerite then told me that Chris had placed a log right where they had been sitting, so they would remember, where they had been. Perfect and brilliant. As a side note, the original name of Gooch’s Beach, was Boothby’s Beach, back in the early 1700’s. Could this be a good omen?
Cheryl and I arrived at Gooch’s Beach and the parking was horrendous. We drove around a few times and someone was finally pulling out. I parked in that spot but it was all the way on the opposite end of the beach, up near Lord’s Point. Once parked we walked down to the other end of the beach and Marguerite was there waiting and she recognized me. She told me Chris was walking down to the Private Beach area, to start looking again. As Marguerite, Cheryl and I started walking down the beach, Marguerite told us she had been wearing these extremely sentimental rings for almost 35 years. The rings were an Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring and a large special ring and she was heartbroken that she had lost them. Once we arrived at the log, Chris pointed out the area where they had searched and I could see all the areas, where the sand had been dug through. Both Chris and Marguerite thought the rings had been pulled out towards the water but I told them I didn’t believe that would be the case. I turned my metal detector on and asked Marguerite where she had been sitting. She pointed out the location and as I put the detector, to the sand, I received a loud signal and I could see two different non ferrous targets, on my screen. One registering a 28 and the other a 34. I hadn’t even swung the metal detector and I have received two very promising targets. Could this be real? Did I just find two of Marguerite’s very special rings, without even swinging my detector? WOW! I took my pinpointer out and located one of the targets, a gold ring, with rectangular diamonds, all the way around. Marguerite immediately let out a shriek of happiness. I located the next target and I saw another gold ring, this one with what appeared to be a large emerald with a diamond, on each side. UNBELIEVABLE !!!! Marguerite and Chris were in disbelief and just beaming with optimism, that I would locate the third ring. This would be a large gold ring, with diamonds all around. As I stood up and started to swing the detector, I received another very loud low tone, ringing up as a 68 on the VDI screen. This could not be happening. Did I just find the thing ring with just a partial swing. I could see Marguerite very excited and once I located the target with the pinpointer, I started wiping sand off the top of it. All of a sudden, I saw a perfect circular piece of gold. Marguerite screamed out in happiness. I took a photo, just as it just laid ,in the sand. I then picked it up and put it on its side, took another photo and then passed it to Marguerite who at this point, must have thought she was in a dream. Convinced her rings had been pulled out to sea, only to have someone show up and find them, without fully swinging his metal detector. I mean, I myself was thinking this was a dream. Marguerite and Chris have been married for over 34 years and the thought of losing these exquisite rings was just gut wrenching to them. To see their faces go from anguish to joy, in a matter of seconds is something so special to witness. Cheryl and I were just so happy for Marguerite and Chris, that they wouldn’t have to take their flight, across the pond, to London, without these very, very special rings, that hold so many memories. These rings could never, ever be replaced because of all the memories they hold, for Marguerite and Chris. It’s such a great feeling to be able to help people like Marguerite and Chris, in their time of need. As I often say, every ring has a story and now these three rings have one heck of a story to tell, all the way Bain the UK.

Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Moody Beach, Wells, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Sunday, August 10th, Cheryl a I were headed to Casco, Maine, to attend our Great Grandsons first birthday celebration. As we were driving on the Maine Turnpike, I received a phone call from, a caller who identified himself as Andy. Andy was staying in Moody Beach in the Wells, Maine area, on vacation with family and friends. The previous evening, he was walking on the beach, with his family and friends, heading to Moody Point, to watch the sunset. As the group were walking down the beach, Andy and his 13 year old son were tossing a football back and forth. At one point the had stopped to see who could throw the football the furthest. They spent some time in the area, just throwing the football. Once they continued to Moody Point, the group hung around the area, to see the sunset. Once the sun set, they walked back down the beach, to where they were staying. After getting inside, Andy realized his wedding ring was missing. Andy and his wife, Jennifer, grabbed a flashlight and walked the beach, in the dark,looking for the wedding ring. Unfortunately, they did not walk a straight path to Moody Point but were zigzagging, as they were tossing the football around. They just didn’t know when they zigged and when they zagged. The wedding ring could literally be anywhere, along a 1/2 stretch of the beach. WOW!!! What are the chances the wedding ring can be recovered, over a 1/2 stretch of beach, while the tide is halfway out? That is a very large area.

I told Andy that I would arrive at 5:00am, as the tide was going out, giving me more time to search the wet sand area. Andy’s wife had taken a photo of Andy, tossing the football with his son and it was in front of a house that he could remember where it was. The photo shows that Andy was still wearing his wedding ring, at that point. He also spent time, in front of the house, in a competitive long distance throwing match, with his son. This would be a great place to start searching as Andy made boundaries for me, within the area of the competition, with his son and we know the ring was still on his finger. As I searched, within the boundaries, I wasn’t finding anything but the usual beach trash and 13 cents. As I grid searched, towards the water, I came to the east boundary line, without finding the wedding ring. Andy and I had arrived at the beach, pre dawn, in the dark. Now a beautiful sunrise was unfolding, before our eyes, as we finished searching this area. Andy and I then headed to Moody Point, where the group could watch the sunset. Unfortunately, Andy didn’t walk there in a straight line and all I could do was search as we walked to the area where he had next stopped.
Once we arrived at Moody Point, Andy looked over the area and said the water wasn’t any higher than where we were standing and I could start searching at this point. I look at the rocks and seawall to the north. I would grid this area, up to the rocks, turn around and head back, to the south, where Andy had set a southern boundary line. On my first grid line, I found a fishing sinker and nothing else. I then reached the rocks, turned around and went to the south. Still no ring. Heading north again and once again, still no ring. Heading south again and approximately 1/2 way back to the southern boundary, I received an incredible signal, showing a 33 on my VDI screen and my depth meter was showing the ring 0 to 2 inches under the sand. I immediately stopped and told Andy to come on over, because “this one is different”. I couldn’t guarantee Andy that this was his wedding ring, but I was very confident it was gold. After 25 years of metal detecting, you know a good sounding gold target and this was that combination of tone and VDI number of 33. I then took my pinpointer and ran it over the sand, as Andy looked on. Once the target was located, I just used my fingers to remove the sand, on top of the target. As I removed the sand, THERE IT WAS, a White Gold Wedding Ring. I was stunned that we found the ring in such a large area. Andy was also very stunned but smiling from ear to ear. He took a photo of the ring and sent it to Jennifer. We then were talking about how lucky we were. Andy told me that he knew it was an extreme long shot but he just had to try and get his wedding ring back. Andy told me that he had recently celebrated his 20 Wedding Anniversary and this ring was 20 years of wonderful memories with his wife and family. I totally understood what he was saying. You at least give it a shot and try to recover it. Andy was still beaming all the way back to the house. As we walked back, I asked Andy how he had heard of me. He told me Jennifer had posted a story on the Facebook Page, Moody Beach Appreciation Association , asking for people to be on the lookout for the wedding ring. She then had people commenting, on her post, to contact me. Once Jennifer and Andy saw my many stories and photos of past recoveries, they called me with nothing to lose. Andy just had to do everything in his power, to try and get his 20 years of wonderful memories back.
So every ring has a story and this ring has 20 years of stories and now a new chapter has been added, to Andy’s very sentimental wedding ring. Here’s to another 20 loving happy years to Jennifer and Andy❤️🙏

Tiffany “Smile” Bracelet And Pendant Lost In The Limington Maine Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday August 8th, I received the following text message

“Hi Dennis, I am reaching out as I lost my gold bracelet in my lawn yesterday evening while playing with the dog. We searched last night with a flash light with no luck and was wondering if you would be able to come out and help? We live in Limington, so wasn’t sure if you come out this way. It is a thin rose goal bracelet with diamonds. I can send a picture. Our address is: *** Cape Road., Limington, Maine. This was a wedding gift so would love to try to get it back. Thank you!!”

I called and was able to talk with Carly. Carly told me that not only did she and her husband, Taylor, search last night, they also searched again this morning. They just can’t find the bracelet. Carly was worried that when he dog jumped on her, the bracelet may have been eaten, by the dog or became stuck on the dog and ended up in a totally different area. She explained that it was a very thin chain with just a very small pendant, in the shape of a smile and the smile contained small diamonds. Carly also told me the bracelet was a Tiffany & Co. Bracelet. I told Carly that I would be happy to help and explained a few concerns. Very thin gold bracelets and necklaces are extremely difficult to metal detect. There just isn’t a lot of gold on them and is one of the two most difficult gold pieces of jewelry to metal detect. The other one is gold stud earrings. These very low conductive, non ferrous, metals that will barely register on a metal detector. As an example, Sterling Silver will ring up in the 90’s, loud and clear. A Men’s Gold Ring will come in and show up, as a 20 into the 60’s, depending on the size and shape. Gold stud earrings and very thin chains will only register in the 01 to 03 range and just as a whisper. In order to metal detect these items, you must set up your detector properly, to find these items. You must have the proper technique also. You have to cover an area as slowly as you can. I do not walk through the area, swinging the coil. I take one step swing the coil, low and slow, take a half step, swing, low and slow, repeating this for the entire search. If you are walking through the area, swinging, you may not find it. You must also use the proper coil, as small as possible. I have 4 coils that I swap out, depending on the job. For this search, I went with my most sensitive and smallest coil, the 8” elliptical coil. We agreed that I would search, first thing in the morning, at 8:00am
Because I was not certain on how large of an area, would need to be searched, I enlisted the help of Gary Hill. Gary and I arrived promptly at 8:00am and were greeted by both Carly and Taylor. We were shown the area in which the dog had jumped on Carly and where she thought the Tiffany Bracelet would be, if the bracelet hadn’t ended up on the dog and moved to another area. Gary and I decided that we would split the area, in half. Gary would search the lawn area, closest to the road and he would work his way towards the house and I would start near the house, working my way towards the road. As I slowly walked towards the corner of the house, I received a few low conductor targets in the 12 to 15 range. Not low enough to be the Tiffany Bracelet and the depth, of the targets, were anywhere from 2 to 6 inches, in the ground, according to the depth gauge, on my Minelab Manticore. As Gary and I continued to search, I received the best target of the morning. A target reading 01 – 02 and exactly the reading I was looking for. I looked down and didn’t see the bracelet. I ran my fingers through the grass, hoping to snag the bracelet, but nothing was found. I told Taylor, who was very close to me, visually searching, for the target and he came over. As I was reaching for my pinpointer, Taylor started running his fingers through the grass and pushing the grass back. All of a sudden I hear him say, there it is and when I bent down, he showed me the Tiffany Bracelet , all balled up, deep in the grass. No wonder it wasn’t visually found, it was blending in with the grass and hidden by the grass, on top of that. Carly came running over and couldn’t be we had found it, thanking Gary and I. As Carly and Taylor looked at the bracelet, they could see one of the links had broken, when the dog jumped up on her. She and Taylor would be bringing the bracelet to a jeweler, to be repaired and it should be as good as new. Carly and Taylor thanked us again as were preparing to leave, telling up that they were amazed we found it and that they never would have found it, down deep in the grass like that. Gary and I thanked them for having the faith and trust, in us to find their sentimental piece of jewelry. When I asked Carly if the Tiffany Bracelet had been a gift or anything else special to it, she told me that she and Taylor had bought it together, the week they were married, a few years earlier. Thankfully we were able to find the Tiffany Bracelet and put the smiles back on their faces. Funny how finding a Tiffany “Smile” Bracelet put a smile on all of our faces. Who doesn’t love putting smiles on peoples faces ❤️🙏

Titanium Wedding Ring Lost In The Wells Beach Maine Ocean Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

I received the following voicemail, on Thursday August 7th, 2025.

Hi, This is Pat *******. I’m in Wells Beach, for the week. The tides going out, um, I was just in the water and I lost my wedding ring. My wife says she’s been following you and you’re really good at finding rings. So I was just wondering if you would be able to help with tips or tricks for us. Again, my name is Pat ******* and my phone number is 860-***-****, This is my wife’s, Michele’s phone. Thank you.

I immediately called Pat back and told him I would get there asap. Low tide was at 4:23pm and it was now 1:35pm. This means that Pat lost his wedding ring at approximately midway, between high and low tide. If I could get to Wells Beach by 2:30pm, I would have two sold hours of searching the wet sand, as I followed the tide out.
Cheryl and I got the equipment loaded and headed to Wells, Maine. We actually made good time, as we missed the heavy summertime traffic. We arrived at 2:15pm and were on the Beach with Pat by 2:25pm. Pat showed me the area he had been in, when he lost his ring. He also told me his wedding ring was made out of Titanium. Less than a week earlier, I had found a Titanium Wedding Ring, for a client, on Drake’s Island , Wells Maine. I made a southern and northern boundary and started grid searching from south to north, then north to south and repeated this pattern as I made my way towards the water. I was finding a few coins and pieces of aluminum but not the Titanium Wedding Ring. At one point, a young woman approached me and Pat. She told me that her husband had just lost his wedding ring, out in the water, earlier in the day. Pat explained his circumstances and she understood I was already searching for Pats ring. I gave her my business card and told her if I find Pat’s ring quickly, I would come over and help her and her husband. Unfortunately there was only a little over an hour left, before the tide shifted and would start coming back in. If I couldn’t search for her today, I told her to call me and I would come back tomorrow. She agreed and thanked me and I resumed the search for the wedding ring.
I had covered quite a large area and it was now only a half hour before low tide. Pat and I wondered if the ring could have made it this far down the slope of the beach. I was quite a bit further out, from where Pat thought he was, when the ring disappeared, in the surf. Perhaps because Titanium is a light metal, the ring got pulled out, with the surf. The Titanium Wedding Ring I found less than a week earlier had done exactly that. I found the ring, 60-80 feet further out towards the water, than where it was lost. Was history repeating itself? So, with just a half hour left before the tide turned, I jumped over about 20’ or so and headed into the shallow surf. This would allow me to stay ahead of the incoming tide, by now working my way towards shore, opposite of what I had been doing. After about 10 minutes, I was out of the water and just the waves would run up and over my feet. As one of the waves swept over my ankles and feet, I received a very loud signal. The best sounding signal of the day. As the water rushed back out to sea, I looked down to where the signal had been detected. The water was now past my feet and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I could actually see the top of the ring. It wasn’t even totally under the sand. I raised my arm and made a celebratory fist, pumping it up and down. UNBELIEVABLE. This is the first time in my 25 years of metal detecting that I could visually see a ring, that was lost hours ago, in the water. I was and still am completely at a loss of words at this sight. Since the waves were coming back over my feet again, I immediately stepped on the ring, so it wouldn’t move. I saw Pat running down the sloping beach towards me, as was Cheryl. When Pat arrived I told him I had found the ring and that I could visually see it. I then lifted my foot, Pat saw the ring and quickly grabbed it. It’s just the craziest thing. Pat’s wife, Michele, had gone up the house, so Pat called her with the good news. Cheryl and Michele had been sitting and watching me for two hours and Michele really wanted to be there when I found the ring, because she follows me and loves reading my stories. Now, unfortunately, she has missed the recovery. But, because of her following me, Pat now has his wedding ring back and that is the important thing. Pat and Michele were extremely happy to have his wedding ring back. Michele told us that she and Pat would be celebrating their third anniversary, in October. Even bigger news, is that the happy couple are expecting their first child, in December and they are very happy and excited about this. Thankfully Pat has his wedding ring back in time for his anniversary and the birth of their child. Smiles were on all our faces and Cheryl and I are just so happy to have been able to help them, in our own way😀❤️🙏

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Sunday evening, July 27th, Cheryl and I were driving home, from a Boston Red Sox, game, at Fenway Park. While just outside the Boston city limits, I received a phone call from Lisa. Lisa told me the story of her husband, Ed, losing his Tungsten wedding ring, the previous afternoon, around 2:00pm. They are from Connecticut but were vacationing in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. They had placed a Facebook post on a few local Facebook Pages, asking for people to be on the lookout for the lost ring. If found, please contact her (more on this later).

Ed had been in the ocean, with his sons, tossing a football around. When Ed got out of the water and back up on the beach, where Lisa was, he noticed he was no longer wearing his wedding ring. What had been an incredible vacation, suddenly became a nightmare. Ed had lost the ring approximately an hour after high tide and now the tide was going out. Lisa, Ed and the sons went out to search for the ring but couldn’t find it. As you all know, by now, it is extremely unlikely you will visually find a ring, that was lost in the surf. Once a ring lands on the ocean floor, the surf and waves will bury it in the sand. Lisa said that Ed was really upset that his wedding ring he had been wearing, for 19 years was gone. Lisa then asked me if there was anything I could do to help. I told her that I could help but by the time I got home, it would be dark out and I would need to consult the tide chart, to see when the tide would be low enough, for me to search. Once I arrived home, I determined that I could get down to the beach, around 5:00am and search. I let Lisa and Ed know I would be going down 1st thing in the morning, to search but had a few concerns.
First concern: the ring has now been lost almost 2 full days and the area the ring was lost in is the most heavily metal detected area, in Old Orchard. Ed had lost his ring directly in front of the Ferris Wheel, at Palace Playland Amusement Park and very close to the OOB Pier. This area is the most densely populated area of the beach, on a hot summer day and Metal Detectorists know that. On any given summer day, you could see 5 to 10 different detectorists searching the area, throughout the day. Today, Sunday was a rainy day so hopefully there wasn’t anyone metal detecting there.
My second concern was that the location of where the ring was lost, was made public, when the Facebook Posts were made. As I have told all my followers previously, never, ever disclose the exact location of a ring or other valuable that has been lost. This is not only my suggestion, it is also the recommendation of the Police Departments. Broadcasting the exact location can increase the Risk of Theft: Publicly announcing the location of a lost valuable item, especially online or on social media, can attract thieves or those who would attempt to steal it before you have a chance to recover it yourself. Unfortunately, there are people that watch lost and found posts, just for this type of situation. They are not unlike looters, looking to take advantage of someone’s misfortune. So please, never, ever disclose the exact location of something lost. You can still make a social media post but be general about the area. For instance, instead of saying a ring was lost next to the pier or Ferris Wheel, just say you lost a ring in OOB but unsure of the area. If someone contacts you to help, you can then meet them at a predetermined location and watch them search. You just don’t want to have a bunch of people searching for your ring, that you don’t know. Again, even the Police recommend not to disclose the exact location. I mentioned this to Lisa and she agreed that it made sense and took the post down, now that I would be searching for Ed’s wedding ring. One good thing to come of her post is that Lisa told me that she had 7 or 8 comments about contacting me, The Ring Finders of Maine. This is how Lisa found me and ultimately contacting me, after researching my history of recovering lost items.
Ok, back to the story. I arrived at the beach, pre dawn , at 5:00am and the beach was extremely fogged in. You could only make out the outline or silhouette of buildings, amusement park rides and the pier. The fog was that thick. I had many photos provided to me by Lisa and they were excellent tools in putting me in the exact area. The tide had been going out for a few hours and where the ring was lost, should now be out from under the water and only under the wet sand. I started my grid search horizontally to the beach and water and up near the beach bank, leading to the dry sand. The area was very eerie in the darkness and fog with no one in sight. Starting approximately 50’ south of the Ferris Wheel, I headed towards the pier, to approximately the middle of the Carousel. This was overshooting the area I needed to search but you just don’t know if the ring had moved or how far the ring had flown off of Ed’s finger, while throwing and catching the football. So even though Ed was in front of the Ferris Wheel, who’s to say the ring didn’t end up 20 feet in front or behind him. After my first few grid lines I finally received my first non ferrous target. I believed it was too high of a conductor to be his tungsten ring and was most probably a quarter, with a VDI reading of 89. Once the target was located, it was a quarter, as I suspected. Resuming the grid search horizontally, I just wasn’t receiving any more non ferrous targets. I started to worry because it seems that someone has recently metal detected the area. There were very few targets, in a very busy area. After 30-40 minutes I received another non ferrous target and the VDI was bouncing between 63 and 75. Hmmm, interesting target. My Minelab Manticore gave it a depth of approximately 1” to 2”. I scoop the sand from where the signal originated and threw it up onto the hard wet sand. I started wiping the sand away, with my pinpointer and located the target. I then saw what look like a dark gray or black edge of a ring. I reached in and pulled out a very large black ring. I had found Ed’s ring. WOW!!! Lost for 2 days, in a heavily detected area shows that no area is truly hunted out. You just need to do your due diligence and sear the area well. Once I washed the ring off, I placed it on top of my sand scoops handle and made a video, to send to Lisa and Ed. Once they received the video, I got a reply

Oh my goodness!!!!!! This is the most amazing news!!! You are an angel!!!! We cannot believe this!!! THANK YOU!!!! ♥️💕♥️💕🥰🥰🥰My husband and I want to hug you!!! you are really an angel!!! I cannot believe how fortunate we are for people like you! I also thanked god for connecting me to you and your ability to find it.”
I replied

“😂🤣So happy for you both. I get lots of hugs and feel absolutely great knowing that the ring will soon be back on his finger. Thank you for your very kind words. I truly appreciate them. ❤️🙏”

Always a truly great feeling to help others get their very loved and sentimental rings back. It also feels fantastic to see and be told all the nice things that Lisa texted to me. This only motivates me to help more people. Who doesn’t like praise heaped upon themselves.
Since Lisa and Ed were already back home in Connecticut, I told them that I would mail the ring back to them. No need to make the drive back up to Maine when they could get in two days, via the mail. Even though I won’t be able to meet Lisa and Ed, they told me they would take a photo, once the ring arrives and send it to me. I love being able to help others out in their time of need and putting a smile on their faces.

So today, a full 10 days, since Ed lost his wedding ring, he received it, via USPS Certified Mail. I mailed it 8 days ago but for some reason, it took the USPS scenic route, with 3 or 4 days visiting Boston, Massachusetts. Then to NYC, for another 2-3 days of sightseeing and finally heading north, up to Connecticut. Once the ring arrived at their home in Connecticut, Ed and Lisa took a photo and sent it to me, sharing their smiles and the cherished wedding ring of 19 years. I truly have the best job in the world 😀❤️🙏