#Portland Maine Metal Detector Service Tag | The Ring Finders

Tungsten Wedding Ring, Lost In Leaves and Grass Clippings, In Biddeford, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Friday October 4th, 2024! Cheryl and I were on our way, to Franconia Notch State Park, in the White Mountains, of New Hampshire. We intended to hike the Artists Bluff Trail Loop, on Bald Mountain . On our way we stopped to see the Parsonsfield – Porter Covered Bridge, in Parsonsfield, Maine. While visiting the bridge, my phone rang at 8:28am. The caller identified himself as Tim and Tim had lost his Wedding Ring, 3 days earlier, on the job, in Biddeford, Maine.

Now, Tim is the owner operator of a local Landscaping business, T.A.P. Lawn & Landscape, out of Saco, Maine. On Tuesday, as he was dumping mowed grass and raked up leaves, just inside a wooded area, Tim saw his ring slip off his finger and into the pile of leaves and grass clippings. Tim told me that in the last 3 days he and his wife were really anxious, to get his ring back. Tim had spent 1 1/2 hours, on his hands and knees, going through the pile, with absolutely no luck. Tim also rented a metal detector and even though he had one target, he still couldn’t find the object, in all the leaves and grass clippings. Tim then knew he needed help and a friend of his recommended me.
I then told Tim that I should be home, in Saco, at approximately 5:00pm and I could search , at that time. Tim said that would work because he had clients to tend to and he could meet me there, after 5:00pm. I told Tim, I would call him , when I arrived home and we could meet up then. Since the ring was lost on private property, there was no concern that someone would find the ring.
Tim and I ended up meeting, at 5:30pm, at his client’s property and we immediately walked to the pile of leaves and grass clippings. The pile wasn’t very large and my first thought, to myself was that this lost ring, should be found and fairly quickly. Tim pointed out the location, on the pile, that he had seen his wedding ring fall into. You could actually see where he had been searching, in the pile.
I walked back to my vehicle and grabbed my Minelab Manticore, with the 15 inch coil. I also grabbed my Garrett Handheld Pinpointer, which I just knew would be invaluable, in this search. As always, I asked Tim what the metal content of his wedding ring is. He answered that the ring was a Tungsten Carbide ring. I then took a Tungsten Carbide ring out of my bag of test rings and threw it on the ground. I then proceeded to run the coil of my metal detector, over the Tungsten Ring, so Tim could see and hear the Tungsten Ring being detected. My clients seem to like knowing what the sound/tone, of their ring, will sound like. Once I finished showing Tim, how the detector works, I immediately started searching the pile of leaves and grass clippings. Within a minute or so, I received a signal and it was an extremely low conductor, of a target. An extremely low tone and the reading, on my VDI screen, was a 07/08. Being such a low conductor, I didn’t think this would be a tungsten ring. Once I located the target, in the leaves, with my pinpointer, I ended up pulling a used packet of ketchup, out of the pile. I immediately started searching again, It took another minute or so, before I received another non ferrous target. This time the target was nice and loud and was reading on the VDI screen was 55. I told Tim that this very could be his Tungsten Wedding Ring. I located the target, once again with my pinpointer and slowly removed a few leaves from atop the target. Still couldn’t see the target. Removed some more leaves and still couldn’t see the target. Pinpointer still locked in on it and I didn’t want to move the target, further down, into the pile and that is why, I was being so careful, removing the leaves. A third time, removing some leaves, proved to be the winner. I could see just a small area of the ring and Tim could see it also. He was just overjoyed and couldn’t wait to get the ring back, on his finger, where it belongs. Tim texted his wife, told her the good news and she was also overjoyed, with Tim relaying her thank you , to me. Tim said he was going to sleep well tonight and that he also learned a lesson and will no longer wear his wedding ring, while performing his landscaping services m to his clients.
Another smile, or three and I just love being able to help people like Tim, in their time of need.

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Sterling Silver and Turquoise Ring Lost in the Old Orchard Beach sand, Found With a Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Recovery and Return #76, for The Ring Finders of Maine

As my wife and I were on a 13 mile bike ride, I saw I had a Facebook PM, from an hour earlier, from Jessie. It said
“Hi!! My bf lost a ring in the residential area of Old Orchard Beach, Maine (near puffin st). Could you help us located it please? It’s circled in Red”.
I asked her a few questions about the location of where the ring was lost and she replied,
“The ring was lost very close to the house (Puffin St) on the beach. Right near the walkway to the road”.
Jessie then told me she was at work and her boyfriend, Matt would be calling me with more information. Matt call a few minutes later and told me that the ring would be in front of his Uncles house, on Puffin St, just 10 to 20 yards, out on the beach, going towards the water. The previous day, Sunday, September 15th, Matt and his cousins were throwing a football around, on the beach and Matt felt the ring come off, after throwing the football . Everyone in the group searched, for the ring, but it was already under the sand and out of sight.
Matt then sent me a photo of the ring and a photo, with a circled area, in which Matt was confident the ring would be in. Matt wasn’t sure just how far the ring flew off his finger, but was sure, it would be in the circle. Matt asked me if I could get down there in the next two or three days and search for his ring, he would appreciate it. I told Matt that I wasn’t waiting and would be searching, within a 1/2 hour, after finishing talking with him. A ring lost on the beach, should be searched for asap and as it was now, a full day has passed. If the beach cleaning machine had cleaned the beach already, the ring was probably lost forever. Another possibility is that another metal detectorist may have found it already. I just needed to get there asap and search.
When I arrived at the location, I saw that the beach had not been cleaned, by the beach rake. That was a huge relief. I decided to start at mid beach and grid the area, south to north , working my way towards the house. This was decided as I was communicating with Matt. I was on the beach and sending Matt photos, of the area, to try and verify the area, as best as we could. Once Matt told me

“That’s the house and spot, though it won’t be far from that location. Perfect!!! It would be closer to the houses, than the water, but that should do the trick”.

Now with the location verified, I started the grid search. I was finding very few targets as I was going along. A few pull tabs, a piece of foil and 1 quarter. The beach was very clean. After 35-40 minutes of searching and as I worked my was towards the houses, I finally received a really good target, right in the area, Matt had been throwing the football around. A very loud high tone and a 12-45/46 on my Minelab CDX-3030 VDI screen. Absolutely in the Sterling Silver range or possibly another quarter. I pulled my pinpointer out and stuck it into the sand. As I was moving it back and forth, Matt’s Sterling Silver ring with a blue and a white turquoise stone popped up and became visible to me. I didn’t even need to dig it, as it was barely under the surface. Wow, I knew Matt would be extremely happy and I sent him a text saying, “How does it feel”? Matt replied “Pardon”? I then sent Matt a photo of his ring, still in the sand, exactly as I found it, with the pinpointer. Matt then replied

“OMG! You’re incredible!!!!!. My deepest and endless thanks my friend. WOW! You’re a legend, for real”.
I sent back two laughing emojis 🤣😂

We then made plans to meet at my house, the next night, as Matt was going to be in Saco, Maine anyways. When Matt did arrive he was so polite and thankful and to,d me the ring was very special because it was a gift, from his girlfriend, Jessie. I am just so happy to have been able to help him, in his time of need. Being retired gives me the flexibility to leave anytime and search. I was afraid of the beach rake getting the ring but it all worked out and Matt now has the ring back on his finger and a smile, ear to ear.
S

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Heirloom Japanese White Gold Wedding Ring Lost, In The Ogunquit Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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As my wife and I were walking through Laurel Hill Cemetery Association today, 9/15/24, on a 5 mile walk, my phone rang. The caller identified himself as George and someone in his group, had just lost a White Gold Wedding Ring, with three small diamonds in it. George asked if I could come and search for it. I asked him where he was located and when the ring was lost. George stated the ring had been lost an hour ago and they were on Ogunquit Beach, in front of the Norseman Resort. I told George that I could absolutely help him out, I just needed to walk back home, first. I would leave to search for the ring, without even changing out of my sweaty workout clothing. After all, time is of the essence when an item is lost in a public place. The sooner I can get there, the better chance of a recovery.

So, Cheryl and I went straight home, put my beach flops on and headed to Ogunquit, Maine. Since I had been on a search and recovery yesterday, in Eliot, Maine, all my equipment was still in my car. I wasn’t sure about the traffic on route one, since we are now in mid September. The summer traffic is horrendous when trying to drive route one in Wells and Ogunquit. The traffic turned out to be better than I thought and only added about 15 minutes to the drive, from our home, in Saco, Maine. Weekend summer traffic may add anywhere from 30-45 minutes, trying to get through the route one coastal traffic.
Once we arrived, I called George and let him know that we were there. George told me his son would be there in one minute and bring me back, to where the ring was lost. Once George’s son brought us to the area, there were a group of people and a young woman stepped right up and said that it was her ring, that was lost and her name is Sophia. Sophia told me that the ring is a heirloom wedding ring and is part of a set, that goes with a matching engagement ring. She then tells me the wedding and engagement rings were originally her late Grandmother’s and was just heartbroken that she had lost it in the very fine, soft sand. Sophia also told us the she and her mother were visiting Maine, from Japan. Wow, the pressure was on now, to find the ring. I couldn’t let Sophia go home to Japan, without her heirloom ring.
I asked Sophia to walk me through what happened, when the ring was lost. Sophia told me that after arriving at the location, on the beach, she proceeded to take off her footwear and socks. As she was taking her socks off, her grandmothers wedding ring, came off and flew into the sand and out of sight. The entire group had a good idea, of where the ring had landed and proceeded to visually and manually screen the sand. They would run their fingers through the sand and push the sand around, in the hopes of finding the ring. Once they realized this was not going to be fruitless, Sophia did a very smart thing. She took a beach blanket and laid it over the area she thought the ring had landed and that they had searched. The blanket provided protection, from people walking through the area, on this extremely busy beach day. Now, no one would step on the ring, pushing it deeper into the sand or even moving the ring out of the area.
Once Sophia removed the beach blanket, she gave me her grandmother’s engagement ring and I place it on top of the sand, ran my coil over it, so everyone in the group could see and hear how I find rings. It also helps me knowing what a matching ring will sound like and what I am looking for, on my detectors VDI screen. The engagement ring rang up with a very low sounding tone and a solid repeating 12-02 on the screen. I then threw a .925 Silver ring into the sand, so that the group could hear the different sound that the different metals make. They were impressed with how different the gold and silver ring sounded and I always like to show my clients, just how a metal detector works. It’s a win, win.
So, once the demonstration of the rings were concluded, I started the search for Sophia’s heirloom wedding ring. I had brought my CTX-3030 metal detector, with the 17” coil. This large coil covers a lot of beach and helps reduce the time needed to find the target. I started the search with my back to the dunes and I was facing the water. I started swinging my coil, side to side and not even 30 seconds had passed, when I received a beautiful sounding low tone, in my headphones. The VDI screen was reading 12-02, exactly as Sophia’s grandmother’s engagement ring. WOW, Same tone and VDI reading, to a matching ring, within 30 seconds, in the area the ring was lost. I turned to the group and told them “I think this is the ring”. I was that confident. I submerged my pin pointer into the sand and moved it around the area that my coil had detected the target. Once located, with the pin pointer, I grabbed a handful of sand, nothing. Grabbed another handful of sand and I felt a ring, held it up for everyone to see and all kinds of applause and clapping broke out, even from surrounding people, who didn’t even know Sophia or me. Sophia had a few tears running down her face and she was hugging her mother. She so emotionally relieved to have her grandmother’s ring back that I could see her trembling a little. Just a few moments earlier, Sophia wasn’t even sure if she would be going home to Japan, with the ring and now she has it back on her finger. It is so gratifying, to be able, to help such wonderful people like Sophia and her family reclaim such a precious piece of heirloom jewelry. No better feeling, in the world. Smiles on Cloud Nine, once again. 😁

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Two Underwater Helical Anchors, Lost In The Saco River, Found With A Metal Detector, In Camp Ellis, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Back in the spring, I received a phone call, from Joanne. She and her husband, John were looking to find two helical anchor’s, that had once held their floating dock, in place. Approximately 8 years ago, they had the floating dock removed from the water, at the Camp Ellis, Saco, Maine property, on the Saco River. The property was near the mouth of the Saco River and was is a tidal river. The helical anchors would only be able to be found, by me and my metal detector, at low tide. Joanne and John wanted to know if I could find the anchors. I told them as long as the anchors were no more than 5 feet deep, I would absolutely give it my best shot. Joanne told me that at low tide, we should be no more than 3-4 feet deep, in the river water.

We’re the anchors now to deep, in the river mud and silt, after 8 years of just sitting, on the river bed? We wouldn’t know, until we tried. Joanne also told me that the search, would have to happen, sometime in the summer, as she and John would be returning to Florida. We agreed that they would call me when they returned to Maine and we would set up a date, to search, that would also be a negative low tide.

Fast forward to August, when John called me and we set up a date, to search for the helical anchors. The date we set was August 23rd, 2024, at 7:30am. This was approximately an hour before a negative -0.09 low tide. This would be perfect for what we need to do in the Saco River.

I arrived promptly at 7:30am and was met by Joanne and John. They showed me the area, we would be searching and if found, we would tie a couple of bouys, to the anchors, to mark their location. I then was told that there were large metal chains, that were attached to the anchors and if I could find the chains, under all the mud and silt, we could just pull the chains up and out of the muck and they would lead us, directly to the anchors. John even brought a long handle Cultivator Rake along, to rake the muck and silt, hoping to snag the metal chain, once found with my metal detector.

As John and I entered the river, we were pleasantly surprised to find the water to be very warm. I started searching the bottom of the river and within a few minutes, I received a very loud signal, in my headphones. The target wasn’t anywhere near where the helical anchors should be and John came over with the rake. He started raking, into the muck and soon snagged a large chain. This chain should lead us to the anchor. John and I started lifting the chain, out of the river bottom and followed it out, until it stopped. John reached down and found the chain was hooked to one of the anchor’s. WOW, that was easy, I thought to myself. The anchor lined up almost perfectly with the piling, on the right side of the pier, as we faced it, while standing in the river. John thought the other anchor should be to the left of this anchor and lined up with the other piling. So, I moved over to the other piling and searched back and forth, without any targets being found. After about 10 minutes of searching, I couldn’t find the anchor or the other chain. As Joanne, now in the river with us, started tying the buoy to the anchor we had just found, she came upon a chain that we thought was the same chain, I had found a few minutes earlier. We all thought that I should start searching to the right, of the found anchor, and not the left side, where I was searching . Within a few minutes of searching I received a strong signal and as John reached down, into the water and muck, he let us know that he could feel the helical and a chain. Awesome, we found both of the helical anchors. After Joanne finished tying the second buoy to the second anchor, we measured the distance of the anchors, from the pilings, just in case the buoys don’t hold up, through the  winter.

We then exited the river, with all the tools and detector, to rinse the muck off of ourselves. As we were standing around talking about what we just accomplished, I asked John what the cost would have been, to have two new helical anchors, in place, if we hadn’t found the two anchors, already there. John told me he wasn’t sure of the exact cost but they would be at least $1,000.00 each or $2,000.00 minimum for the pair. Thankfully John and Joanne won’t need to do that, now that the anchors have been found.

So, it’s not always jewelry, that I find. I have found water shutoff valves and property markers in the past and now I can add helical anchors, to the list. I’m just so thankful that I am able to help people like Joanne and John and save them some of their hard earned money.

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Family Heirloom Gold Ring Lost In The Surf at Fortunes Rocks, Biddeford, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Michelle, at approximately 11:10am, on Thursday August 22, 2024. Within the last half hour, her Grandson, Alex, had lost a passed down Gold Ring, from his deceased Grandfather. Michelle told me that Alex had been in the water at Fortunes Rocks, in Biddeford, Maine and was in the section of beach known as Middle Beach. Michelle asked if I could come right then and search for the ring. I told Michelle that by the time I loaded my equipment up and drove there, the incoming tide would most likely would make the search very difficult, if not impossible. I suggested that I come search for the ring, in the afternoon, when the tide would be receding and I would have plenty of time, searching the exposed sand. Michelle thought the incoming tide wouldn’t be that bad and I could hear the anxiousness in her voice. This ring really meant something to her and her family. I told Michelle that I would get changed,  load up and get there as quickly as I could. Once I got in the car, I texted Michelle and told her I was on my way. My text read

“Hi Michelle, Dennis Boothby, the RingFinders I am on my way. GPS estimated time of arrival is 11:35. Thank you”.

The time was now 11:23am and Fortunes Rocks is approximately 8 miles, from my home in Saco. My concern was the summer traffic, on Route 1 , from Saco, going into Biddeford. The traffic could be backed up by not only the summer traffic, but also the Amtrak Train, which crossed Route 1 and if stopped for passenger drop off and  pick up , could add another 15-20 minutes to my drive, into Biddeford. Time I didn’t have with the tide still coming in.

Thankfully, the traffic wasn’t bad and I arrived at Fortunes Rocks Beach at 11:40am and Michelle was there to greet me and show me the way, to where her family was sitting on the beach. I then met Alex and he showed me the area, of the now deeper water, of where he was when he lost his ring, when he was hit by a large wave. I immediately fired up my Minelab Excalibur ll metal detector and entered the water, with Alex. Alex had gone directly into the water, from where he was sitting on the beach and he said he went no more than 20-25 feet, to the left of where they were sitting. Alex also told me he was no deeper than his knees, when he was hit by the wave and lost his ring. Unfortunately, knee deep an hour ago, was about waist deep now and the waves were big and strong. I was trying to grid the area, with Alex in the water with me and guiding me to where he was. The waves were unrelenting and we kept getting knocked around. I would have to stop, jump up a little, let the wave pass, search a few feet, jump, let another wave pass and keep repeating this process, until the waves just became to much. Alex agreed that the area he was in was now just too deep to search, but only because the waves were too big. I have searched waist deep water and deeper but when the waves are too big, I just can’t risk it, especially with the rip currents that have been very prevalent, this summer. Once back on the beach, Michelle and the rest of her family wholeheartedly agreed that it was just to dangerous to continue and I made plans to return at 5:00pm, when the tide would be receding and I could search the exposed, wet sand, without having to worry about the water and waves.

Cheryl and I left our home at 4:30pm and arrived back at Fortunes Rocks at 4:45pm. We went back down to the beach and the family was still there. I could see Alex’s mother down by the water, walking back and forth, looking for the ring. I immediately went down and showed her how I would grid the area and I also demonstrated, with a test gold ring, how the metal detector works and what Alex’s ring would sound like, when my coil passed over the ring. I usually do this with all my clients and not only do they enjoy the demonstration, it seems to relax or relieve them a little bit.

My plan was to perform a horizontal grid search, to the beach and water from where the family was sitting, on the beach, to about 60-75 feet to the north. This would put the area of where Alex lost the ring, right in the middle of the search area. If the surf and waves had moved the ring a little bit, I would still have enough area to compensate, for the movement. It is my experience that once a Gold Ring enters the water, it really doesn’t move to much from where it entered the water, although there are exceptions to this,  that I won’t get into at this time. As I started my grid search, I was confident, the ring would be within the area I was about to grid. I hoped so because Cheryl and the entire family were watching me from up on the beach and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. The pressure was on.

I made my first grid pass from south to north, with no targets. Took a 1/2 step and headed south for my second grid pass, still no targets. On my 3rd grid pass, going north again, I received a target and after digging it , it was just a small piece of aluminum or tin, just trash. Fourth grid pass, going south again, nothing. Fifth grid pass heading north once again and BANG, I received a nice solid low tone, that I had been hoping for. The VDI screen, on my Minelab CTX-3030 was showing 12-27. This was a definite gold range reading. I put the scoop into the sand two times and threw removed sand, up onto the surface. I removed my pinpointer as started searching the pile of sand for my target. I finally saw the very small outline of a Gold Ring. I motioned to everyone up on the beach to come on down because I had found the ring. Alex and his brother ran down and I asked them If they could see ring, in the sand, they couldn’t see it and I pointed it out, to them. The rest of the group arrived and I showed them the very small piece of the exposed ring and they were all very amazed, happy, excited and stunned that the ring was found. We all chatted for a few minutes about how great it was to have this passed down family ring, back on Alex’s finger, where it belongs. Family heirloom’s are more than just a piece of jewelry. They are memories, of the family, that never leave the piece of jewelry, no matter who it now belongs to.

I absolutely love it when I am able to return a lost ring, to the owner and see nothing but smiles, all around. Another photo for my “Book of Smiles”. There is no better feeling and I am once again, on cloud nine.

 

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White Gold Wedding Ring, Lost In The Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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As I was contemplating mowing our lawn, I received the following text, at 12:02pm, on Saturday August 17th.

“HI! We are on goose rocks beach and lost a wedding ring :(“
I replied
“So sorry. Were you in the water or on the Beach (Dry Sand)?”
The reply came back
“Dry Sand. My husband feels like he knows the general area”
I replied
“Ok, Are you there now? Is the area he lost it, packed with people or will I be able to search now?”
She replied
“You can search now. I think it’s pretty open. I’m going to have him call you.”

I then received a call from Scott and he told me they were on the beach, across from The Tides Beach Club, on Goose Rocks Beach, Maine, in Kennebunkport Maine. Scott was curious as to how quickly I could get there. I told him within 30 minutes, depending on traffic, from my home, in Saco, Maine. I told him I just needed to get my equipment, in the vehicle and I would be on my way. I can usually get to Goose Rocks Beach, in just under 20 minutes, but today there was a Festival going on in Biddeford, Maine and I knew that the traffic would slow me down a bit.
Cheryl and I loaded the equipment and left for Goose Rocks Beach. We arrived approximately 25 minutes later and found a parking spot, just down, from The Tides Beach Club. As we walked onto the beach, a couple of women saw us with the metal detecting equipment and told us that they were with the group, that Scott was with. The women yelled over the group and Scott started walking towards us. While walking to the area, I asked Scott how he came to lose his ring. He told us that they had just finished having lunch, on the beach and they were standing around talking. Scott told us he was just standing there and while talking, he was fidgeting and spinning his wedding ring around his finger. All of a sudden, the ring slipped off his finger and he saw it fall into the sand. He searched the sand, along with others, in the group but they couldn’t find it. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but trust me when I tell you, it is not easy, visually finding a ring, while in the sand. Afraid of pushing the ring, deeper into the sand, the group stopped searching, for the wedding ring. Scott’s wife had known of my service and that’s when she texted me.
Scott showed us the area where they had been searching, for his ring, and I could see the disturbed sand, where the searching had taken place. I turned the Minelab CTX-3030 on and knowing this should be a fairly quick search, I didn’t extend my detector shaft, to full length, nor did I put my headphones on. I slowly swung the detector for about 30 seconds, when I heard the low tone I was hoping to hear and I told the trot that I believed the ring has been found c I pulled my pinpointer out and located the target, in the sand. It took me 3-4 attempts to actually pull Scott’s ring out of the sand, even though my pinpointer had located it. The group broke out in applause, as they saw the ring, in my hand.
Thankfully, I am able to help people out in their time of need. The ring had been pushed down to approximately 4 inches, under the sand and Scott would never have found it, visually searching. Thankfully, the group also stopped searching as they may have kept pushing the ring deeper or even outside the original search area. I was found an Engagement Ring, that was moved 10-12 feet outside the search area, because of all the walking, the searchers had done, in the area.
Scott is extremely pleased tonight and he is once again wearing his wedding ring. Me, I am also very pleased, for helping Scott and I got out of mowing the lawn, at least for today😉

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Sentimental Wedding Ring Lost In A Large Ocean Wave, In Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Sunday, August 11th, I awoke to see multiple referrals, from my Facebook followers. A Men’s Wedding Ring, was lost in the ocean, the previous day, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and my followers were telling the person to contact me. Since I had already been booked, for the morning, I did not contact the person that had made the posting. I figured I would wait and see if I was contacted, by the time I returned from my morning search. When I returned home, I still had not been contacted. A short time later I did receive the following text message, on my phone.

“Hello, I had a few folks recommend you and mentioned that you may be able to help me out, I lost a ring yesterday while I was at old orchard beach when I was in the water. I’m not super confident and think it most likely has been lost to the ocean but wanted to see if it would be worth a shot to try and find it. I have a picture of the ring and a location of where I was on the beach if you think you’d be able to take a look for me. Let me know, thank you”!

I replied

“Hi, So sorry to hear this. A few questions 1st
1) You say you lost the ring, in the water. Did you see or feel the ring come off?

2) Do you know what time you lost the ring. I will try to figure out the tide. Was it high tide, low tide, etc.. As you may know, the Rip Currents and Waves have been very bad, this summer. I may need to search, when the tide allows me to.

3) What area of OOB?

Also, just to be upfront, I do not charge for my time or my Metal Detecting Services. I do however, require a Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc.

Thank you, Dennis”

Patrick then replied with answers, to all my questions and since he lost it in the water, The tide wouldn’t be right, until approximately 7:00pm, when it would be receding and I could start searching, the area.
Cheryl and I arrived at 7:00pm and the tide had been receding for approximately 2 1/2 hours but was still very high, up on the banking/slope. I decided to start at the top of the slope, where the high tide line, meets the dry beach sand and work my way down to the bottom of the banking/slope and hopefully I would find it there. After 2 hours, at 9:00pm, I was now in the shallow water, at the bottom of the slope , in the dark, and the waves were rushing up all around me. I decided to end the search, for the night and return 1st thing, in the morning, when the tide and wave action would hopefully be easier to deal with and I could actually see what I was doing, In daylight.

I arrived back at the location at 7:30am and the tide was almost to the bottom of the slope. Patrick and I had agreed that I may not have been in the correct location, the previous night and I would move the search about 100 feet north of where I had been. The video I had sent him the night before was difficult to actually say I was in the correct locations. It is extremely hard to verify an area, when you can’t be there and are just going by a video. I sent Patrick a new video, when I arrived, In full daylight and he thought my new location was the correct location.
So, I went 1/2 way down the slope and started searching again. I was just gridding the area, horizontally to the water and following the receding tide out. Like the night before, I found a few targets, a few pull tabs and a kids Hot Wheels sports car. After approximately 25 minutes, I was very near the very bottom of the slope, when I received a beautiful low tone, that got my attention, quickly. The morning sun was extremely bright and I couldn’t see the VDI #’s on my detector’s screen, but I was loving the low tone. I plunged the head of my scoop, into the wet sand and threw the scoop full of sand, up onto the slope. I located the target, with my pinpointer and slowly wiped the sand, off of the top of it. I then saw, barely, the outline of a Gold colored ring. Could it be Patrick’s? Patrick had sent a photo of the ring and described his ring as,

“Yeah it’s this ring here, it’s a simple white gold band with yellow gold edges”

I picked the ring out of the sand, rinsed it off, to reveal a simple white band with yellow gold edges. Yes, I had found Patrick’s ring. I broke out, into my happy dance and had a very large smile, appear on my face. I then took a video and some photos, that I sent to Patrick. After receiving the video, Patrick replied

“Oh my god that’s it Dennis! You’re incredible thank you so much, I really really appreciate it. I work in North Berwick so I can meet you wherever is easiest for you once I get out of work this evening”

We made plans to meet up, once he got out of work. Patrick’s wife, Becky, also commented on her Facebook post, about the lost ring and said

“The Ring Finders of Maine you are absolutely incredible, Dennis. My husband and I are so incredibly grateful for you and your talent! This was the BEST possible news we could have hoped for. Thank you again!! ❤”

After leaving the beach dejected, the previous night, I was now on cloud nine, this morning. I called Cheryl, to come pick me up and as I waited for her arrival, the big smile m never left my face. I am so thankful and grateful, to be able to help people out in their time of need. I will now be adding Patrick, to my “Book of Smiles”.

Later this evening, Patrick sent me the following text

“Dennis, I truly can’t thank you enough, this ring had a lot of sentimental value to me and my wife and I definitely thought it had been lost for good. I will be more than happy to review you and recommend you to anyone that would need your services in the future. And my wife and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary in September, but we’ve been together for 11 years now!”

WOW!!! Patrick will now have his Wedding Ring, back on his finger, for his upcoming 1 Year Wedding Anniversary. Now that is a great way to end this story.
Happy 1st Anniversary, Becky & Patrick ❤️💍❤️

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Third Generation Gold Signet Ring, Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Ocean, Found With A Metal Detector

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

This is a continuation of Recovery and Return #62,

At 2:03pm on Wednesday, August 7th, I received a phone call from Lissa. She told me that her daughter, Kaitlin had just lost a Gold Signet Ring, approximately 10 minutes earlier, at high tide, in waist deep water. Lisa told me she and her daughter, were at the end of Seabreeze Avenue, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I told Lissa that I had a 4:00pm booking, for a lost Wedding Ring, in Ocean Park, Maine, but would be happy to search for the Gold Signet Ring, as soon as I was finished, in Ocean Park Beach. I then told Lissa, I wasn’t sure what time I could get there because I wasn’t sure how long the Ocean Park search would take. I promised her, I would be there, as soon as the Ocean Park search ended, even if I had to search, in the dark. Lissa agreed and told me they would be going out to eat, sometime between 5:00 and 5:30pm. I asked Lissa to send me some photos and a video, of the area and I would start searching, by the photos and videos, if she was unavailable, when I arrived.

When the tide and heavy surf wasn’t cooperating at Ocean Park. I left my client my backup detector, at 5:00pm and told him I would be back, when the tide was out a little further. My client could continue to search, while I was gone. Cheryl and I then left for Old Orchard Beach, Maine and sent a message, to Lissa, telling her I was on my way. She replied that she and Kaitlin would meet me at the bottom of Seabreeze Ave.. Cheryl and I arrived about 10 minutes later and Lissa met us, at the beach access path and walked with us down to the beach. The tide was way out there, unlike Ocean Park and Kaitlin was already out on the wet sand, in the area she thought she lost the Gold Signet Ring in. Kaitlyn told us that she was waist deep and she felt the ring come off her finger. She tried grabbing the ring, as it came off her finger and descended into the water and sand, to no avail. Kaitlyn and Lissa, told us that the Gold Signet Ring was actually Lissa’s Aunt’s ring and Kaitlin’s Great Aunt and has her initials on it. The initials engraved on the signet ring are, LWM. The Signet Ring had been passed down, to Kaitlin and the ring has lots of sentimental value and they were very anxious to get the ring found and returned.

I then showed Lissa and Kaitlyn how my detector works and threw a Gold Test Ring down on the wet sand, so they could hear what it sounds like and to verify the detector is set up properly. I also showed them how I would grid search the area, that Kaitlyn had said the ring was lost in. I set up my boundary markers to overshoot the area by about 20 feet, on each side of Kaitlyn’s markers, just in case the ring had moved or Kaitlyn was a little off, of her area. I then started the search and went down to the first marker, took a 1/2 step over, to my right and headed back in the other direction. I then took another 1/2 step, this time to my left and headed back to the other end. A third grid line was then performed and still nothing, at all. I started my fourth grid line and about 5 steps into it, I heard a very nice low tone, the kind that get my attention. The sun was to bright and I couldn’t see the VDI numbers, on my detector but there was no way, I was going to pass up this target. I was so confident that this was the ring, that I yelled over to Lissa, Kaitlyn and Cheryl, “This may be your ring”. As they walked towards me, took a scoop of sand and threw it up onto the wet sand. I saw the outline of a Gold Ring, saw it was a Signet Ring. I reached down, held up the ring and told them, “I found the ring “. Lissa and Kaitlyn were in disbelief and ran over to me and they both gave me a big hug. They were so happy to have the very sentimental Gold Signet Ring back. They told me that the lost ring and me finding it, would dominate the talk at the dinner table, when they went out to eat afterwards.

So, a 3rd generation Gold Signet Ring, is back with the family and there are smiles, on everyone’s faces. I just love to be able to add another recovery, in to my “Book of Smiles”.

Now I had to get back to Ocean Park and search for Tom’s Wedding Ring. I had after all , left him with my backup detector, to continue searching, while I waited for the tide and waves to recede. To see the rest of Tom’s story, please go back and read about Recovery and Return #62. That’s right, his ring was found and The Ring Finders of Maine helped in returning 2 different rings, to 2 different people, on the same day, for the 2nd time, this summer. I just absolutely love helping people out, in their time of need.

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Wedding Ring Lost In The Water, While Tossing A Football, In Ocean Park, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

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

I received a phone call at approximately 1:20pm, on Thursday August 7th. The woman calling told me a Wedding Ring had been lost at Ocean Park, Maine, approximately 15 minutes earlier. After asking a few questions, that she was relaying to someone else, she put Tom on the phone. Tom had been tossing a football with a friend, about 40 minutes prior to the 2:00pm high tide. Tom told me he was in the water and when they stopped tossing the football around, Tom noticed he was no longer wearing his Black Tungsten Wedding Ring.

Since the tide was still incoming, I agreed to meet him, in Ocean Park, at 4:00pm. This would be a full two hours, after high tide and hopefully the tide would be out far enough to search for Tom’s wedding ring.
Then at 2:03pm, I received another call. Someone has lost a Gold Signet Ring, 10 minutes earlier, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I told her, that I could come search for the signet ring, once I finished my search in Ocean Park Beach. Thankfully, the Ocean Park location and the Old Orchard Beach, Maine location were only 2 miles apart. I then texted Tom and asked him if I brought a backup metal detector, would he be willing to help search for his ring. This would speed up the whole process and with two searches lined up, Tom enthusiastically agreed.
Cheryl and I met Tom at 4:00pm and was surprised to find the tide was still very high. I set up both detectors and showed Tom the basics and even brought a Tungsten test ring, to show Tom the readings, on the detector and the sound.
Tom and I searched the slope of the beach but the waves were still very very rough and strong. After searching , for a hour, it looked like we wouldn’t be able to get to the bottom of the slope, for another hour or so, as the waves rushed up the slope, I asked Tom if he wouldn’t mind if I drove down to the next search, a few miles away. This would allow the Ocean Park tide to recede further out and hopefully, when I returned to Ocean Park, we could continue to search, further Dow the slope and onto the flat area of the beach. I also told Tom that he looked trustworthy and that I would trust him with my backup detector, so he could continue to search for his ring, as the tide slowly receded.
Cheryl and I then left for search #2. We arrived at the Old Orchard Beach location at approximately 5:25pm and Lissa met us. We parked the car and all walked down to the location of where Kaitlin, Lissa’s daughter had lost her Gold Signet Ring, in the water. The rest of this search, will be in my next story.
Cheryl and I got back in the car and headed back to Ocean Park. I saw a text come in from Tom and it said

“Found it! If you let me know where you are I can bring you your equipment”.

I replied, “That’s awesome. On my way”.

Cheryl and I arrived a few minutes later and met Tom. Tom told us that he did find the ring, on the bottom section of the slope and not the flat section. He also estimated the ring had already sunk, close to 9 inches, in the very soft, soupy sand. WOW! What a great recovery. Congratulations Tom!

Our goal at The Ring Finders is to get the clients lost item, back to the client. If that means bringing an extra detector or two, so be it. I find that when the client gets involved, they really enjoy the experience and when they end up finding their own ring, they are simply ecstatic. I am also ecstatic to be able to add to my book of smiles.

 

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Gold Wedding Ring, Lost Surfing At Scarborough Beach State Park, Maine, Found 3 Days Later, With A Metal Detector

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

On Tuesday evening, July 30th, I received the following text at 8:20pm.

“Hi, I lost my wedding band this evening surfing at Scarborogh Beach. Given the story you have on your website, it looks like this kind of thing happens out there. Please let me know next steps and what your fees are, as I’d be very interested in having you help out.
And fyi I was surfing roughly in front of the beige locker/structure about 200 yards north of the lifeguard stand. I can take a picture of the approximate location tomorrow morning.
Thanks,
John”

I replied to John, with the following,

“John, So sorry to hear this. Let me see if I have a photo.
I will say, that the rough seas and rip currents won’t help. It could actually move the ring, some distance. Fortunately the sand at Scarborough Beach State Park, is extremely hard packed and it won’t sink very deep, in the next week or so, but could be moving, as I mentioned.
I don’t charge for my time or my metal detecting services. I do require a Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear etc..
The tides will also have to come into play as the searches go much better, at low tide, so I can cover more ground”.

John agreed and I sent another text, with some questions, for John and he replied,

“1) yes, I was diving off my board and diving through a wave and it came off somewhere in that process
2) about 6:30pm tonight
3) I wasn’t very far out since it was about an hour from peak high tide so waves were breaking close to shore. I bet I was somewhere around where your scoop is in that photo, considering that it was high tide and I was mostly surfing in front of that beige locker.
4) Gold on outside, I believe white gold on inside, inscribed on underside with “forever”

I then looked at my scheduled commitments, tide charts and weather forecast. It looked like Friday 8/2/24 was the best day for me. Low tide would be at 4:15pm and I would arrive at Scarborough Beach State Park at 1:00pm and follow the tide, out, until 4:15pm. This would be almost 3 full days, since the ring was lost. Thankfully SBSP has a very hard packed sand, with lots of rocks and shells, just under the sand. This condition will not allow the ring to sink, out of range, for a few weeks. Unlike areas, in Old Orchard Beach, where the sand, in some areas is almost like quicksand and jewelry will be out of range of my detectors, in days, not weeks.
Cheryl and I arrived at 12:45pm and the line to get into the park was backed up, out onto the Black Point Road. The line moved quickly and once on the beach, we looked around and it was extremely busy, on this 90 degree day. We then walked down to the surfing area and set up our chairs and umbrella. Cheryl would have a front row seat, to watch me grid the surfing section.
I decided to perform a horizontal search, to the water and just follow the tide out. The tide wasn’t a very low, low tide, but from John’s description, I thought the tide should expose enough of the wet sand, to expose the ring.
After approximately an hour and twenty minutes, I caught up to the receding tide and decided to swing back up and start searching, via the same grid pattern, a little higher up on the sloping beach. I made one north and one south grid search and started my third one, when I received a very promising signal. A low tone and 12-13 on my VDI screen, signaling a non ferrous, low conductive metal. A great combination for gold, but also a nickel, foil and a few other common metals, could be under the sand. I plunged my scoop, into the wet sand, dug a hole and threw it up onto the surface. I couldn’t see the ring but something caught my eye, as the sun was hitting it. I wiped some sand off of the item and I saw a gold ring. Could it be John’s? I picked the ring up, rinsed it off and saw that it was both White and Yellow Gold, as John described. I looked at in inside of the ring, for an inscription. I saw an inscription of “FOREVER”, again, just as John described. I had found John’s Wedding Ring, in approximately 1 1/2 hours.
I then made a video and took a few photos and sent them to John. His reply,

“Incredible! Thank you so much. Just left you a message so look forward to connecting when convenient.”

We made plans to meet at the Saco Hannaford at 7:30ish. It was now just about 3:00pm and I was able to sit in the beach chair, under the umbrella , with Cheryl and enjoy this fine summer day.
Cheryl and I met John and his wife Jennifer at Hannaford’s and an extremely happy John, emotional Jennifer both gave me a big hug. They have been married for 21 years and they were just so happy to have John’s wedding ring back. John did tell us that he has surfed hundreds of times and this is the first time his ring has come off. John also told me it will also be the last time, as he will not wear it while surfing anymore. As we were about to leave, an overjoyed, teary eyed, Jennifer, presented me with a coin. From the DNA DOE PROJECT, the coin represents Innovation, Compassion, Integrity, Transparency and Service. I couldn’t be any prouder and happily accepted the coin, from Jennifer.
As Cheryl and I left, John and Jennifer were still standing, next to their vehicle, hugging and emotional. Knowing just how much the wedding ring means to John and Jennifer, I am extremely grateful that I am able to help people like them out, in their time of need.

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