#The Ring Finders of Maine Lost Ring Tag | The Ring Finders

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.

Very Sentimental Antique Gold Engagement Ring Lost In An Acton, Maine Pond, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Monday evening, August 11th, I received the following text, from John

John – “Can you search in water up to 4.5 feet”

Me – “Yes. If in the ocean, it would depend on the wave action.”

John – “Horn Pond near the boat launch. It’s in Acton, Maine.”

Me – “What is the object that I would be searching for?”

John – “An antique 10k gold ring with gems? It was my girlfriend’s grandmothers?”

Me – “Did she see the ring come off and that is why the ring is thought to be there?”

John – “Yes. She was wearing it on a necklace splashing around and the necklace broke.”

Me – “Ok, how long ago was it lost and I’m sure people have visually searched? Is the bottom of the pond sandy?”

John – “It was lost Sunday. Two people searched for about 30 minutes but we had to leave. It’s sandy with a lot of rocks.”

Me – “Ok, I can certainly search for it. Would someone be able to meet me there and show me the location?”

John replied that he could meet me there, on Wednesday, at 8:00am. I told him that I would be there, with my diving detector, the Minelab Excalibur II.
So, Wednesday morning, Cheryl and I drove the 50 minutes to Horn Pond, in Acton Maine!, from our home, in Saco, Maine. We arrived a few minutes early and John was still on his way. He explained the location to me and I decided to start searching for the antique ring, prior to his arrival. I would grid search parallel with the dam, which runs across the state border line, from Acton, Maine, into Wakefield, New Hampshire. My first multi state search, let’s hope it’s successful. I immediately realized that this area of the pond had never been metal detected. I was finding many coins and even a stainless steel fidget or spinner ring. During the first grid line pass, John and his girlfriend, Brooklyn showed up and sat on the dam, as I searched. I explained that I need to start along the dam, because it was where they entered the pond and when the chain broke, Brooklyn’s ring May have flung, in any direction. I needed to know where I had been and where I hadn’t been. I would work my way, to the area where they had been splashing around, just 15 or 20 feet or so away. Brooklyn told me the ring was yellow gold, with a blue gemstone. I told them that if the ring were here, I would find it.
I continued the first grid line pass, but no ring. I then started back towards the Maine shore and more coins were being found, but no ring. For such a small area, there were a lot of coins. I then headed back to New Hampshire and I told John and Brooklyn that I was hoping the ring didn’t end up in the deeper water, on the New Hampshire side, of the pond. I will usually go as deep as my neck, if I feel safe. If the ring ended up in 6 feet of water, I wouldn’t be able to get it. Nothing but more coins found m heading to New Hampshire. I then turned and headed towards Maine, once again. Approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to the Maine shore I received the best sounding tone, in my headphones. Unlike the Minelab Manticore metal detector, that I use, the Excalibur is by sound only. No VDI screen to show me ferrous or non ferrous. No depth gauge and no conductivity VDI numbers. The Excalibur is just by tone and tone alone. I have been using an Excalibur since 2006 and you get to know the sound of different items. Gold has a very low tone that is music to my ears. This target was the sound of gold. I stopped what I was doing and told Brooklyn and John that “this one sounds really good”. I told Cheryl to start the video because I knew if this wasn’t Brooklyn’s ring, it was still going to be gold. Because the bottom of the pond was sand and rocks, I had been fanning the sand, with my hand, because my scoop couldn’t get through all the rocks. By fanning the sand away, I could then see the target. So I knelt and bent over low, slowly fanning the sand away and then I caught a glimpse of a shiny gold ring. It had a blue stone, just like Brooklyn had said. I pick the ring up, raised my hand up out of the water and said, “there you go, I got it.” I then walked it over to the young couple and passed it to John, who then passed it to Brooklyn. She now had her extremely sentimental ring back. A ring that was once her grandmother’s engagement ring, in now back where it belongs. Brooklyn and John were all smiles and still in disbelief that she had the ring back. Just three days earlier, they thought the ring was gone forever and John mentioned to his sister that Brooklyn had lost her ring. John’s sister told him he should call The Ring Finders of Maine and John who had never heard of us looked at his sister and said, “The Ring who?” John and Brooklyn know who we are and told me they will be telling everyone about us and they will be doing it with smiles, on their faces.
I love being able to help people like Brooklyn because a ring like hers is more than just a ring, more than just a monetary value, it is family history. Now Brooklyn will have a chance to continue to add history with her ring. When I see her face and it is no longer sad, but happy, I know I will sleep well tonight. ❤️🙏

Gold Wedding Ring Lost In Thick Vegetation After Being Stung By Wasps, In Windham Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Monday evening, July 21st, I received the following voicemail

“Hi, My name is Brooke T******* and I live in the Town of Windham, Maine. My husband and I, um, he was mowing the lawn, the other day and was stung by a couple of hornets and he was swatting around and his wedding ring flew off, in our yard or maybe the woods nearby. We’ve been searching and haven’t been able to find it, um, I came out to try and help him and I also got stung by four and one was in the eye. It’s been quite a few interesting days. We did get a friend’s metal detector but we still haven’t been able to find it. We’ve heard good things about you guys and thought we’d just call and see if you might be able to help, as well. If you get this message and wouldn’t mind calling, at some point. My number is 508-***-****. Thank you so much, bye, bye.”
I called her back as soon as I heard the voicemail. Brooke explained that 4 days earlier, on Thursday July 17th, her husband, Mike, had been mowing the lawn, when he unknowingly ran over an underground hornets nest. The hornets came flying out, of the underground hole and started attacking him. As Mike was running, trying to get away, he was swatting the bees off and flinging his arms around, trying to keep the hornets away. Mike was stung multiple times and when Brooke went out to help him, she was also attacked and stung multiple times, including a sting, right next to her eye. The eye area immediately started swelling and she needed immediate medical attention, at a local quick care facility. Mike woke up the next morning and his arm was extremely swollen and also needed medical attention. Both Brooke and Mike were put on medication, to help alleviate the symptoms of the hornets stings.
At some point, the previous day, after being stung, Mike realized his white gold wedding ring had gone missing. Most likely when he was flailing his arms, after being attacked by the hornets. So, once the hornets nest was taken care of and filled in. Mike and Brooke borrowed a friend’s metal detector and searched their lawn, with no luck. They told me the detector kept making noises but there was never anything there, when they looked. I told Brooke that the noises she was hearing, were most likely targets, in the ground. I also told her that if they had never used a metal detector before, it would be very difficult to understand what was going on. The metal detector will beep on anything metal, above and below the ground. It will beep on ferrous and non ferrous metals. If you don’t understand what the machine is telling you, you will get frustrated very quickly. That is why I always tell clients not to go buy or rent a metal detector. In most instances you will be wasting your money. You are better off by calling us, The Ring Finders of Maine. Not only are we less money, than renting a metal detector but Gary Hill and I have 40 years of experience, between us. I will also bring an extra detector, if a client would like to help, at no cost, other than our Transportation Costs, that’s it.
I told Brooke that Gary and I were currently searching for 2 lost Gold rings in the Ferry Beach State Park area, of Saco, Maine. We could only search for those gold rings at low tide and once those were found, I would call her back and set up a date and time to search for Mike’s wedding ring. I explained that Mike’s ring was on private property and wouldn’t be going anywhere but the two gold rings, in the ocean, were an emergency, because of the tides, waves and possibly other metal detectorists. Brooke totally understood! Unfortunately, it took Gary, myself and my clients son, Ben, the next 4 days, before Ben finally recovered the two rings, on Friday, July 25th. That same day, we received 2 more emergency call outs, with Gary going to Ocean Park Beach, to search for a pair of prescription glasses and I went to Ogunquit Beach, to search for 3 lost gold and diamond rings. Gary recovered the glasses but I didn’t find the rings, on Friday, but was heading back to Ogunquit, Maine: Beautiful Place by the Sea, pre dawn, in the morning. Meanwhile, Brooke contacted me on Saturday morning and asked if I would be able to come and search this weekend. I explained that I had just returned from Ogunquit, Maine and had found the 3 gold and diamond rings and was now at Bayview Beach, in Saco, searching for a lifeguard’s lost gold pendant. I wasn’t wasn’t sure how long I would be. Gary had already left, this morning and was driving his grandson back to South Carolina and wouldn’t be available. Sunday, Cheryl and I were going to Boston, to a Boston Red Sox game. I told Brooke that I could do any morning, next week starting on Tuesday July 29. Brooke and I ended up agreeing to a search on Friday, August 1st.

Today, August 1st, Cheryl and I arrived promptly at 8:00am and Brooke and Mike came right out, to meet us. Mike had to leave and get his two sons to rec camp but first took me to the area where the underground hornets nest had been. The underground nest was now defunct and filled in, thankfully. Mike showed me the route he ran , as he was fleeing the hornets. The grass hadn’t been mowed, which is a good thing, and because of the lack of rain, the grass wasn’t tall at all. If the ring were on the lawn, I would think it would have been visible to find. Mike and Brooke had already metal detected the lawn, along with visually searching, many times, without finding the ring. Mike had also started cutting back the overgrown wild raspberries vines, and other thick vegetation. I told Mike that I would grid the lawn, just to eliminate that area. The lawn wasn’t very large and I could do it in approximately 15 minutes. I would then try and get in the thick vegetation and vines, as best I could. Mike then left with his sons and Brooke had to get to work.
I did grid search the lawn in approximately 15 minutes and the ring was not found. I decided to enter the thick vegetation just behind where the underground hornets nest had been. I really couldn’t swing my detector very well, because of all the vines. I would stand on the vines, best I could without getting pricked and swing over the area as best as I could. Some areas I couldn’t swing at all and I took off my 11” coil, used on the lawn and put my 8” elliptical coil on. The small elliptical coil worked much better, in the thick vegetation because if I couldn’t swing it properly, I could push it between the vines much better. I still wasn’t able to search every square foot, but I was able to cover much more ground, with the smaller coil. After approximately 15 minutes in the overgrown brush, I finally received a good sounding target. A nice loud low tone, repeating on the VDI screen at 29-30. Definitely a good sounding and looking target. As I looked down, into the extremely thick vegetation, I still couldn’t see the target. I got my pinpointer out and located the target. Even with the pinpointer, I still couldn’t see the target. Whatever it was, it was deep in the vegetation. As I started removing the vegetation, I caught a glimpse of a round, silver colored ring. A white gold ring? After taking a few photos, I picked the ring up and it was very heavy. It was Mike’s wedding ring, which has now been lost for 15 days. I called Brooke and told her I had found the ring and because she and Mike both work from home, she came right out but Mike was on a call, but would be out shortly. I showed Brooke the area I found the wedding ring but because of the prickly vines and heavy vegetation, she couldn’t get all the way out to where I was. She was elated and said, “ You are amazing “. Mike then came out and I showed him the spot where I found it and he agreed that the ring would never have be found , visually. It truly is amazing how a ring can just disappear, from sight. The ring was found approximately 10” to 12” from the edge of the lawn and without a metal detector, it wouldn’t have been found. I gave Mike his ring back and he immediately put it back on. Brooke had told us that Mike “Felt Naked Without His Ring On”. Mike gave me a nice big firm handshake and a nice big smile. He was so happy to finally have his almost 10 year wedding ring back on his finger, where it belongs. I love being able to do this for others but also for myself. There is no better feeling than to hand back a lost item to the rightful owner and see the happiness, on their face. 😀❤️🙏

Gold Religious Pendant Lost In The Saco Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday July 25th, as I was driving home, from Ogunquit Beach, I received a call from Eliza. Eliza told me that she is a lifeguard, at Bayview Beach, in Saco, Maine. Another lifeguard had recommended me to her. The other lifeguard had seen me make a recovery a few weeks earlier, just up the beach, at Kinney Shores, Maine. Eliza told me that on the previous day, as her shift ended, at 5:00pm, she noticed that she was missing her Gold Religious Pendant. The necklace was still around her neck but had become unclasped. She had it on, when starting her shift, at 9:00am but now it was nowhere to be found. Eliza told me that it had been very hot day and she had gone down to the water to cool off, while swimming. She had done this multiple times, throughout the day and just didn’t know when the pendant, fell off the necklace. It could be in the ocean, around the lifeguard stand or in the sand, along the route she used, to walk to the water, for her swim multiple swims. I told Eliza that I would be right there, as fast as I could but was about 45 minutes away. Eliza said no rush, she would be there all day.

Once I arrived at Bayview Beach, I went to the lifeguard stand and immediately saw Eliza, up on the stand, with her lifeguard partner. Eliza came down and showed me the areas she had walked, the previous day and the entire area, around the lifeguard stand are the areas she was hoping the pendant, would be in. If the pendant were in the water, I would need to return because the tide was currently high and I wouldn’t be able to search until the tide was receding. I told Eliza that I would grid search, down to the water, turn around, back to the lifeguard stand, back to the water, until I was outside the areas she had been. If I was not able to locate the pendant at that point, I would search around the lifeguard stand itself. If I still hadn’t recovered it, I would come back tonight and search the wet sand, as the tide was going out.
As I performed the east/west grid search, I was finding the usual beach trash, pull tabs, bottle caps, and foil. No coins, jewelry or pendant. I stood at the base of the lifeguard stand talking to Eliza and her partner, telling them the pendant wasn’t on the route, to the beach. I would now search the areas under and around the lifeguard stand itself I stepped back and starting on the left side of the stand, as you faced it, I took my first swing and received a nice loud low tone and showing up on my VDI screen as a 28. Definitely in the gold range by the tone and VDI reading. I removed my pinpointer from my pouch and ran it across the top of the soft sand. I located the target right off the bat and as I gently brushed the sand away, I caught a glimpse of the gold pendant. It was literally just to the left of the stand and next to the stairs. I picked the pendant up and looked at Eliza, saying “did you say a go,d pendant?” As soon as she saw her pendant a big smile broke out and she said “oh my god, that’s it. Thank you so much.” I then handed the pendant over to Eliza and she thanked me again. I told her that I was waiving the travel fee because I offer this service to First Responders, at no cost to them. All First Responders are so important to our communities. I just wouldn’t feel right charging a transportation fee to them, when they would help me whenever I would need them. Eliza thanked me again and I couldn’t be happier for her to get her very special Religious Pendant back. I love my job and putting smiles on peoples faces. 😀❤️🙏