#Wells Maine Metal Detector Rental And Service Tag | The Ring Finders

Platinum Class Ring Lost In Snow, Found With A Metal Detector In South Portland, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Tuesday evening I received a phone call, from Hailey and I could hear the anguish, in her voice. Approximately an hour earlier, at 9:00pm, Hailey lost her 2023 Oak Hill High School class ring. Hailey is a second year student at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), in South Portland, Maine and was sledding, on a very small hill, on campus. Hailey and her friends didn’t have anything to slide with, so they improvised some pizza boxes, into sleds. With a snowy winter storm still raging on, Hailey was enjoying the fun of sliding down the hill, with her friends. On her third or fourth trip down the hill, Hailey noticed her 2023 Platinum class ring was no longer on her finger. Hailey and her friends search the snowy hillside for an hour, without finding the ring. At this point, one of her friends suggested Hailey call The Ring Finders of Maine. I told Hailey that I could absolutely search for her ring, but not until the next morning. Because the snow storm was still fairly strong and raging on, I wasn’t going to drive out there, until the storm stopped.

The next morning I arrived at SMCC and called Hailey. Hailey told me she would be right down. I saw a father and his two young children, sledding on the hill and asked them if they had found a ring. They had not. So while waiting for Hailey, I gave the children a demonstration, on how a metal detector works. They had shown an interest, when they saw my metal detector and since I like to set up and calibrate my detector, before I search, it was a win, win. The children loved how my detector, could find metal, under the snow. As I was finishing the demonstration, Hailey arrived, from her dorm room. Hailey then showed me the area they had been sledding and it was a very small area. I was able to search the area in just 10 minutes or so. Since I had searched just half of the hill area, she had been sledding down, I told Hailey, I would expand the search area, to the other half of the hill, on the chance it flew off her finger to that area. I would at the same time, research the area, I had just covered, At the bottom of the hill, there is a parking lot and some snow had been plowed , onto the base of the hill. I asked Hailey if the snowbanks, at the bottom of the hill, had been there, the previous evening. She replied they had not. I was concerned that her class ring may have been plowed into the now fairly frozen snowbank. Hailey had to go back to her dorm room for a few minutes and as she left, I started my grid search, at the top of hill and worked my way down, towards the snowbank and parking lot. I was unable to locate the ring, on the hill. As I stood at the base of the hill, looking at the snowbank, I knew there was no way I would find the ring, deep inside the frozen snowbank. From the parking lot, I  searched the hard packed snow, leading up to the snowbank. The ring was not in the parking lot. I decided to search the snowbank as best as I could, from the parking lot side first. Almost immediately, I received a very faint low tone, reading 05, on my VDI screen and approximately 6-7 inches in the snow. The reading told me that it was definitely a low conducting, non ferrous metal, the same as Platinum. Unfortunately there are many non ferrous trash signals that could ring up in that range, including different foils. It wasn’t a great sounding target but I needed to perform due diligence and check the target out. I removed some snow and ice and then I saw a reddish or purplish colored stone, in a silver colored setting. The ring has been found. I took a few photos, of the ring, as I first saw it. I then called Hailey and as the phone was ringing, Hailey appears at the top of the hill. I asked if she could come down, to the bottom of the hill, so I could ask  her some more questions. When she made it to the bottom, I told her to look in the dug hole, in the snow and asked her “ Does that look familiar?” As Hailey looked into the hole and saw her class ring she says, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Thank you” and picks the ring up, placing it back on her finger. Hailey kept thanking me and seeing just how much this ring means to her put a big smile on my face. I then told Hailey that she shouldn’t be wearing her rings, while sledding. Hailey told me she would never wear them again, while sledding. A lesson learned for a young college student, smiles all around and another ring back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Gold And Diamond Engagement Ring Lost In The New Hampshire Grass and Leaves, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Kevin, on late Thursday afternoon, November 13th. Kevin told me that a white gold engagement ring had been lost, in the backyard, of his New Hampshire home.  I then asked him how long ago the engagement ring had been lost and why did he think the ring was out in the backyard? “Did your wife see or feel the ring come off, in the backyard”? Kevin replied that “The ring was lost last night. We were having a disagreement and the ring flew out the upstairs window and into the backyard. I have looked for it but can’t find it. I even threw quarters out the window to see where they would land, but the grass is tall and leaves are everywhere”. Well, ok then. These things do happen and Gary and I have been involved in 5-6 of these, over the last few years. Gary actually found a thrown ring earlier this year. The wedding ring had been thrown into the woods, back in 1997 and the ring was found 5” in the ground. That’s right, the ring had been in the woods, lost,  for approximately 27 years. Anyways, this isn’t the first thrown ring and certainly won’t be the last. Kevin wanted to know if I would be able to search, for the ring, in the morning. I told Kevin I would definitely be there in the morning, probably around 9:00am. Kevin then asked if anyone needed  to be there, as both he and his wife would be leaving for work, while it was still dark out. I told Kevin that no-one needed to be there but asked if he could send me a photo, of the area, that needed to be searched. Kevin agreed and actually sent me two photos. One photo was of the backyard, taken from the window, that the ring was thrown out of. The second photo was taken outside , showing the upstairs window, that the ring was thrown out of. This was perfect and the area was very small. Looking at the photos, I figured I could cover the area in just 20-30 minutes, max.

So, this morning, Cheryl and I headed out to New Hampshire. We arrived at right at 9:00am. We walked out back and the first thing I noticed was just how many leaves were in the yard, mixed in with the tall grass. No wonder Kevin didn’t find the ring. I decided to start at the top of the slope, because we found a test Quarter, that Kevin had thrown out the window. As I worked my way down the slope, I wasn’t receiving any targets, at all. A very clean lawn. Once I arrived at the bottom of the slope, I was making my way southeast, when nI received a nice sounding low tone, reading as a 19, on my VDI screen. Definitely in the gold range. I couldn’t see anthill because of the thick grass and leaves. I then took my pinpointer out and started zeroing in on the target. Once I pinpointed the target, I started removing some leaves with my hand, when I saw a beautiful engagement ring, staring back at me. We had found the ring in only 5-6 minutes. Because of the circumstances, I knew the ring should be found fairly quickly but it is still a relief when you actually see the ring. Since both Kevin and his wife were not home, I took a photo and sent it to Kevin, showing the engagement ring and my business card. Kevin replied “ WOW, that was fast.” I replied “5-6 minutes, Down over the hill.” He replied “Wow, In the leaves.” Because neither Kevin or his wife were home , Kevin asked me to place the ring in the garage.  “The garage side door is open, you can leave it in a tool box drawer. Can’t miss it.” I went into the garage side door, to look for the tool box. Cheryl went to our vehicle, to find a sandwich bag, to place the ring in. I found the large tool box, with no issue. Cheryl brought the sandwich bag to me and we placed the engagement ring, the quarter and my business card, into it. I then opened one of the drawers and placed the bag under some tool,  in the back right corner, of the drawer. Now this was a little unnerving to me. I really didn’t feel right just hiding the ring, inside a garage but Kevin told me neither of them would be home until 5:00pm or so. I then asked Kevin to let us know as soon as they get home and have found the ring. I have enough stress, in my life, I don’t need to worry about an engagement ring I found and left behind. At just after 5:00pm, Kevin texted me and said, “Got it!!! Back on the finger.” Kevin then thank me again and Cheryl and I couldn’t be happier or more relieved. 

Like I have mentioned, Rings being thrown are nothing new to us and we don’t judge people for these occurrences. They happen and will continue to happen and we will continue to help find them, free of judgement. I am just so thankful that Kevin called me immediately. If the backyard had been raked, mulched, mowed, etc., who knows if the ring would have been found. Kevin did the exact correct thing he should have done. He did not disturb the area and he called us for help. After approximately 16 hours after being thrown, the ring was found and returned. Another ring is back on the finger and everyone is smiling tonight. Kevin and his wife were not home, so I was unable to get a photo with either of them. We have the best job in the world.

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Sentimental Gold Cross Pendant, With Diamonds, Lost In The Saco Maine Grass and Leaves, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Lori, on Monday, November 3rd, concerning a lost Gold Cross Pendant , with Diamonds. Lori’s son, Anakin, and his friend, Caleb, had been playing football, in the backyard, after school. Once they were inside Lori’s home, Caleb noticed his Gold Cross Pendant was missing but the necklace was still around his neck. Everyone searched the backyard but they were unable to find the Gold Cross. They even went back out and searched, in the dark, with flashlights, to no avail. We made plans for me to search, first thing the next morning ,Tuesday. Caleb didn’t have school, at Thornton Academy, because it would be Election Day and all of the City of Saco Government wards, vote at Thornton Academy. Caleb would be able to show me exactly where he had been in the backyard, which would be a big help.

Tuesday morning, I arrived promptly at 8:00am and was shown the area to be searched by Caleb, Lori and Anakin. The backyard isn’t very big and I was confident I would find it, if it was there. Caleb wasn’t even sure, if the Gold Cross had been lost in the yard. He was concerned that he had lost it at school, as he was removing his backpack and then putting it back on, throughout the day. Caleb was also concerned that he had lost it, while walking to Anakin’s and Lori’s home, almost a mile, from Thornton Academy. The school and the walk presented problems because anyone could have seen the Gold Cross, in those public areas and kept it. Our best chance at a recovery is for the Gold Cross, to be in the yard. I was told the Gold Cross with Diamonds was a very special gift, to Caleb, from his mother. I could see the hurt in Caleb’s eyes and want to so much, find this special gift, for him.

Now the home is located at the Cote Funeral Home, in Saco. Cote Funeral Home is a very well known and respected local business, that is family owned and on their 5th generation, of Funeral Directors. WOW!!!

As I started grid searching the area, I couldn’t believe how much metal was not only in the area, but also in the ground. Fencing, generator, underground wiring, sprinkler heads are tough but then Lori told me that a home had been torn down, when the expansion of the Cote Funeral Home happened, many years earlier. Could this have been why there was so much metal, in the ground? A demolition would certainly explain a lot of metal, in the ground. After grid searching the backyard, the flower garden and a small area, on the other side of the fence, I was not able to locate Caleb’s Gold Cross Pendant. I suggested to Lori, to notify the Saco Police Department, in the event someone found it on the side walk. I also suggested that they contact Thornton Academy, in the event it had been found at the school. Lori was already ahead of me and told me that they had already contacted TA and the Saco Police. I wished them well and told them to don’t give up searching because these items sometimes are found days, months and yes, even years later.

When I am not able to find someone’s lost item, it bothers me and it bothers Gary Hill , as well. We just don’t enjoy disappointing our clients. It feels like we’ve let our clients down, when we are unable to locate their lost items. I go over the unsuccessful search, in my mind and think if there is anything else I could have done. I just had a bad taste in my mouth, about all the metal, in the search area. That much metal can absolutely cause us to miss such a small thing like the Gold Cross Pendant. Metal in and above the ground can interfere with a metal detector’s ability to find a small gold cross by creating false signals, masking the small target, and reducing the detector’s accuracy. As I thought about it, I decided to go back to Cote’s Funeral Home and search the area, for a second time. Since I had searched the area, with my 11’ coil, I decided to search the area with my 8” elliptical coil. This is my most sensitive coil, to small gold and because it is much smaller than my 11” coil, I would be able to try and isolate a smaller area, under my coil, resulting in less metal being detected, at the same time. If I could isolate the gold cross pendant, under the coil, I would have a much better chance of finding Caleb’s pendant. I immediately called Lori and asked if I could come over, sometime in the next few days and search the area, again. Lori was 100% behind this idea.

So today, Monday November 10th, I went back over to Cote’s Funeral Home, with my 8””sniper” coil. I live less than a quarter mile, around the corner, from Cote’s Funeral Home so I decided that if I wasn’t successful today , I would try again tomorrow. Once I arrived I decided to perform an East – West grid search pattern, as I had already done a North – South pattern, in my earlier search. I started in the corner, next to the generator and once again, couldn’t get close to it, because of all the metal, above and below the ground. Once I was searching, in the open yard, I was still getting lots of metal, but nowhere near what I was getting, with the 11” coil. I was able to isolate the targets much better, with the smaller coil. I was also using a different metal detecting program. I was using the most sensitive program, on my Minelab Manticore, the Goldfield Program. This program along with my most sensitive coil was hopefully the winning combination. I was now feeling very confident ,that if the cross was here, I would find it, with this setup. As I plodded along, I was getting many non ferrous, low conductive targets, which is what I was looking for. Unfortunately all those targets were in the ground and the Gold Cross would still be above the ground. I was now about an hour into the search and about 1/2 to 3/4 of the area had been searched. As I was about to finish up another section of yard, I received another great gold signal. I looked down and couldn’t see anything but grass and leaves. I took my pinpointer out and as I was running it through the grass, I heard the target and caught a very small glimpse of something gold. I looked again and there was a very small gold cross. I couldn’t believe it. Caleb’s gold cross has been found. I called Lori and said, “Guess what I just found?” Lori literally screamed, in delight. She told me she would be right home, in 5 minutes. I left the gold cross, in the grass as I found it and showed Lori just how well it was hiding. Lori then told me that Caleb just had surgery, for a torn ACL, just a few days ago and after I had met him, almost a week earlier. Caleb was in pain still, from the surgery and hasn’t been sleeping well. He is at home recuperating and Lori was going to drive right over to Caleb’s house and surprise him and hopefully cheer him up a bit. I was so happy that Caleb will soon have his Gold Cross back. This should definitely be a mood booster.

Later that afternoon, Lori texted me and said , “Thank you again, so much. He was so thrilled and so was his mom. See the attached photo.” Lori sent me a photo of Caleb, recuperating , with a big smile on his face. Even though I haven’t seen Caleb, since he received his very special Gold Cross back, I got the biggest smile on my face, seeing him holding his cross, and the big smile on his face. Another smile and another piece of jewelry back with the rightful owner. There in no better feeling, in the world, than to help people, like Caleb. I have the best job, in the world. Here’s wishing Caleb a speedy and healthy recovery 😀❤️🙏

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Lost Gold Signet Ring Found With A Metal Detector, Buried In The Grass For The Second Time, In Portland Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following text, on Friday afternoon, September 2th, 2025,

‘Hello, I hope you’re doing well and had a great summer!

A few weeks ago, my husband lost his ring in either our front or backyard and we have been looking for it since. We even bought our own metal detector but have had no success. Feeling a little hopeless, we are reaching out to see if you’ll be able to help us find it!

We are unsure if it was spotted in the front yard and someone took it, or if it is buried under some grass. Knowing it’s been weeks, we are now looking for some closure.Funny enough, you helped us find this ring in the winter under some snow. We would love if you could help us out one last time.”

 

Wait, What do you mean that I had already found this ring once? A repeat customer? I immediately called back and Alexa answered. Alexa explained that I had found her husband’s Gold Signet Ring, back in February, after he had slipped and fallen, on the ice, in their driveway, of their Portland Maine home. Ethan had been snow blowing the driveway, when he slipped on a patch of ice, sending him to the ground, hard. His Gold Signet Ring went flying off his finger. I found his Gold Signet Ring the next morning, under the snow and ice.

This time however, Alexa explained that she and Ethan had been moving their kayak’s from the vehicle out in front of their house, to the backyard. They had walked across the front lawn and the driveway. Once in the backyard, Ethan washed the kayaks, prior to hanging them up, on their fence. Ethan also had gone to other areas, in the backyard, while performing yard work, etc.. Alexa told me the ring had been missing for approximately 2-3 weeks and Ethan actually went and purchased a metal detector and searched the front, side and backyard, without finding the gold signet ring. They had also raked the lawn, hoping the ring would be removed from the thick grass, of some of the areas. It was then they decided to mow the lawn and hopefully see it, once the grass was cut. After mowing the lawn, they also visually searched. barefoot, hoping they would feel the ring, if stepped on. Still no ring. Alexa and Ethan had given up hope of finding the ring, on their own. They even thought the ring may have been found already, if the ring had been lost on the front lawn, near the street, where any passerby may have seen it, just lying there. I told Alexa that the ring being lost near the street was also a concern of mine. She was correct in thinking that a passerby could have seen the ring and taken it. I also conveyed my concern of mowing the lawn. Lawn mowers have been know to damage rings and also throw a ring, out of the area, you thought it may be in. In summary, you should never, ever mow a lawn, until the area has been searched with a metal detector and by a knowledgable and experienced metal detectorist. If at all possible, the area should not be disturbed, in any manner, until the area has been searched, with a metal detector. It is also recommended to not wait to contact someone to search. Time is of the essence and the odds of finding a lost ring diminishes the longer it is missing. Not impossible, by any means, but just tougher to find. 

Alexa and I agreed, for me to search their property the next morning, at 8:00am. I arrived just prior to 8:00am and Ethan came right outside. Ethan then ran through the events of the day, when lost the signet ring.  He then walked me around the property, showing me where he had been that day, 3 weeks ago. The ring could be pretty much anywhere on the property. Ethan told me that he had become frustrated, with the metal detector because it was making so many noises and there wasn’t anything there and just gave up. I told him it is understandable because of his inexperience and all the metal, in the area. My concerns were that the fenced in backyard had a lot of metal around, including the fences. It is tough for an experienced detectorist to search around so much metal, never mind someone using a metal detector, for the first time. I am a methodical, grid searching kind of guy. I like to start at the beginning of an area (this time, the front lawn) and grid search towards the backyard, until I have searched the entire property. I do this every time, unless the client can tell me with certainty, the ring will not be in an area. Ethan couldn’t do that and I went with my tried and true grid search. Ethan then went inside and told me to just knock on the door, if I needed anything. Looking at the property, I knew I could search the front, side and backyard in 45 minutes ro an hour, as it really wasn’t very large. I started the grid search at the street and worked my way towards  the house. Nothing even close to being a gold ring was found. I did locate a quarter, on top of the ground and placed it on the asphalt, of the driveway. So Ethan or Alexa, Just next to the front lawn and behind your vehicle, I left you a quarter, if you would like to go out and get it. So, back to the search. The front lawn only took me 10-12 minutes and the side lawn another 5 minutes. No ring was found. I then went to the back yard and my detectors couldn’t get very close to the fence or propane tanks. I actually used my pinpointer, around those areas, in the thick grass. Still no ring. As I worked my was along the backside of the house, I came upon the area across from the water spigot and hose. This is the ares that Ethan had washed the kayaks in. Just as I was almost past the hose, I received a loud target, reading 56-57, on my VDI Screen. Interestingly enough, I had refreshed my memory of the first search, by reading he story of me finding Ethan’s signet ring, back in February. His signet ring rang up as a 55, when I found it, in the snow and ice.  So a 55 on the VDI Screen, 7 months earlier and now a 56-57. Could this be his lost ring? I looked down in the thick grass and couldn’t see anything.  I turned my pinpointer on and located the target. I then pushed back the grass a little bit and I saw a small section of a gold ring. Ethan’s ring had been found. I then called Alexa, asking her “ Could you and Ethen come outside. I have something for you?” Alexa screamed into the phone, “You’ve got to be kidding me” and before I knew it, Ethan came running out the back door and appeared in the backyard, with Alexa. I showed them the general area, the ring was located but the ring was still hidden. I ran my coil over area and Ethan then moved some of the grass back and he saw his ring, for the first time in weeks. It is still amazing to me, that these large rings just disappear and cannot be seen, in the grass. So Ethan has his Gold Signet Ring back, once again and everyone was happy and smiling. Ethan said he would look into getting his ring resized and I also suggested a silicone ring adjuster/sizer. They work great and are only around $10.00 at Amazon or Walmart, compared to a few hundred dollars to get a gold ring resized. Just before I left I gave  Ethan a quick tutorial on the metal detector he had bought. I told him if he lost his ring again, he should be able to now find it with his detector and if he doesn’t find his ring, he can always call me back, once again and I will be happy to help. I love my job

 

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Heirloom 14K Gold Pendant Lost In Sand And Grass Area, In Arundel, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a message, from Chelsea, on Saturday evening, asking if I would be able to search for a lost necklace and pendant. I immediately called Chelsea back. Chelsea told me that her 13 year old daughter, Emma, had lost a Gold Necklace and Pendant, at a family birthday party. The birthday party was at Chelsea’s father’s property, in Arundel, Maine. Chelsea told me that there were many adults and children looking for the necklace and pendant but they just could’t find them, even though they knew the approximate area, the necklace and pendant were lost in. Chelsea even told me that the pendant had been found once and then Emma dropped it, only to disappear again, right at her feet, as she was standing there. With it now being just after 5:00pm and the sun setting before 7:00pm now, we made plans for me to arrive at Chelsea’s fathers house, at 8:00am, the next morning. Chelsea the sent me the address of her father’s house and his phone number. If I needed anything, I could contact her father, Leroy. With the gold pendant and necklace being on private property, the gold items would be safe overnight.
So early this Sunday morning, I arrived at Leroy’s property and Leroy was already outside, still searching for the necklace and pendant. When I introduced myself. Leroy told me that the necklace had been found and it was just the pendant, still missing. Leroy took me over to where Emma had been standing, when she dropped the pendant. I looked at the area and mentioned to Leroy that I would think the pendant would have been visible, after being dropped. Leroy agreed and told me the adults were astonished the pendant wasn’t visible in the very short grass and sand. We started talking about the pendant possibly being dropped in another area and Emma thought she was in this area. Leroy was absolutely sure that Emma had been standing, in this area, when she dropped the pendant. Leroy also conveyed that the previous evening, Emma had checked her clothing, thinking the pendant may have somehow landed in her pocket or shoes. No pendant was found. At this point, Emma’s father, Nate arrived and he also went through the entire turn of events and his and Leroy’s story was exactly the same. The pendant had to be in this area. I was then told that the previous evening, a rake was used, in searching for the pendant. Could the pendant have been moved, out of the area, by the rake? Could the pendant have covered up with the sand/loose gravel, by the rake? We shall find out. I told Nate and Leroy that I would grid search the area from near the vegetation, along the pond, to the driveway and repeat that process, until the area had been 100% searched. If I didn’t find it, in the area, I would start expanding the area of search.
The grid search line from the vegetation to the driveway, was maybe 20’. It wouldn’t take me long to cover the entire area. As I made my way towards the driveway, I received a few non ferrous targets that I knew wouldn’t be the pendant but I checked them with my pinpointer anyways, for due diligence sake and being thorough. All targets were in the ground and were not the pendant. As I turned and headed back towards the pond, same thing was happening. A few targets being checked out but the pendant was still missing. I then headed back towards the driveway and a few steps in, I heard the tone I had been hoping for. A loud, repeatable low tone, showing up a very solid 18, on the VDI Screen. This just had to be the pendant but when I looked down at the patchy grass and sand/loose gravel, there was nothing there. As the three of us were there looking at the ground, I grabbed my pinpointer and started searching the sand/loose gravel area and all of a sudden, I see a tiny piece of gold and then I saw the outline of a pendant. Emma’s pendant had been found. Leroy, Nate and myself marveled at how the gold pendant blended in with the sand/loose gravel and surrounding area. We also talked about how the pendant ended up, beneath the sand/loose gravel. Could the foot traffic in the area, while searching have covered it up? Could the raking have covered it up? It was very close to where Emma thought she had dropped the pendant but was just hiding, under the sand/loose soil.
Nate and Leroy then told me the story of the gold necklace and pendant. Chelsea had actually bought them, when she was around 16 years old, with her own hard earned money. As Emma always loved the necklace, Chelsea passed it down to Emma. Thankfully the necklace and pendant will now be back together, once the necklace is repaired. UnfortunatelY, I was not able to meet either Chelsea or Emma but Nate is going to make sure Emma gets her gold pendant back. As I was leaving, I saw the smiles on Leroy and Nate’s faces and although I could’t see my smile, as I walked to my vehicle, I also was wearing a large smile. Love my job!!! It’s the best job in the world.
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Sterling Silver Stud Earring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, on Sunday at 5:10pm, from Jennifer

‘Friend lost an earring near Wind Song Motel. Could you help?”

I replied, “Hi Jennifer, So sorry to hear this. Did she lose it in the water or up on the beach? Is it a stud earring, hoop or something different?”

Jennifer replied, “On beach. It’s a stud”

Me – “Ok, Studs are difficult to find, as there is so little metal. Does she have the matching earring, so I can calibrate my detector, to get the best program.
Also, does she know the area, where the earring was lost?”

Jennifer – “She does. And we know the area.”

Me – “Ok, I can come now, if that is good for you. Do you have a place for me to park?”

Jennifer replied we could park behind her car, at the Sea Drift Motel. Cheryl and I loaded the equipment and headed to Old Orchard Beach Maine, immediately . Once we arrived, a large group of family and friends were waiting for us and walked us over to where the stud earring was lost. Once Cheryl and I arrived, on the beach, Amanda introduced herself and told us it was her earring, that was lost in the sand. She told me it was a Sterling Silver Stud earring and she then pulled out the matching earring, so I could calibrate my metal detector and everyone in the large group could hear what I would be listening for. Amanda and her family had already arranged some seaweed, in a semi circle and told me they were pretty sure the earring would be within the confines, of the seaweed. I also heard that the earring was a gift, to Amanda, from her husband.
I told the onlookers that I would grid search, inside the seaweed parameter , in a line, parallel to the water and go back and forth. I would search slowly, for such a small earring and I would also not walk on any of the area, unless I had already searched it. I would also be using my most sensitive coil, for such a small target. The coil is an 8 inch elliptical coil and is absolutely fantastic, on small targets.
I made my first grid line pass, to the north and there were no targets, at all. I turned and headed south and completed my second pass, again with no targets, I headed north again and still no targets, at the end of this pass. As I started to turn south, I received a very loud target, reading 68 on my VDI Screen. A nice round, on the centerline, non ferrous target. I was confident that this was the earring. I swung the coil a few times to pinpoint the area. I then reached into the sand a just a few seconds later, I felt the round stud earring and pulled it out of the sand, showing everyone that I had found Amanda’s earring. The group exploded into cheers, hugs and a whole of hooting’ and hollerin’. Hugs were everywhere, along with laughing and of course, the smiles. Without a doubt, this earring of Amanda’s meant so much to her. A a special gift, from her husband, she desperately wanted this back, on her ear and now it is. I don’t think Cheryl and I have ever seen a group of happier people. It felt so great to bring such happiness to everyone there. As we all walked back to The Sea Drift Motel, I could’t tell you how many people thanked Cheryl and I for being so quick to help. We were happy to respond, so quickly. Anytime something is lost on the beach, I immediately start to worry about the beach cleaning rake, in Old Orchard Beach. As soon as I was contacted, I knew I had to get there asap. Thankfully Amanda and her family knew the area it was lost and they marked the area, very well. No need to worry about the beach rake now. We love being able to help others out, like Amanda. It’s the best job, in the world.😃❤️🙏

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Large Gold Signet Ring, With Family Crest, Lost In The Gravel Of Greenwood, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a phone call from Joe. Joe explained that 4-5 days earlier, he and his wife, Andrea, had returned from a 10 day trip, to Scotland. Upon arriving at Logan Airport, in Boston, Joe and Andrea then drove to their home, in Saco, Maine. Once in Saco, they got in Joe’s truck and drove to Greenwood, Maine. Joe and Andrea own a camp, in Greenwood Maine and while they were in Scotland, their dogs were being watched at the camp. Once they arrived, at their camp, the dogs were extremely excited to see Joe and Andrea. The dogs were jumping up and down on them and running all around them, in the driveway area, of their camp. Once the dogs were in the truck, Joe and Andrea started the long drive back to Saco, Maine. As they were driving home, Joe noticed that his Gold Signet Ring, with the family crest on it, was missing. This wasn’t just any Signet ring, this was a 25th Anniversary Gift, to Joe, from Andrea. Joe and Andrea have now been married for 45 years and Joe has been wearing the ring, for the last 20 years. Joe immediately turned around and drove back to their Greenwood camp. The entire front of the camp, where Joe was greeted by the dogs and was playing with them was searched. The area consisted of a mixture of gravel driveway, some grass, pine needles, etc.. Joe and Andrea could not find the ring. Over the next few days, the search continued but the ring still wasn’t found, in the vehicles, luggage, house, etc.. Joe was 90% sure he had it on, when he arrived at the Greenwood Camp, but not 100%. He contacted Delta Air Lines to report it lost and to see if anyone had turned it in. Delta had not found the ring either. At this point, Andrea suggested to Joe, that he should call TRFOM. Joe had never heard of us and told Andrea the he was doubtful that we would be able to find the ring. Then someone else recommended us told Joe and told Joe to just call us. This is when Joe reached out to me, as a last resort. Joe and I planned to meet Sunday morning, August 24th, at 8:00am, to search his camp property, with our metal detectors. Since I really didn’t have any idea, of how large an area would need to be searched, I asked Gary Hill to accompany me, if available. Gary agreed to ride up to Greenwood, with me and search, for Joe’s extremely sentimental ring.

Gary and I arrived approximately 15 minutes early and Joe and Andrea, a few moments later. As we were making small talk, Andrea asked if I had graduated from Thornton Academy, in 1974. Why yes I did! Andrea then told me she graduated, from Thornton Academy, in 1976, the same year as my sister. Well, what a small world.
Joe showed us the area that he had been in, a week ago now, when he thinks he lost the ring. It was basically the entire front of the property and as I looked it over, I thought Gary and I could cover the entire area,in approximately an hour. Gary would start grid searching the right side of the property, as you faced the building and I would start on the left side, working our way, towards each other. Joe was walking the area, with his eyes peeled, to the ground. I could see, on Joe’s face, just how badly, he wanted his Family Crest Signet Ring back. My first grid pass, from the road area, to the corner of the house, resulted in just a few pieces of trash. Gary was finding a few pieces of trash also. As I turned around and started searching, back up to the road, I realized I had forgotten my pinpointer, in the car. When I reached the end of my grid line and went up to my car, to get my pinpointer. As I was at the car, I hear Gary say, “Dennis, I got it. I found it”. I looked over and Gary was bent over, look at something. Joe was in the house, at this point but Angela immediately let him know and when Joe came out of the camp, he was stunned but was smiling like he just won Powerball. As I made my way to Gary, Gary was still looking at the ring and when I arrived, I could see just a small area of the ring. Gary told all of us that he heard the detector go off and when he looked down, he could see just a small piece of the band. Joe arrived and he couldn’t believe that much of the ring was buried, in the hard gravel driveway. Gary and I believe that the ring most likely was knocked off, by the dogs, after jumping, on Joe. The dogs, or Joe then moved some of the loose gravel, up and over the ring, partially obscuring it, just enough so that no one could see it. For the last week, the ring just sat there, blending in with the gravel, sand and dirt. Joe was just overjoyed to get his very sentimental ring back, a ring that his wife Andrea had custom made for him, 25 years ago. After a round of handshakes, hugs, fist pumping and of course, smiles, Gary and I congratulated Joe and Andrea one last time. As we drove off I tooted the horn and we could see Joe looking at his ring, back on his finger, just smiling ear to ear. It’s such a great feeling to be able to help others, when they need our services and I don’t think we will ever get old of that feeling. We love our jobs😃❤️🙏

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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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. 😃❤️🙏

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Newlywed Loses Gold Wedding Ring In The York Beach, Maine Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Friday evening, Cheryl and I were driving to Moody Beach, in Wells, Maine. We were going there to find a Wedding and “Engagement “ ring, that had been soldered together (please see previous successful recovery story). As we were in Wells, Maine, the phone rang. The caller identified himself as Greg and Greg had lost his Rose Gold Wedding Ring, earlier in the day, at York Beach Maine, also known as Longsands Beach, York, Maine in York, Maine. Greg told me that he lost his ring while out in the water, at approximately mid tide, but he was way out there, when it was lost. I told him that I was already booked this evening and almost to my search area. It was now 6:00pm and low tide was at 10:57pm. I told Greg that, depending on how long it took me to find the rings, at Moody Beach, I would go to York Longsands Beach tonight, if I thought I had enough daylight left to search, effectively. I had not brought my Headlamp because, I wasn’t expecting to search, in the dark.

I was successful, at Moody Beach, finding the two rings, soldered together, in approximately a half hour. If I drove straight to Long Sands Beach tonight, I could get there by 7:30pm and have approximately 45 minutes of sunlight, to search. I called Greg and he agreed to meet me at the beach and show me the area, his wedding ring came off. Greg said he had dove into the water and his had hit the bottom and he felt his wedding ring come off. He was waist to chest high when this happened and he was unable to find the ring.
Once Cheryl and I arrived, we met up with Greg and his wife, Amanda. Greg was very sure the ring would be straight out from 71 Long Beach Ave. He and his wife had set up for the day, on the beach, in front of this house. Perfect identification of the area. I was just hoping the ring wasn’t so far out there, I wouldn’t be able to cover the area, before the tide started coming back in and before I could no longer see, in the dark. It was all dependent on just how far out, in the water he was, when the ring came off.
I started my north/south grid search at approximately mid beach, at 7:33pm. Sunset was in 9 minutes, at 7:42pm but there should be enough ambient light until approximately 8:15pm. Could I find the wedding ring, in 45 minutes? As I grid searched the area, I was not finding any non ferrous items, other than a single costume earring. I continued on searching my way towards the water and it was getting darker. Greg and Amanda had to leave and get back to their rental and with their family. They told Cheryl if I found it to just give him a call. Greg also thought I would stop searching once it got dark but Cheryl told him I wouldn’t stop, until I caught the low tide water, as it was receding. It was now about 8:30 and it was really dark. I could no longer see my grid lines, made by my scoop, just a few feet away. I didn’t want to stop, since I was already here and I was just hoping I wasn’t missing any areas, since I couldn’t see where I was going. I still wasn’t getting many targets and was almost to the water. I figured I had just two or three more grid line and I would be at the water’s edge. I do go in the water, but I no longer go in at night, when no one is with me. I Just don’t feel safe, if I get knocked over by a wave and become entangled, with all my equipment. It was now 9:00pm and I was getting ready to leave when, BANG, a beautiful sounding low tone, registering a solid, repeatable 38, on my VDI screen. This was the best target of the last 1 1/2 hours, by far. I lined up my scoop, dug into the sand and dumped the contents, onto the hard wet sand. I ran my coil, over the contents and the target was out of the hole and in the pile of sand. I searched the pile, with my pinpointer and found the target. I put my hand, into the sand and felt a round ring. This had to be Greg’s ring. I washed the ring off and placed it on top of my scoops handle. I used the flashlight, on my phone, to look at the ring and sure enough, a Rose Gold Wedding Ring. I have found Greg’s ring and I couldn’t wait to tell him. I then called Cheryl and told her I found it and to come on down, from the vehicle, where she was staying warm. I then took some photos of the ring and sent one of them, to Greg, in a text, saying, “Congratulations. I got it”. Greg saw the text and called me in less than a minute later. He was so excited and was in disbelief. “Just amazing” he told me and thanked me many times over. I asked Greg if could come on down, while I washed the sand, off my equipment. Greg said he would be there in 5 minutes. When Greg arrived, his whole demeanor had changed since I last saw him a few hours earlier. He was just so excited, happy, smiling and he told Cheryl and I that when he told Amanda,she started crying, happy tears. As I always mention to you, these very sentimental rings cannot be replaced. The memories they hold are just to sentimental. It’s not just buying a new ring, it’s the ring Greg was married with and he wanted it back, so badly. I was happy to have been able to help Greg and Amanda and put the smiles, back on their faces. A little later that evening, Greg sent me the following text
“What an adventure. The story is worth all of it. Thank you for making the weekend for my wife and me and her whole family. Everyone is all smiles. You have our referral for life! 😁”
Thank you Greg and Amanda, Cheryl and I were happy to help and just feel grateful for all your support and kind words. ❤️🙏

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Wedding and “Engagement” Rings Lost In The Moody Beach, Wells, Maine Surf Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Friday afternoon, August 15th, I received a phone call from Erica, at 3:24pm. Erica told me that she had just lost her wedding ring, in the water, in Moody Beach, Wells, Maine. Her wedding ring was also soldered to another ring, which I took as being her engagement ring. Erica said she had a sore, on her finger and her rings were aggravating the open sore. As she was walking in the shallow water, she was trying to adjust her rings, so as to not aggravate the sore any more than it was and to relieve some of the pain. All of a sudden, the rings fell into the surf and out of sight. She immediately stopped and looked for the rings but the waves were rushing by her and the rings were out of sight. What Erica did next was extraordinary, she didn’t panic and took measures to give someone the best opportunity to recover the rings. She had stopped immediately when the rings fell, she took photographs of where she was standing, in the water. The photos showed she was directly in front of a yellow house, that was boarded up, due to this past winter’s storm damage. Then Erica had the sense to walk to the seawall and count how many steps it was, to the seawall. Amazing!!! Erica counted 70 of her steps, from where the rings were dropped, to the seawall, of the yellow shuttered window. As this was going on, someone walked by and saw Erica searching for something. As they talked, the person told her to contact me, as I have had some success in recovering lost ring. This is when Erica called me, not 20 minutes, after losing her very sentimental rings. Erica knew the tide was now coming in, as high tide was a little over an hour away. I told Erica my best chance was to come down there in the early morning, as the tide would be receding. I planned to get there at 6:30am and follow the tide out and Erica agreed to meet me there, even though she was leaving the next day, to return home, in Vermont. A few minutes later, as I was sitting here, thinking about the next morning’s search, I thought to myself, why don’t you just go down tonight at 6:30pm, as the tide receded. My mind must be slipping because that should have been the plan all along. I immediately called Erica and told her that the plan had changed and I would be there tonight, at 6:30pm. She said she would meet me there.

Cheryl and I actually arrived a little earlier than planned and I called Erica, telling her I would start searching, following the tide out, with the incredible detailed information she had sent me. I then went to the seawall and I counted 50 steps out, from the yellow house. I then stopped because I wanted to make sure I over searched the area, in case the rings had moved in the waves. I would grid search the area, from the stairs in front of the house, just to the south, to the middle of the house, just to the north. After one or two passes, I saw Erica arrive at the scene. She told me that I was exactly where I should be. She then counted out her 70 steps and I was rapidly approaching that area. A couple more passes and nothing found but a piece of a pair of sunglasses. I then continued the grid search and just a moment later I received a good sounding signal. Low tone and VDI reading was a 68, definitely a possibility. Unfortunately , the shape of the target was elongated, just like the sunglasses, a few minutes earlier. But, since the target was non ferrous, I told Erica and Cheryl that I think I just found the rest of the sunglasses and I didn’t think it was the ring because it just looked wrong. As I dumped the scoop of sand out and located the target, I could not believe what I saw. A large gold ring that Erica also saw and I told her to have the honor of retrieving it from the sand. Erica was very excited and emotional, both tearful and laughing with joy. Cheryl and I were just smiling, enjoying the moment and getting a few happy hugs, from Erica. She was definitely in disbelief and just so happy to have her rings back. When I asked her if this were her Engagement and Wedding Rings, she told us the story of the large ring. Erica said that 24, 25 years ago she was dating a guy and they were crazy about each other. They decided that if they went on a Caribbean vacation together and they survived each other, for a week, maybe, just maybe, they had something together. While on vacation, she saw a ring she really liked but it was expensive. Her boyfriend and future husband told Erica that if she could beat him, in a game of pool, he would buy her the ring. Well, she has the ring, so we know who won the game of pool. Erica considers it her engagement ring. Very cool story and I can definitely see why the rings are so sentimental. Erica and her husband have now been happily married for 24+ years. You just can’t replace rings like these and all the memories that have been made, while wearing them. Thankfully the story of these rings will have another chapter added to them and it will be a happy chapter. It’s the best feeling in the world, to be able to help people like Erica and see the happiness that is brought to them, when I am able to locate their rings. ❤️🙏

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