Scussett Beach, MA Diamond Ring Found and Returned by Richard Browne

July 25, 2025 Just about everyone has a memorable time at the beach, some even enjoy the trip home and make plans to return on another day, as it was with Sidney and Tim. That was until Sidney arrived home and opened the backpack to get her rings that Tim had taken from her at the water’s edge. Let’s cut to the search. I left my house under the threat of severe thunderstorms that were on their way across Cape Cod. I was going to try to beat the rain and I would stay off the beach during any thunder. I was willing to take the chance. On my way skies darkened and it was lit up frequently with streaks of lightening. I almost turned around, but with only few miles to the beach, I pushed on. Traffic was on my side and I arrived at the beach 25 minutes before Sidney and Tim. And in that time the storm passed over and the skies were turning a nice calm blue.

With boots, detector, and scoop ready the three of us headed for the area that the loss occurred. At first it was a nice, once was dry sand area, pointed out as the area to search but nothing turned up! Well maybe we were more this way is closer to where we were. Again nothing…closer to the water? Oh yes, Sidney then told me she had taken the rings off at the water’s edge, gave them to Tim, and he took them to the backpack and secured them in there.

Cellphone pictures showed a more probable location on the “dry” sand. It looked promising and a missing plastic toy that was lost the day before was uncovered and would be taken home. Could it be Tim had dropped the one ring? Could be. So I started searching between the “dry” sand area and the water’s edge. My next signal sounded pretty good. Sure enough, a shallow scoop an inch below the wet sand and closer to the water than were the ring was believed to have been lost, the ring was in my scoop. As it frequently happens the ring is usually not were it is thought to have been lost..

Sidney quickly nestled the beautiful diamond between the two sides of the wedding band and replaced the assembled ring back on her finger with a promise never to let that happen again. I suggested a couple of ways that could be accomplished. First is to leave the rings at home and wear an inexpensive set to the beach. Second if they should be taken off on the beach put them directly into a zip-lock bag. A third aid is a tight fitting silicon clear ring to be used as a keeper.

The ring having been found and restored to its proper location. The storm had passed, the blue sky was here waiting to turn dark again, this time by the setting sun. The only thing left was the last thank you, a cheerful good-bye and a long ride home. At least the ride was going to be long enough to make plans for another memorable day on the beach hopefully one without such a traumatic ending.