Jim Wren, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 3 of 31

4 Yellow Gold Rings Lost at High Tide – Found and Returned Murrell’s Inlet SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On 7/20/25, just before 4:30 pm, I received a call from Michele asking if I could help find her 4 rings she had lost. She stated that she had taken the rings off to put on suntan lotion and put them in her beach chair seat. She had forgotten about the rings until she went up to her room, ate some lunch, took a shower and then realized she didn’t have her rings. Her and her husband, Kraig went back down to the beach, where they had been sitting. By then, the tide had come up and water was covering the area where they sat.  During our conversation, she told me this happened about an hour prior. Looking at the tide tables, this all happened about an hour before high tide. I told her that we could meet at 7:30 pm, which would be 2 hours after high tide. After we hung up, I got to thinking that 2 hours may be too long. I called her back and set up a meet time of 6:30 pm, she agreed.

It took me about 40 minutes to get to her condo, and I text her saying, “I‘m here” after I found a place to park.  As I’m walking across the parking lot, I heard my name and I got to meet Michele and her husband Kraig, As we’re walking out to the beach, Michele explained what I was looking for. She told me that 1 ring was her grandmother’s wedding band that she wore for more than 50 years. Her grandmother gave it to her when she and Craig got married 38 years ago – priceless! The 2nd ring was her mother’s mother’s ring – again priceless. The 3rd ring was her own mother’s ring, and the 4th was the engagement ring Kraig had given her many years ago. All 4 rings had significant sentimental value and importance to Michele. Michele and Kraig pointed out the area they thought they were in. They were close to each other but far enough apart, so I started a north/south grid line. Probably on my 4th line, I got a signal, but it wasn’t much to go on. All 4 rings were Yellow Gold, so I knew I’d be looking for numbers on the detector in the 13-16 range. I kept running the coil over the area to get something clear and finally dug a scoop of sand. The signals were a little better but still not clear enough to give me a good feeling. I dug a couple more scoops out of the hole and dumped the sand on the beach. Ran the coil over the area and got a solid 16 signal. Found the ring in the pile of sand and held it up for Michele to see – Bingo, grandma’s ring is in Michele’s hand. Took another scoop or two and Michele’s mother’s mother’s ring was now in hand. Two down, two to go! Another couple of scoops out of what is now about a 15–18-inch hole and got Michele’s engagement ring. After about 30 minutes of pulling out more sand, spreading the sand around on the beach, running the coil over the sand and all 3 of us trying to eyeball the ring, I just couldn’t find it. I asked Michele if she had had the ring sized and if the solder could have come apart making the ring not a whole ring. She told me that the ring is unique in that the top of the ring comes to a fork on both sides and the stones set on top of the forks. So, the top part of the ring does not connect to the other side. Now it’s time to come up with a plan B. I told Michele and Kraig I was going home to get a different detector and would be back in an hour and a half. I decided to get my White’s PI, a great machine but it’s heavy and does not discriminate. So basically, the machine sounds off on any metal under the coil. Before I left, I paced off and had a landmark to get me back on the spot.

When I got back, I text Michele and went to work to find my mark. I turned my PI on and waved the coil over the filled in hole and got a faint signal. Ok, this is working. I kept taking scoops of sand out and the signal got louder. After 4 or 5 scoops, the target was on the beach. By now it was dark, so I turned my headlamp on and started looking through the sand. Boom, I saw gold and pulled Michele’s mother’s ring out. I started walking up to the condo so I could get a decent picture and got to the door about the same time Michele. She was speechless; all 4 priceless and irreplaceable rings are back where they belong.

Michele – Thank you for allowing me to help you get all your rings back safe and sound!

Jim

 

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2 Rings Lost, Wedding Band and Engagement Ring, in the Sand, Found and Returned Garden City SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On 7/20/25 just before 11:30 am, I got a text message saying, “Hi Jim, my name is Eric. My family is staying in Garden City beach and I am reaching out to you for help because I lost my wife’s engagement ring and wedding band on the beach this morning. Please let me know if you are able to help. « I called the number attached to the text and talked to Eric. I found out the rings were lost in the dry sand and told him I’d be there in about an hour. I also ask him to text me the address. Once I plugged the address in the GPS, I text him letting him know I was on my way with my ETA.

When I arrived, it took me a few minutes to park and then make my way out to the beach. Eric saw me and waved, so I made my way over to their spot. Eric explained that his wife had taken her rings off and put them on top of a bag. Eric moved the bag, along with some other items and the rings disappeared into the sand. He told me both rings were yellow gold. So I turned my detector on and knew I was looking for numbers on the detector in the 11 to 13 range. I checked where the bags were originally and its final resting place with no luck. I moved a couple of chairs under their umbrella and swung the coil. The first signal I got was an 11, so I knew I had the wedding band. I reached a little farther under the umbrella and got a 13, the engagement ring. I took a scoop of sand for the wedding band and then scooped up the engagement ring. I gently shook out the scoop and both rings were in the bottom of the scoop. Unfortunately, Eric’s wife, Liz was up in the room taking care of their 1 ½ year old. Day 1 of their vacation came to a happy ending.

Eric – Thank you so much for contacting me to help find your wife’s lost rings.

Jim

 

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Lady’s White Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On 7/18/2025 shortly after 2 pm, I received a call from Kari asking if I could help find her wedding band. I asked her if it was in the water and she stated, “No, it’s in the dry sand.” She mentioned that she had taken her rings off to apply suntan lotion. She also said she had found 5 of her rings but couldn’t find the wedding band. I told her I could be there in 20-30 minutes and asked her to send me the address. I was on my way when I got the address. I plugged it into my GPS and sent her a text saying I was on my way and my ETA.

When I got to the beach, parking was non-existent. I pulled into the resort parking garage and found a spot. I was hoping I could find her ring and be back to the car before I got a ticket. I sent her a text saying, “Here.” She called me and told me she saw me and was waving. I saw her and made my way in her direction. I asked her what kind of metal it was, and she handed me her engagement ring and said it’s just like this one. White gold wedding and engagement rings usually shows a VDI (visual display indicator) between 4-6. I turned my detector on, laid the engagement ring in the sand, which quickly disappeared, and ran the coil over the area.  Sure enough, the engagement ring rang up as a 4. I had to use my scoop to get her engagement ring back out of the sand. Kari showed me the area, which was about a 1ft-by-1ft spot. I looked at her, said “30 seconds” and ran my coil over the spot and BINGO! I got a 3 on the VDI, took a very small scoop of sand and had the target. I gently shook out the sand, saw her ring and then held the scoop up so she could see and retrieve her ring. Happy Lady!!!

Kari – Thank you for contacting me to help find your lost ring.

Jim

 

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White Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On 7/16/2025 a little after 9 a.m. I received a call and voice mail from a 724-area code. I was on my way to Charleston, SC for a VA appointment and wasn’t able to immediately respond. The voice mail said, “Hi Jim, my name is Misty. We found you on ring finder and I lost my ring yesterday. I believe I lost it when I got knocked down by a wave at the beach and I’m hoping that you can help us out and help me find that. My number is 724-etc.” After listening to the voice mail, I took a guess that they were in Myrtle Beach and quickly looked up the tides for the day. I called Misty and got additional details, like the time she lost it and confirmed they were in Myrtle Beach. She confirmed Myrtle Beach and said she thought it was around 2 p.m., her husband said between 12 and 3 p.m. I told her I could be there around 4 p.m. and see what I could do. Once I got to my appointment, I double checked the tides and realized I had the wrong day. That’s what happens when you’re driving and trying to look at your phone. My best guess was she had actually lost it about 2 hours before low tide. I text her and told her that low tide was at 6:31 and that I’d be there at 5. I also ask her to send me the resort address. She agreed to 5 and sent me the address. On the way back from Charleston, I was watching the thunderstorms moving through the area due to the heat we’ve been getting. I text Missy and told her I was keeping an eye on the storms. The rain doesn’t bother me cause I’m probably going to get wet going in the ocean. Lightning’s a whole other story; I’m basically carrying two lightning rods in my hands, my metal detector and my sand scoop. Both have carbon fiber shafts which are able to conduct electricity.

By the time I got to the beach, the storms had passed, the sun was shining, and it was hot again. I met Misty and her longtime friend Barbara in the parking lot. We walked out to their spot on the beach, and I met her husband, Justin. They were set up within a few feet of where they were the day before. I got a north and south boundary line, probably 30-40 yards apart and searched around their area from the day before. No luck there, I started a perpendicular east/west grid line from about the middle of the beach out into the ocean. I was finding the typical trash, bottle caps and pull tabs but no ring. I searched for about an hour and half and only had a few yards left to search. This being a white gold wedding band I was expecting between a 9 and 12 on the detector’s VDI (visual display indicator). Suddenly, I hit a solid 10-11 and I knew I had her ring. I dug out a couple of scoops of sand and saw her beautiful ring lying in the sand I had spread out with my foot. I reached down and picked it up and looked up at them as they were looking at me. Now for the shock reveal. I put the ring in my pocket with the bottle caps and pull tabs, oh and an earring I had found. I walked back up the beach where they were sitting, looking like I was exhausted. I pulled out the items in my pocket and maneuvered her ring under a couple of bottle caps in the palm of my hand. I told them I wasn’t haven’t much luck and offered to show her what I had found. I bent down to show her, and she suddenly saw her ring and from there things got very emotional, happy, total shock and disbelief. I loved it!!! Her husband told me he saw me move the ring but didn’t say anything. Misty came up out of her chair and gave me a big hug. It doesn’t get any better than that, a very happy couple.

Misty and Justin – Thank you for allowing me to help get your treasure back where it belongs. Have a great rest of your vacation and a safe trip back to PA.

Jim

 

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Heirloom and Honeymoon Blues – Man’s Yellow Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean, Found and Returned Litchfield, SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On 7/12/25 just before 11 a.m. I got a phone call from Felix saying he lost his wedding band about an hour before. A quick check of the tide tables and he lost it less than an hour after high tide. Low tide was just after 3 p.m. so we definitely had a great chance of finding his ring. He told me he had been doing a little body surfing as well as standing in knee deep water. At one point, a wave knocked him down and he stuck both hands in the wet sand to push himself back up. He didn’t realize the ring was lost until he and his new bride of a week on their Honeymoon, were leaving the beach. She noticed his ring was gone and asked him “Where’s your wedding ring?” Felix didn’t say, but I assume the panic set in.  Felix and I made arrangements to meet up at the beach at 2 p.m.

Because of lack of parking, Felix and I met up in a hotel parking lot. I followed him and we found parking on a side street and walked a couple of blocks to the beach. Once on the beach, we probably walked at least a mile down the beach to where Felix and his bride had been. Felix showed me the north and south border lines, and I and Felix agreed where I should start my perpendicular east/west grid search. It wasn’t a big search area, maybe 25-30 yards across. I was just above the mid tide line and walking out to about knee-waist deep. I was deeper than I needed to be, but I wanted to make sure I over covered the area. I stopped to talk to Felix a couple of times to make sure I was doing what he thought was the right area. At one point he mentioned drying off under a tent, so I wanted to hit that area if I couldn’t find the ring in the wet sand. I also thought if I couldn’t find it in my search area, I’d extend the search up to a little higher on the beach. After doing a low and slow search, the only target I came up with was a bottle cap. I knew with a man’s gold ring the number I was looking for on my machine, which would be between 13-15 depending on thickness and width. With the equinox, pull tabs usually ring up 14 and bottle caps usually ring up as 15. After I finished the search area, I stopped and talked to Felix. He asked me if I’d search a little higher on the beach, so we were both on the same page. I started at the south boarder line and started a north/south grid. As I got to the north board on my first line, I got a loud solid signal that jumped between 13 and 15. I was confident that I hit his ring and looked over at him. The only thing that puzzling me, was the machine was showing the target about 8 inches deep, which the ring shouldn’t have been that deep that quick. It took me 3 scoops to get the target out of the hole. When I got the target out of the hole and dumped the sand on the beach, I spread it out with my foot. Looking down at the sand, I saw the outline of the ring nestled in the sand. Picked it up, bushed it off and handed it to Felix. He was very excited. This is when he told me that not only was he on his honeymoon, but the ring was originally his grandfathers. After time, the ring became Felix’s father’s wedding ring. Now, the ring is his with all the history and stories included.

Felix – Thank you for allowing me to help find your very special lost ring and get it back where it belongs.

Jim

   

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Man’s Yellow Gold Wedding Band Lost in Oyster Bay, Found and Returned Murrell’s Inlet SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This is Part 2 of 2 which started when I was called and found another Yellow Gold Wedding band for Charlie and Renee. It just so happened that when I was there, I found out that Charlie’s brother-in-law, Cory had also lost his yellow gold wedding band. Cory had lost his ring 2 days prior on July 4th. The area Cory pointed out was about 30-40 yards wide with an east boundary line that started at the upper beach by the dunes. The south line was straight out from an excavator on an empty lot behind the dunes. The north boundary line was straight out from a Palm tree in the corner of an adjoining lot and the west boundary was out to waist deep water. I had lost the low tide for the day but was able to get out to about my waist which was not as deep as Cory’s waist deep. I was able to check the entire beach inside the suspected area, finding a lot of targets but no man’s wedding band. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much more I could do at that point, so I called it a day. In my mind, I had already decided that I’d be back the next day at low tide, but didn’t say anything at the time. Sadly, Cory and his wife Olivia were leaving the next morning, so I wouldn’t be able to have a surprise return should I find it. On the way home, I text Charlie and told him my plan and ask him to let the gate guard know the next morning. He agreed, so everything was in place, all I needed to do was find Cory’s ring.

I showed up the next morning and everything was going according to plan. Since I had cleared the entire area of the beach, I could focus on searching the water. I started an east/west grid search letting my scoop drag in the sand, about 5 feet up the beach as a reference line. I started at the excavator working north. The water was calm, other than when boats would speed by leaving a wake that got me. With each line, I was able to get out to chest deep, which was a little farther out than Cory’s waist. I was about 5 feet in front of my excavator landmark when I got a loud and solid signal. My screen showing the VDI (visual display indicator) was submerged at arm’s length so I couldn’t see what the numbers on the machine were telling me. I guided my scoop deep into the sand and behind the detector coil and hoped I could get this target in one try. I pulled the scoop out and checked the hole to see if I got it, I DID! I shook the sand and mud out of the scoop under water. I lifted the scoop up and amongst a\scoop full of shells; I saw Cory’s gold wedding band peeking about halfway out from under a shell. Boom!! I made my way out of the water and called Charlie. I said, “Found it!” He replied, “No way, I’ll meet you at your car!” When we met, he called his sister, Olivia and told her I had found it, I think her response was the same as Charlie’s, “No way!” Charlie and Olivia worked out the details on getting the ring back to Cory. I asked Olivia to please take a picture of them and send it to me once they get the ring. I also asked her if Cory was excited, she said “He’s already texting his friends.” Soon as I get the picture, I can post this story.

Today, Thursday July 10th, I got a great picture of Cory with his ring. This is what it’s all about – one Big Happy Smile!

Cory and Olivia – I’m so happy I could help find Cory’s ring. Wish you two only the best!

Jim

 

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Wedding and Engagement Rings Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned Sunset Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Shortly before 5 p.m. I received a call from Wendy saying she had lost her rings on the beach. She said I had been recommended and was wondering if I was available. At the time I was waiting on a contractor that was running late. I called the contractor and rescheduled for the next day. I didn’t want Wendy’s rings to sit out on the beach to long, especially on Sunset Beach. I called Wendy back and asked for her address for parking and told her I was on my way.

It was about a 30-minute drive, and I text her when I arrived in the driveway. When she came out of the house, we introduced ourselves and she led the way out to the beach. I got to meet her husband, John who had been guarding their suspected spot in the sand. She described her ring set, that wasn’t actually a set, but the two rings were soldered together. I turned on my machine and started an east/west grid search and covered the area John had marked off. I wasn’t getting any signals, so I kept the grid search going. After a few more lines, I got a solid 15-16 on the VDI (visual display indicator) and knew I had something. I took a scoop of sand and gently shook out the sand. John and I heard the clanking of metal in the scoop. Wendy had moved down the beach a little to talk to another couple and missed me taking the ring out and holding it up. John called out “He found it” and she immediately made her way back to me. I handed her the ring, and to say she was thrilled would be an understatement. We took a few pictures, and I got a hug from Wendy. I love helping people find their lost treasures.

Wendy and John – Thank you for trusting and allowing me to help find your treasure. Enjoy the rest of your vacation and have a safe trip back home to Ohio.

Jim.

 

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18K Yellow Gold Wedding Band Lost, Found and Returned Murrell’s Inlet SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This is part 1 of a 2 part story that started on July 6th, when I saw a FB post from Charlie that said, “Where’s all my treasure hunters at? My wedding band slipped off my finger into shallow water at high tide on the point yesterday. Does anyone have a metal detector to help me look for it? We’re in Inlet Harbor. Low tide is at 11:50 am so that would be our best chance. Thank you!” A contributing factor was he lost it the same day we had a tropical storm go through the area. His post had some naysayers, prayers offered and offers of hope. I copied and pasted my Ring Finder page to his post and waited. Within about 10 minutes, Charlie called and asked if I could help. I told him I could be there in about an hour, he agreed, and I was on my way.

I arrived right around low tide and met Charlie at the house he and his wife Renee were staying. I followed him to his grandfather’s house where I parked. We introduced ourselves and he walked me out to the beach. He pointed out the area, which maybe was a 25X20 foot spot. I got a few more details and went to work. From all the coins, trash, old cans, and fishing weights and hook.   This beach hasn’t been cleaned or detected in a while. Charlie was very confident of his area, so I started a north/south grid line. Most of Charlie’s family had shown up to watch and I heard one gentleman say they had been sitting at the top of the sand. I finished the slope down to the water and no ring. I worked up to the top of the beach, again getting fishing weights and hooks when I got a solid 19 on the VDI (visual display indicator). The 19 indicated to me that I had gold under the coil. I moved some sand and saw the glimmer of gold. I reached down and pulled Charlie’s wedding band out from its hiding place. I held it up for Charlie, Renee and the rest of the family to see. Charlie came over and I handed him his ring. He checked the engraving and confirmed their wedding date was what was engraved. Ring Found!

At one point during the search, I found out that Charlie’s brother-in-law, Cory had lost his gold wedding band. He had lost his on the 4th of July and probably in about waist deep water. I did a search of the upper beach and out in the bay about waist deep. Because of the tide I had to give up on Cory’s ring.   One out of two wasn’t bad.

Charlie and Renee – Thank you for trusting me to help find your lost treasure. I wish you two all the best.

Jim

 

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Diamond and Zirconium Mother’s Ring Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned Georgetown, SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Just before 7 p.m. on July 4th I got a text saying, “Hi, we lost a ring on the beach at Debordieu (a gated community north of Georgetown, SC). Do you still do metal detecting services?” I immediately called the number attached to the text and talked with Rick. I got a few more details and told Rick it’d take me a little over an hour but was on my way.

When I arrived, Rick had called the gate guard and let him know I was coming, so I had no problem getting through. I met Rick along the way, parked and he led me out to the spot on the beach. They had left the tent up to mark the area. I was told that Rick’s wife Candy had put the ring in her top and when she stood up to get out of the beach chair, the ring fell out. I looked at Rick and his son-in-law Josh, and said “What do you think, maybe a minute?” I turned on the machine, took about 3 steps and hit a solid 6 on the VDI (visual display indicator). Bingo! I took a small scoop of sand and gently shook it out of the scoop. Looked in the scoop and there was Candy’s beautiful ring. We drove back to Rick’s house, and I got to meet Candy who already had her ring back on. Very happy lady!!!

Josh – Thank you for finding me on Google.

Rick and Candy – Thank you for allowing me to help find your ring. Enjoy your vacation!

Jim

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300th Find and Return, Man’s Lost Tungsten Wedding Band Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I received a text right at noon saying, “I don’t know if this is the right number, but I found it online for a ring finder at Myrtle Beach. I lost my tungsten wedding ring in the waves out at the beach near 19th Ave south and Southern Breeze Oceanfront. Is there any possible chance it could even be found, or would the undertow and waves at about 3 feet deep have carried it out?” I called the attached number and talked to Logan and asked him what time he lost it. He said about an hour before his text. I looked up the tide table for Myrtle Beach and high tide was at 11:27 am. Perfect, the tide had changed, so I told him there was a great chance of finding it and I’d be there at 3 pm. That would put me there right at mid-tide.

Right around 2 pm, I was getting antsy, so I text him saying I was on my way. With this being Sunday, I was concerned the beach would be packed with tourist and there wouldn’t be any parking. I got lucky with both and met Logan on the beach. He showed me the area and explained that he was about knee deep. He also made a comment about getting hit in the back with a wave. This confused me a little, in that I thought he may have been deeper than he thought with an outgoing tide. He gave me the north and south boundaries, and I started an east/west perpendicular to the beach grid line. After almost an hour and a half of searching and extending my search area on all four sides, I was coming up with nothing. Towards the end I was going in the ocean knee deep at mid tide. I went so far as asking a lady, who’d been on the beach longer than I was, if she saw anybody else with a detector. I also asked the lifeguard if anybody had turned in a ring. I was whooped, both mentally and physically. I called Logan and told him I couldn’t find it. I could tell in his voice he was hurt that I couldn’t find his ring.

I drove a couple of blocks towards home and remembered I had brought a second detector, which I usually do as a back-up. I called Logan back and told him I was going back to try again with a different detector. Logan had already called his wife, who’ll be here later this week, and told her he lost it, I was going to search, and then that I couldn’t find it. So, they were both on a little bit of a roller coaster ride.

I walked back out on the beach with a second wind and started a north/south grid line. About 30 minutes later I hit a target with a VDI (visual display indicator) of 18, exactly what a man’s Tungsten wedding band would show up as. No doubt in my mind that I had Logan’s ring. Took a scoop of sand, dumped in out on the beach, and moved the sand with my foot. There it was! I took a picture and sent to Logan saying, “Found it!! I’ll drop it off.” He responded instantly, “Oh my GOD. Thank you so much!! I don’t know if I just missed it on my first search or my southern boundary wasn’t far enough, regardless of how or why, the ring was found and returned.

Logan – So happy I got your treasure back where it belongs. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Jim

 

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