Richard Browne, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 4 of 25

Falmouth, MA 4th of July Engagement Ring Lost, Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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July 4, 2025 The 4th of July is usually a day of family, food, frolic and fun in the sun on a sandy beach of Cape Cod. The 4th started off that way but soon would see frowns and nervous feelings for Erin as her engagement ring slipped into the sand not to be seen for a few hours. Searching by hand, and a digging tool or two before a desperate trip to the closest store that had a metal detector and back. Unfortunately the detector did not provide the results was hoped for.

The next thought was to search the web for help. There to results lead Erin’s group to Brian, another member of “TheRingFinders” who was to tell Erin’s husband that they would be the 4th on the list for help. Brian suggested that the try calling Rick Browne. The call came and within 45 minutes I was at the beach and met up with who I thought was Charlie but no, it was another man with a request to help find a “lost” ring. He would be number 2 on my list when Charlie spoke up and led me to the bay side of the peninsula and the area Erin had “lost” her ring.

I was shown where the ring slipped away and the holes dug while looking for it. Within 15 steps I had one signal which was from a pull tab, the next signal was the ring. I should have known it was going to be one of those days as I had left my cellphone in my car. I would have to rely on Erin, and her sister-in-law to text me the photos and information I needed to write this blog. I bid the party good bye and a reason to enjoy the rest of the day and return to making memories of the 4th. I was off to the next lost ring that was on the opposite side of the peninsula.

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Rose Gold Ring Found and Returned Smuggler’s Beach Yarmouth, MA by Richard Browne

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 30, 2025  Chris and his wife were enjoying the sun, sand, and surf when the combination of a loose ring, sun tan lotion and cool water working together let Chris’s ring slip off his finger. A call for help was placed to J&E Enterprise resulted in a call to me. I took the information and headed to the beach. It was 3 hours past low tide and was coming in fast. The pinned google photo showed me I should be working on the edge of a sea weed bed. It was the first day I braved the water in a bathing suit and to my surprise the water was comfortable but the sea weed patch was just beyond my reach by some 5 feet. I worked the area from the deepest I could go, inward to knee deep water. An hour and a half passed with only one dug target. I was about ready to give up until my detector gave off with the best signal I had heard. I took a scoop and missed the target. Took another scoop, a shake or two and saw the handsome rose gold ring in the bottom of my scoop.

Now all that was left was to contact Chris and set up the return. It turned out that I would mail the ring to his home address. Which has been done and I now have another photo for the Book of Smiles.

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Campground Beach, MA Lost / Found / Returning of Wedding Band

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 25, 2025

With sunshine and high temperatures the desire to “Go to the Beach” to cool off is a prime cause for more rings to be “lost” and the need for a member of TheRingFinders.com to find the lost ring.

Jon found himself in just that situation on the 24th. As the tide was rising he and Kaden, his son, dug a hole on the sand bar. Then today Jon called for help. Within 2 hours I was ready for another search. I arrived an hour early due to the lack of beach traffic. Jon had left the beach to run an errand, leaving Kaden to show me the hole. I was glad to have a guide, otherwise I might still be looking for the correct area to search. At the hole which was the point were the loss was to have occurred. I started to drag my scoop to line a box in the sand. I had gone about 15 to 20 steps before getting a signal. One shallow scoop and I had the wayward ring. Now all I had to do was wait for Jon’s return.

When Jon showed up I went to shake his hand. He felt the ring and could not believe I had found it and he quickly put it back on were it belonged and gave me a big hug.

Lesson learned: Always leave a good, lasting impression. In this case there were two, the hole in the sand and a big hug.

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Private Beach in Brewster, MA – Platinum/Diamond Wedding Band Lost, Found, Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 25, 2025

When you believe you are doing everything correctly, something has to go wrong. Mary Rose found out the hard way at the beginning of her vacation on Cape Cod. It happened on the beach and started with Mary Rose putting her two rings into a plastic bag for safe keeping. Well, safe until she went to put them back on. Instead of two rings on her finger, she had only one. The other, a platinum ring with 8 diamonds, her mother’s wedding band, could not be found in the sand where it fell.

In the hours that followed, her husband made a mad rush to purchase a metal detector. It was the best tool for the job. But with most tools the detector has a learning curve for one to be successful with its use. With a bit more practice and a better sand scoop I believe the ring would have been found. As easy as it looks, it takes many hours of a metals detectors’ use to be able to use it proficiently with the ability to identify a target as good or trash. Then one also needs the correct accessory to retrieve the target.

The family put a few hours into searching and even using kitchen strainer to sift the fine, dry sand. After the hours with no success, an internet search for help ended on TheRingFinders.com website and my contact information. Within three hours I was on the beach and searching. A small area, knowledge of what my detector was telling me, and a beach scoop, the ring was located and pulled from the sand in less than 2 minutes. Another few seconds passed and Mary Rose had the sentimental ring back on her finger and a smile on her face.

Before leaving I spend some time in explaining my equipment and a few suggestions for son, Will, on how to use his new detector to become a more proficient metal detectorists. The most important suggestion was DO NOT to bury his grandmother’s ring in his practice of using a detector.

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BMW FOB Lost in the Sand – Bank Street Beach Harwich, MA Found and returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 22, 2025

The warm temperatures and bright sunshine had brought quite a crowd to Cape Cod’s beautiful beaches. One such fun seeker was Charlie who hails from England and drove his mother’s car to the beach. It was a wonderful experience, soft sand, good friends all enjoying the day…until it was time to leave. A frantic search started for the missing car fob, without it there was no way home.

The search for the fob failed and an internet search for a metal detectorist that could help. TheRingFinders.com showed up on the search results and Luke was the closest. Luke had another commitment and reached out to me. As luck would have it, I had just returned home from returning a lost/found wedding band and I could leave immediately.

The short story is I met Charlie and his friends in the parking lot, walked to the area where he had spent the afternoon. The area marked out for me was relatively small and in less than five minutes the fob was in my scoop, we were heading back to the parking lot and then onto home. The next day was to be even better weather wise and of course, to find a more secure place to put the car fob while on the sands of Cape Cod.

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Lost Ring Found and Returned Seagull Beach Yarmouth, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 22, 2025

Nick and family were enjoying the sandy beach and the start of a heat wave on sunny Cape Cod when Nick had the need to wash his hands. A quick run to the water’s edge and a few swishes in the water left his hand clean, smooth and without his wedding band. The surf was churning the seashells in a motion that washed his ring and shells together. Nick lost sight of the ring and all the searching did not reveal its location. A sleepless night followed and the morning’s question was: What to do now?

A suggestion to rent a metal detector, a Google search for a dealer revealed the name and phone number for J&E Enterprise. The call from Cassandra was answered by Eleanor, the owner, who strongly suggested that she call a RingFinder – Richard as he would be their best way to recover the ring.

A half an hour after the call came in, I was on the beach ready for the recovery. I was assured that the ring was lost right where the sea shells covered a strip of sand. After searching the suggested area I realized the ring was lost at low tide, not at the high tide line where the day’s shell line lay. The tide would have been lower so I moved my search to the low tide line of shells. My first two signals were too deep, the third was a target I had to dig. Yes, it was in my scoop. I left it in the scoop and Cassandra was brave enough to move the shells in the scoop and retrieve Nick’s wedding band.

I believe I saw tears of joy and great emotions as Cassandra placed the ring back on Nick’s finger. I just love my hobby at moments like that! Then I was told of another loss of 2 rings, I found out that the loss happened four years ago. Well, on a public beach, I had to agree that the rings were long gone. That is why time if of the essence to start searching for a lost item. I left leaving a suggestion, should another “loss” occur. That was to drop a few coins, pull tabs, anything metal in the area the “loss” happened. That would make the search for the correct area be easier to located a day or so later.

The only thing left was to wish everyone, the best and to enjoy the remaining time on vacation, leave the jewelry at home or wear a silicone ring as a “Keeper” so a sentimental ring will not slip off one’s finger.

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Englewood Beach Yarmouth, MA Wedding Band Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 7, 2025

It was on the fifth day before Dan’s first anniversary that he and his wife were enjoying boating on Cape Cod’s water, visiting a small island and a sandy beach with their granddaughter and family when somewhere along the way his one year old wedding band slipped off his finger.

The previous days of searching did not locate the ring. After hearing of a story of one of my previous finds, Dan’s wife took family recommendation about a group called TheRingFinders and and did a web search. Her search showed 4 entries for Cape Cod and she called me as I had over 200 returns and was the closest to her. Within two hours I was searching for the ring. Dan and Donna showed up about ten minutes into my cursory search. I had gone under the swing set and down to the water’s edge with only one signal, that of a of a penny. We then talked about Dan’s area of walking on the beach and I was close, but I was not close enough. The area were a dinghy was moved to and that of a swing set, where the granddaughter had enjoyed being push by Dan, would need a more thorough search.

I continued my search to the dinghy area and then up to the swing set area, finding a button and another penny on the way. I expanded the area under the sixth swing and very close to a leg of the swing set the best signal of the day rang into my ears. A small scoop into the sand, a quick shake of the scoop and there it was – the ring that would not stay lost for the evening’s anniversary party. What a day for the 78 year old couple, on their first anniversary! A day to remember.

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Keys Lost and Found on Sandy Pond Trail Cape Cod, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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April 4, 2025

A dog walk around Sandy Pond, as part of Crynne’s daily routine, lead to a stressful afternoon when she returned to her car and could not find her keys. A few trips around the pond in hope of finding the keys proved they were hiding from sight. She thought a metal detector would surely help in finding them.

Eleanor at J&E Enterprises was very helpful, as always. Her recommendation was to call Rick, a member of TheRingFinders. On the call I heard the information I needed and was on my way. My first suggestion was that my search, with Crynne leading the way, be done in the opposite direction from the way Crynne always walked around the pond. This would give us a different point of view.

Mainly because Crynne’s hobby was to remove the trash she saw during her walks, the path was nice and free of trash. Of course some of the removed trash had been just off the beaten path, those areas had to be searched with my metal detector. About ¾ the way around the keys were found. They had been in an area that Crynne had walked over a few times, but from the reverse direction. They were just out of sight when coming from the opposite direction. The keys really did not need a metal detector to be found. Sometimes just a different point of view is all that is needed in ending a stressful situation.

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200th Return by Richard Browne Member of TheRingFinders.com Centerville, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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February 24, 2025

It was the second warmest day since January 1st and a grate day to clean up some of the winter’s wrath on tree limbs. Dan was in the wooded area next to an old cranberry bog behind his house doing just that. He was carrying a fallen limb to the rear edges of his property when a low hanging branch snagged one of his hearing aids from his ear. After hours of searching, without finding the hearing aid, Dan reached out for help.

A call to Eleanor, at J&E Enterprises, got Dan two useful bits of suggestions. First he was encouraged to call one of TheRingFinders and in the meantime he could try dragging a magnet. Dan called me first. I answered the call and I was on my way. While waiting for me to arrive the search with a magnet was on. Something I had never thought of while searching for any of the 6 hearing aids that I have returned.

As I had done the day before, I adjusted my detector to the specific model hearing aid I was searching for. The area was again less than a 20 foot diameter around the branch. A standard cross hatch search pattern because of the foliage and terrain was about impossible. About 20 minutes passed with many bogus iron alerts from my detector, right tone but wrong numeric reading. A slower, shorter swing of the detector started on the outer  edge of the most probable area that the hearing aid would be in. Low and behold right under the branch that had caused the loss and again, as in yesterday’s find, the hearing aid could not be seen while standing above it. I had to get on my knees and carefully move the foliage that was covering the hearing aid before retrieving it for Dan.

This was my 200th return since I joined TheRingFinders and as I did on the 100th return I wanted to give something special to the owner of the lost item. Unfortunately I did not have the Carpe Diem token with me and I had to return to Dan’s home the next day. The token was designed by a metal detecting friend, Jim Wirth. Sentimental Memories are something that cannot be replaced and I am so fortunate to have so many. Thanks to all that have reached out to TheRingFinders for help and in making Unforgettable Memories.

 

 

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Lost Hearing Aid Found and Returned, Yarmouth Port, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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February 23 2025

The month of January and first 3 weeks of February have been very cold here on Cape Cod. I had only been out detecting one day since the first of the year. Well the Temperature had got into the 40’s and people have been getting out for a walk the past two days. Anne was one that got out for an extended walk with her sister and dog. While on the walk she lost a hearing aid. After not being able to find the lost hearing aid she contacted friends, including one of my neighbors, Eleanor of J&E Enterprises who in turn contacted me. It is great to see how people come to one’s aid when help is needed.

During the walk with her dog a low hanging branch caught Anne by surprise and dislodged the hearing aid. Anne and her sister looked for several hours and could not find it. The hearing aid’s app showed the location to be in the Cul-de-Sac area. Good information but not much help. A cell phone app for locating a “lost” hearing aid gives the location to be within 30 feet or so of where the two were disconnected. Knowledge of the tree lessened the search area to a 10 foot circle within the Cul-de-Sac. A visual sight search was about impossible as the bronze hearing aid and ground cover blended in perfectly with each other.

Using the second hearing aid as a “standard” I adjusted my detector’s notch filtering and sensitivity settings to give a good indication to the missing hearing aid. The exact location of the lost hearing aid would be known when the detector’s coil was passed over it. Starting at the tree where it was believed the loss occurred, it took only a couple of minutes to locate the hearing aid. However, I could not see the hearing aid until I got down on my hands and knees and moved some leaves.

Anne was right with me as I recovered her hearing aid and was very grateful for the service I provided. She called her husband, thanked me many times, chatted with my wife as I put my gear away. I know she is waiting for this blog to be posted.

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