Lost Ring in Surf .. Newport Beach, CA. .. Found 5 days later

Tuesday  Oct. 9, 2013

I got a call from Ted asking me if I could find a ring that he had lost while boogie boarding at a local beach. I needed to know the details before giving it a try. When we talked, I asked him what time of day and the best location he could give me. We determined it was during high tide which gives me a chance.  He was straight out from 34th St. which narrowed the search area. He did not know when the ring slipped off his finger. I forgot to ask what type metal because that does make it easier when there is a lot of metal trash in the search area. With that information I thought I could give it a try with the next low tide.

I got to 34th St. an hour before low tide. I started a grid search half way down the slope working 35 -40 yards towards the water into ankle deep water.  I worked my way south for more than hour till I was directly out from 33rd St.  Then I returned to 34th St. working north to and from the water. I only found about 5 targets, a few coins and a couple pull tabs. Then when I was approaching 35th St.  I got a 12-28 reading on my detector. I seem to remember that this was probably a lead fishing sinker, but I dug it anyway. It about 7pm and dark, I could hear the nice sound of metal hit the bottom of my scoop. I reached in the scoop feeling the ring.  I was not sure it was Ted’s ring because I didn’t have a flashlight, also it seemed small for a man’s ring . When I got back to my vehicle I saw the inscriptions matched and was his ring. Plus it was a nice platinum .950, that’s why it sounded so good when it hit the bottom of my scoop.

Ted met up with me the next day to get his ring. He told me that he had not told his wife it was found. He was on his way home to surprise his wife. They had also been researching the purchase of a replacement ring. I only wish I could have been there when he showed it to his wife. I’m learning that the wife’s of guys that lose their rings are more upset than the husbands.

Here’s Ted’s story from an email he sent me:

Hi Stan,  Thank you so much again for finding my ring.  When I got home, I didn’t tell my wife immediately, I just had it on my finger and sorta put my hand down next to her at the dining table to see if she would notice.  When she saw it, her mouth dropped open and she said « YOU FOUND IT?! »   It was a great reaction, I wish I had recorded it.