Lost wedding ring found at Ventura Harbor Beach by Dave The Ring Finder


On March 8th, 2026, on my way to another search on Carolina Beach NC I received a text. The text said, “Hi Jim! My name is Sloan. I have been torn apart since last night. I was on the beach with my friends in Myrtle (Specifically right in front of Tin Roof/Hilton grand vacations to the left of the pier), and I’ve had this gold ring my dad gave me on that slipped off right when I wasn’t even mid-calf deep in the water. It was his ring since the 70s and I’ve had it on for 6 years, never fallen off. I am not too sure how you go about this, but I would love to talk more!” As I’m driving, I’m trying to formulate a plan on how the current search I’m going to and getting back to Myrtle Beach that’s about a 2-hour drive. The Carolina Beach should be fairly quick as it’s in the dry sand with no chance of the tide covering it up and the young lady knew the area. Looking at the tide tables for Myrtle Beach, low tide was at 5:30 in the evening. Everything considered, I could probably be in Myrtle Beach around 4 pm, so I called Sloan. When I called Sloan, she told me that she lost the ring about 2 am and knew the area well. I told her what was going on with me and that I could probably be there around 4. I asked if she could meet me and show me the area. Unfortunately, she had to be at work at 3:30 but could see if one of her friends could meet me and show me the area. Sometimes it doesn’t work out to well when the involved individual isn’t the one showing you where and adding other important details as we talk.
After a successful recovery/return, I called Sloan and she told me she had gotten someone to take her shift, and she would be there. We worked out the details, and I told her I’d be there at 4, and I would keep her posted. She told me it’d take her about 30 minutes to get there. Things were falling into place! I texted her when I was 40 minutes out. She responded that she was on her way.
Luckily, we both pulled into the parking lot at the same time. We met and it started raining. We waited out the downpour and made our way to the beach while it was still sprinkling. She was so helpful when we walked out on the beach. She walked right out to the wet sand, turned around and lined herself up with her landmarks. I turned my detector on and started an east/west grid search from the high tide line to about shin deep in the outgoing tide. This being a gold ring, I knew the VDI (Visual Display Indicator) number was going to be in the mid-teens (anywhere from 13-18 depending on the size of the ring and the karat). On my third line, I got a solid 14. This could be either the gold ring or a pull tab. As I stuck the scoop in the sand, I told Sloan that she might see me digging a lot, but some of it might be trash. As I pulled out the second scoop of sand, I saw the gold ring sticking out of the sand. I reached down, pulled it out and held it up for Sloan to see. To say she got excited would be an understatement. She was thrilled! She tried calling her dad to let him know, but he didn’t answer. She called her mom, who was also excited it’d be found.
Sloan – Thank you for trusting me to help find your lost treasure. So happy to help and get it back where it belongs!
Jim

This search and recovery started with a phone call from The Ring Finder on Oak Island NC, John Fininnerin on Sunday, March 8th, 2026. He asked if I’d be able to take a search on Carolina Beach for a young lady who had lost her Platinum wedding band set. I agreed and he passed my name and number on to Kelsey who called. I wasn’t able to take the call at the time. When I called her back she told me that she had put her ring in her pants pocket. When she tried to get the ring out, it flipped out and quickly disappeared in the soft sand. She said she tried looking for it but hadn’t been able to find it. She also told me that she knew the area it disappeared. I asked her if she could meet me and that it’d take me about an hour and a half to drive the 70 miles. She agreed and sent me her address, which was right next to the beach access.
When I arrived in the parking lot, she was waiting. We walked out to the area and I turned on my Equinox 800. She must have gotten there early to lay claim to the area, which was a little crowded with beach goers. The area was maybe 5X8 foot. Knowing the ring set was Platinum, I knew the VDI (visual display indicator) number display on the detector was going to be 10-11. It took a few minutes and a little outside the suspected area before I hit the 10 I was looking for. I had her rings in the scoop, gently shook the sand out and walked over and held the scoop up to her so she could see and retrieve her treasure. Bingo, she was trying not to, but a few tears appeared. She told me after the fact, that while she was looking for it, there were a few people helping. We both suspected that her rings were inadvertently moved in the process, which was why they were outside the suspected area.
Kelsey – Thank you for allowing me to help find your lost treasure. Best wishes to you and Thank you to your Husband for his service to our county.
Jim

A friend of mine, Ray Mann, who is also a friend of Justin Wahrenburg, referred me to his neighbor whose wife had lost her wedding ring set in their backyard about a month ago. My friend Justin was actually my very first ring recovery I ever made as a member of “The Ring Finders.”
These rings were incredibly special — over 100 years old and originally purchased in Charlotte, North Carolina. Because of their age and history, they were truly irreplaceable in so many ways.
He contacted me, and I told him I could come out that same day to search for them.
After carefully scanning the entire backyard using a VDI range of 40–75 and not finding anything, I decided to adjust my settings to 35–65 and start again from the beginning. Within minutes, I got a signal reading VDI 37 and uncovered the first ring. About five feet away, I picked up another signal reading VDI 38 — the second ring!
Turns out I had simply missed them earlier because of my original settings.
Needless to say, the whole family was overjoyed. They had been praying and believing the rings would be found.
Her husband actually filmed the moment, and her reaction when the rings were returned was captured on video.
Moments like this are exactly why I love doing what I do — finding something so meaningful and getting it back where it belongs.
*************************************
Total ring recoveries since joining “The Ring Finders” 98-99 total!
Ring count for 2026: 5 (5 – recoveries)
GOLD – 5 (5 – recoveries)
*************************************




The very best metal detecting service in Central Florida is theringfinders.com! We can help you with all your metal detecting needs and lost item recovery needs as well. My name is Mike McInroe and I am here to help you in your time of need…call or text me anytime and let’s talk.
I received a frantic call from Fernando asking if I could possibly help him find his fiancee’s lost ring in a horse pasture in Ocala and if I could come right away. I asked a few questions to help determine the likelihood of actually being able to find her ring and he assured me that she dropped it somewhere in a 30 square foot area of grass, sand and leaves. Two hours later I met Fernando and his fiancee and they showed me the area where the ring was lost. (Fernando had purchased a cheap metal detector and spent a few hours digging in the dirt and had become quite frustrated with all the noise and energy spent and coming up with nothing to show in the end. They searched the internet for help and came across theringfinders.com and one of my recent recovery stories and decided to give me a call.)
It only took 10 minutes to cover the target area and I then began to expand my searching and I actually spotted the edge of the lost ring a few feet away. I motioned to Fernando to come take a look at what I found and he was so relieved and so very thankful! Fernando’s fiancees eyes were filled with tears as she gently put her lost ring back on her finger.
Have you lost a ring or something valuable recently or even years ago and need some expert advice and help? Call 321-363-6029 and let’s talk.
Mike McInroe…forever grateful to be a member of theringfinders.com
If you lost a ring or piece of jewelry and need a metal detector to find it, give me a call/text (Louis) 305-608-1870. I have a metal detecting service in the Miami area. I can come out and help you find it. Be sure to check my over 150 successful recoveries on my main page

The pictures above show a recovery of a small gold and diamond earring. She was very on vacation and had one of her earrings fall off as she was exiting the beach. She called me late at night and I was able to meet her there early the next morning. She knew the general area where she lost it. After about 20 min of gridding the area it finally popped up:-)


Contact me for all your metal detecting and recovery needs. My name is Mike McInroe…central Florida Ring Finder at 321-363-6029! On land, in the water, the grass, sand, in cars , in homes…rings, jewelry, keys, phones, property markers, etc.
Demetri contacted me about his lost gold ring and explained how he even purchased a cheap metal detector and spent a few frustrating hours searching his yard and only found a handful of junk. He had done some yard work and showed me all the places where he spent time digging and trimming bushes and cutting roots to make way for a good sized above ground planter box. I got busy grid searching for his lost gold ring and I quickly covered the key areas in the front of the house and then proceeded to the side and eventually to the back yard…and his ring was just not there. I asked Demetri more questions about where else he went on the day his ring went missing and he remembered that he had played with his kids in the neighbors front yard. So I figured why not give it a try. Again I began a systematic grid search and on the fourth pass I got a good signal that registered in the gold range and low and behold there was Demetri’s lost gold ring…just laying there in the grass!
Demetri was overjoyed and could not stop smiling! Maybe you have lost a ring or something special and need a ring finders help! Call or text me ASAP and let’s talk.
Mike McInroe…thrilled to be a member of theringfinders.com in sunny Florida


Newlywed’s Engagement Ring Recovered After Weeks Missing in Backyard
There’s something extra special about helping a newlywed recover a lost engagement ring — especially when they’ve only been married three months.
I received a call from a young lady named Kendall who was understandably upset. Her engagement ring had been missing for about two to three weeks. She had lost it somewhere in her backyard and despite searching multiple times, it was nowhere to be found.
Like many people would, Kendall and her husband decided to take matters into their own hands. They purchased a metal detector and carefully searched the yard themselves. Unfortunately, without experience using the equipment — and not knowing exactly what signals to listen for — they had no luck locating the ring.
After weeks of frustration, they turned to the internet for help. That’s when they came across The Ring Finders and found my name, Phillip Mendez, listed as a local ring finder. They reached out, hopeful but understandably nervous.
When I arrived, Kendall showed me the areas where she believed the ring might have slipped off. Newly landscaped yards and thick grass can easily hide a small gold band, even in plain sight. After listening carefully to her story and narrowing down the most likely zones, I began a methodical grid search.
About 30 minutes later, I got a strong, clean signal.
Just beneath the surface of the grass was Kendall’s engagement ring.
The look on her face when she saw it again — pure relief and joy — is why I do what I do. Three months into marriage is far too soon to replace a ring filled with memories and meaning. Being able to reunite her with the exact ring that marked the beginning of her forever was incredibly rewarding.
If you’ve lost something valuable — especially a sentimental item like an engagement ring — don’t give up hope. Even after weeks outside, rings can still be found with the right equipment and experience.
Another happy ending, and another reminder that sometimes the right search makes all the difference.
— Phillip Mendez
Ring Finder
Contact me for all your metal detecting and recovery needs. Rob 402-580-6933. Land, water, cracks in concrete, rings, keys, hearing aids, phones, buried cache, etc. Assisting law enforcement. Serving Lincoln and the greater Nebraska area. Why rent a metal detector when you can have the best.
Caleb was at work when his job required him to go outside and inspect something. The weather was turning, snow was falling while the wind was picking up. When he was done with the task he shook the wetness off his hands and you guessed it. He felt his ring slide right off and dissappear. A coworker told him he knew a ring finder! The rest is history. Always an honor to help put a smile back on people’s faces.

