Uncategorized Category | Page 445 of 481 | The Ring Finders

Through serendipity the owner had located me through a newspaper article on a previous ring find I had made. She had lost her wedding ring at Rio Del Mar  beach 2-1/2 months prior and had already given it up as gone for good. While sitting in the orthodontist’s office she happened to catch a glimpse of the article and decided there was nothing to lose so she gave me a call. Coincidentally this was also the day of their 20th wedding anniversary. We met at the beach on Thursday morning and she guided me to the spot where she thought they had been, to the best of her recollection. Memories can be faulty, especially after time passes so I understood the spot was only the general  area and I had to be prepared for anything. A lot can happen in that length of time plus the characteristics of the ring meant it was not going to be an easy signal to spot, I was geared up for a long day. I had decided to go with a smaller coil on my detector since the characteristics of the ring would make it easier to be « seen » by this coil as opposed to a bigger one. I only hoped the ring hadn’t gone too deep, it was a calculated gamble. After 4 hours I had searched approx. 10-11,000 sq. ft. and had more than covered the initially estimated possible area. I was able to move efficiently and cover a good amount of ground due to the relatively low amount of trash at this beach. The critical factor that would prove key in the end. Searching for a lost item is as much an exercise in control of your mind as much as it is your machine, focus is essential every moment and mine was starting to waver. Was the ring in this area ? Had the ring gone too deep ? Had it already been found ? These questions we’re running through my head as well as the realization that I was running out of time before I’d have to head to work. In the 4th quarter I got a clean, solid signal. I was expecting something a little different for this ring so I wasn’t thinking much as I dug my scoop into the sand and sifted other than this may be the last signal I dig today. Glancing down I saw, gleaming brightly amid the sticks and feathers, a beautiful 18K sculpted and diamond inlayed gold ring. That moment of realization is an incredible feeling because you know right then that you’re going to be reuniting the item with the owner and give them a day they’ll always remember. I was a day late with my 20th anniversary « gift » for the really nice couple but it was received warmly. The wife gave me a personally handwritten note that read  » . . . thank you for finding my special ring ». I’ll keep that in my heirlooms for my grandkids and theirs.

Emily from Southampton owned a very special silver ring. It was only silver but one she valued greatly. It had been especially engraved and given to her as a gift from her grandmother. After enjoying a day on the beach she brushed off some sand from her fingers… off slipped the ring! She saw the spot where it sank but her and her friends efforts to try to retreive it only made it sink further. I sympathise with all those who have lost something dear I cant imagine how it must feel to lose something that dear to you.

The location of the lost ring was relatively small – about half the size of a tennis court. The beach was very trashy but nevertheless after one hour I found it. Emily was so pleased to have her ring back and raise money too for the Air Ambulance she held her own Cake Sale at work. Thanks Emily for going out of your way to help.

Received a call from a Mr Kenny Rodman from Southbourne, Dorset. After spending a few hours on the beach Kenny decided to cool off in the sea. He had been enjoying a family day out on the beach with wife Amanda and son Cameron. Whilst only a few feet out he hsad the sensation his wedding band felt loose so clenched his fingers tight. However, leaving the beach almost on all fours he felt the ring come off and slip beneath the waves. Understandibly he returned on several occasions scouring the sand hoping by some miricle it would reveal itself. Alas it didnt. It was his wife Amanda who sort the help of The Ring Finders and I met Kenny the following morning. No sooner than my coil entered the water it gave an almost indistinguishable tone of gold so I decided to scoop it. Luckily I was right as the ring had buried itself some 8″ under due to the breaking waves. Kenny and his wife were extremely pleased at the rings return, Kenny is no longer in the dog house and a generous donation to the Air Ambulance was made by them.

My brother Jeff has always been an ambassador for me and my ring finding hobby. A letter carrier, who works in the same U. S. Post Office district, lost her ring during a golf outing so he gave me her name and phone number this afternoon. I gave her a call right away and within 2 hours the ring was back on her finger.

Chris S. was at a golf outing with the Letter Carriers MSA golf fundraiser at Deer Run Golf Course in Lowell, MI. Before golfing she took her rings off and sealed them in an envelope for safe keeping. After golfing she put her clubs and shoes in her car and took the envelope and proceeded to walk up to the club house. She said she tore the side of the envelope to open it and when she got to the club house she only had one of her rings. Tracing her steps back to her car to look for the ring came up empty.

This was Sunday and it is now Tuesday, I envisioned golfers walking back and forth from their cars to the club house just like Chris did over the past two days and one of them picking up this gem. I went out anyway as I am THERINGFINDER. I talked to the club house pro and ask if anyone turned in the ring, he said « no », I told him that I would be out around the parking lot grass by the clubhouse with my detector to search for the ring. The grass was not cut during the three days that the ring was lost so that gave me some hope that the ring could be found. I found the ring after passing over it with my Bounty Hunter Time Ranger getting a « nickel » sound in some deeper grass just off the path to the clubhouse. I informed the clubhouse pro the ring was found and then I called Chris and made arrangements to meet her and reunite her with the ring that she and her jeweler designed.

What was a long shot to me turned out to be a hot shot for Chris. I’m very happy for you Chris!

Last week I found a ring at Millennium Park for Joel H. and he mentioned the recovery to a friend who said she lost her diamond wedding ring last year in Silver Lake and wondered if it could be found after giving her my information Sara D. emailed me and said she lost her wedding band and engagement ring after she put the rings in a chest pocket and applied sunscreen while at her parents home at the lake. Sara was playing with her daughter when she leaned over on the dock and noticed the rings were gone. Sara’s husband Jeff ran his hands through the sandy bottom of about a foot deep water and found the wedding band but could not come up with the engagement ring. A year had past and telling the story to her friend Joel H. she discovered The Ring Finders. With one of the hottest days this year I thought it would be a great day for water detecting. My friend Dave B. and I arrived at the lake home and met Sara and proceeded to work our magic. After about 20 minutes of gridding a small area of the beach and lake the ring was found about 10 feet where the wedding band was lost. It always amazes me how rings are found in a different spot than where they were thought to have been lost. I presented the ring to a VERY happy Sara and suggested that she take it to the jewelry store for a good polishing. Thank you for letting me serve you Sara and Jeff, I love this hobby.

 

I received notice of a missing ring. Wes told me that he was in Cape May with his mom the other day. When they got home, 3 hours away, she noticed that her 5 year anniversary ring with 5 diamonds was gone. I told him I would look for it, but it would be in a day or two because of my work schedule. He said that would be great. He asked me what I thought the chances of finding the ring would be. I just responded saying that I would give it my best shot.

Before I could get to the beach, Wes sent me a picture from Google Maps. He marked up the map with the area they were sitting on the beach with approximate distances from objects. This would be a big help since I have never been to this beach before.

I left my house at 4am to catch the low tide. Almost hit a deer standing in the middle of Rt 55. I got to the spot at 5:30. There was already someone there detecting the beach. He came right over to me and stated that I would only be finding trash. I asked why and he said that the beach was hunting every day by multiple people. I got a bad feeling. I was thinking to myself that this was going to be a wasted trip.

I searched anyway. I started finding tinfoil and bottle caps. Damn that guy was right, TRASH! I continued on. I found a quarter and a dime, giving me a sliver of hope. Next was a soda can that was buried. At least the sun was coming up and I have a great view of the hight house.

After about 30 minutes I got a nice tone in my headphones. I scooped up the sand and BINGO! I had the ring. I looked around for the other guy so I could show him that it wasn’t all junk, but he was gone.

I stayed an searched for about an hour finding more coins and a camera lense. No jewelry. I even found a geocache before returning home. It was still to early to give Wes a call.

After I got home I gave Wes a call. I started telling him about the other guy that was detecting and what he said. Then I told him I spent about 30 minutes on the beach & found the ring. He was so excited. He said his mom didn’t know that he contacted me. He said he had to hang up and he would call me back. He had to go tell his mom. He called back in 15 minutes. We made arrangements to meet 1 week later to return the ring.

My wife came along with me. We were meeting in King of Prussia PA. Wes & Karen were waiting for us. Wes is a lot yonger than I thought. Once Karen saw the ring the tears started to flow and so did the hugs. She said she didn’t tell her husband that the ring was found, because she wanted to make sure that it was her ring. She also told us that today was their 23rd wedding anniversary. You just can’t make this stuff up. Wes informed us that he recently got a good metal detector to search for old coins. But it was to long of a drive to get back to the beach.

I loved returning lost items…

Below is Karen’s version of the story…

Who knew a fun time at Cape May N.J. beach would end in not being able to find your ring when you got home. The anxiety of not knowing if I would ever find it. And how to tell your husband you lost the ring he got you for your fifth anniversary.

The best part is who knew your 17 year old son would take action. He posted on Craigslist a lost ring and a reward to who ever found it. The first response from add was Dave.

Like an angle from God he took action without any reservation, he talked to my son and off to Cape May to find my ring. Then out of the blue I received a phone call from my son while I was at work reporting to me the story of how he posted the add and how someone responded and found my ring. In disbelief I told my son to have the guy send him a picture of the ring. He did ! There it was. My ring. Now how were we going to get it. This guy I didn’t know had my ring. My son talked to Dave and set it up to meet 45 min from our home and 45 min from Dave’s home. Again anxiety how could we meet with a stranger in the parking lot of Costco and get this ring. Maybe we would get to the parking lot and he would want 500 dollars for the ring. Then what would we do! Sunday morning came and off we went to try to get this ring.

Entering the parking lot lots of ideas of how this would play out entered my mind. Then he called he was in the parking lot. Here we go! Butterflies fluttering while walking to his truck. Him and his wife got out of  his truck and to my surprise there was my ring. He had not expectations on getting anything for finding it. When I saw the ring all I could do was cry and thank him!! After receiving the ring I told him how it was my 23rd anniversary. And what a great gift.

I found the e-mail on my computer Sunday evening. A newly married couple had lost a wedding band in the surf line at the Capitola main beach on Saturday. They were devastated and desperately wanted to recover the husband’s ring. As fate would have it I had also had some misfortune on Saturday and was nursing a cracked wrist and a separated ribs from slamming on my skateboard. I was still too sore to give it a shot but I was hoping to be able to try on Tuesday. After analyzing the tides and swell I knew a dawn patrol search would be the most optimum time so I was down at the Capitola main beach at first light. The swell was small but the ring had been lost near the jetty where the swell tends to focus. Since I was still very sore and stiff I was unable to stretch on a wetsuit so I stepped into the chilly Pacific in board shorts, booties and a beanie. I had my White’s Dual Field P.I. detector which is made specifically for this kind of search, that being said anyone who’s ever searched right in the shore break knows that it is exponentially more difficult than on dry land. I was giving it my best try but digging up heavy piles of wet sand in my scoop was taking a heavy toll on my injured wrist and shoulder. An hour and a half into the search I was running low on time and the pain was also pushing me to stop. The couple had been married for just over three weeks and I knew I could very well be their only hope so I decided to continue till I either found it or was forced to leave by the notorious Capitola police gestapo. Helping the newlyweds get their marriage off on a good start was all I was thinking as I pressed on. Just about two hours into the search a faint signal came through. After scooping the sand two times the signal was still in the hole but getting stronger, an indication I may be on the right trail. On the third scoop my detector indicated the object was now out of the hole and in the scoop. I flushed the sand out with the receding waves and was stunned to look down into the scoop to see the largest gold band I’d ever seen . . I was speechless. The ring had already burrowed down approx. 8″ into the sand. This was an enormously satisfying find because of all the factors combining to make it a tough challenge. Hard work and perseverance payed off but in all honesty there’s always a bit of luck involved. This time it was on my side.