It’s mid October and my phone rings. On the other end is Sylvia, It seem as her daughter has lost her high school class ring at Colgate University in Hamilton NY. After some discussion we decide to have her daughter (Kate) call me to set up a date when I could search for her ring. Kate was quite busy as it’s mid term and there is lots going on, but we finally agree that Friday Oct 22 would be the best time to meet. Beside Kate’s mother and father would be there as it was “parents week end”. In the mean time Kate and myself communicate and I find out that Kate lost the ring at night as she and a few other classmates were running around the Rugby Field at Colgate. Kate send me a “screen shot” of the field A rugby field is quite large but Kate was sure that she on what side of the field she was when she lost her ring but she was not quite sure it was lost on the field or along side of the field. It could have been a very large search area, so I requested that Penny Shutts, another member of “The Ring Finders” to accompany me. Kate could not meet us until 4 pm but we met with Kate’s parents @ 3:30, set up our equipment and started searching some of the area just off the field. When Kate arrived I questioned her some more and got a better idea of the area. Kate’s parents had brought along with them some of Kate’s belonging and they asked me how long I would search for Kate’s ring and I stated until we find it. They and Kate hung around for a while and shortly decided to go back to Kate’s room and deliver the belongings and then return. The “ring gods” must have been watching as before they could get off the field I got the lovely lower tone of a ring, I bent over with me “pin pointer” and sure enogh there burred in the grass was Kate’s ring. I left the ring buried, called Kate and her parents over, and had them actually “recover” the ring. The video shows the wonderful smile of Kate and her parents
I received a call from Chris that he lost his wedding ring in Bridgehampton at a wedding reception. He asked if I could help and said I would be out the next mourning. As usual traffic was bad going to the Hamptons, I made it and meet Chris at the Topping Rose House where the reception was held on Saturday. I was hoping the grass wasn’t cut as a ring could get damaged by the lawn mower. It wasn’t.
Chris showed me a photo taken at the reception showing me the ring. he stated that later is when he didn’t have it on his finger. I asked where he was sitting and a few other questions. I then got me detector and started searching. It take long to find the ring in the grass. Looking down to where the ring was, could not see it, I used my pin pointer to located a closer spot and using my fingers I located it. I showed it to Chris and A big smile came across his face and with a shock in his voice he yells you found it.
Mike called and asked me to find his wedding ring that he lost in his back yard. It seems that he had been sealing his patio and when cleaning up his equipment, he took his wedding ring off and proceeded to lose it SOMEWHERE ????.
He rented a metal detector and searched himself but with no luck. But when all else fails -« Who you gonna call –The Ring Finders »
I arrived, interviewed Mike to get up to the date info, and proceeded to search for his ring, and 1/2 hour later presented Mike with his ring. Here is a link to a video of the interview, search, and his big smile.
Thursday October 3 2019. At 7.15 pm my phone rings and on the other end is a young lady, Mai, who is a sophomore at Thompson Community College (CC) in Dryden NY. Mai was walking between the classrooms and her dorm when her “promise” ring fell off along the walkway.
Her ring is SS and cannot be resized, and although the ring fits OK during the summer months, now with fall and soon winter coming the cold makes everyone’s fingers lose at least ¼ ring size and during the coldest times up to ½ ring size. And today the weather was RAIN and temps dropping down into the 50’s. Wet and cold, perfect weather for losing a ring.
Although I would have liked to wait until tomorrow to search for her ring, I could tell by her voice that she was devastated on the lost of the ring. She was truly a “damsel in distress” and she was calling me to rescue her. How could I resist.
It was going to be a wet cold search in the dark so I rounded up my warm weather gear, headlamp and all the MD equipment that I needed and started down the road for a 1 hour drive both ways.
Upon arriving at the CC, I called her and she met me in the parking lots next to the trail where she lost the ring. We exchanged greetings, I fired up the machine and “a searching we will go”. There was a buried wire running along next to the walkway that carried power for the light poles that was giving me a little problem but I worked thru that and was able to do a good grid search It took me about ¾ of a hour but soon there came the sold sound of a SS ring. I could not see it as it had worked its way well down into the grass but when I “raked” the grass with my fingers I felt the ring. So I palmed the ring, stood up and ask her a question about the ring. When she answered, I then opened my hand and said, “Then this must be your ring”. Screams of joy, and yes I think a few tears. Another successful search.
You can see the YouTube video by clicking on this link
I was at work when I got a call from a young lady who asked if I could help her find her lost diamond ring. I asked where it was lost and when it was lost and she told me it was lost at Spanish Banks beach and that it was lost for 2 days and that she’d cried for 2 days.
She said that she happened to read a story online about a member of TheRingFinders and thought that she had to reach out and give it a shot.
I explained that there was a chance that the beach machine could have scooped it up or another detectorist could have found it as it was lost for 2 days.
That being said I was excited to go to the beach after working a 14 hour day because for me this is what relaxes me the most…A good treasure hunt!!
It was 11 PM and the young lady sent me a google earth map of the location where she’d lost the ring.
She said it was in front of the volley ball court # 3 or #4 I started my search and after searching all of court 3 & 4 I had no ring…Could have someone already found it? maybe or maybe she was a little off with her directions.
I expanded my search to court 5 & 6 and I found the ring minutes later in front of court 6 where she was sitting.
I was so excited and sent her a text message with a picture of the ring and a note that said…No more crying!
I love this job! if you have lost something special and need it found please visit TheRingFinders.com and find a member nearest your locaton!
On Thursday December 17th I received a phone call from a golfing buddy of mine. Eldon said that a friend of both of ours, Cleve, had lost his gold ring while running Christmas lights around the eve of his house. He wanted to know if I could meet Cleve at his residence. I advised him I would be there in about an hour.
I gathered my equipment and was at the residence in Early Texas within the hour. I met with Cleve and he advised the following had happened. On Saturday December 12th he had been installing Christmas lights along the eve of his house. He had finished, then went to the bathroom to wash his hands . At that time he noticed the ring was missing from his finger.
Cleve was almost 100% sure he would have lost it while installing the lights. He knew it was missing immediately after he finished, when he went to wash his hands. Although, he wasn’t positive it was on when he started. He strongly felt he would have noticed it being gone.
The lights were strung on the front and both sides of the residence. While facing the residence the left side had Holly Shrubs all along the wall and they were as high as the eve of the residence. The front had knee to waist high shrubs and the right side had no shrubs.
I began searching the ground with my Etrac. I searched for near 1 hour on the ground as much as I could with my Etrac. The next search would be conducted by me crawling up under the shrubs and between them and the wall. I had my Garrett AT Pinpointer for this search so I could get to the areas I had not been able to reach with my detector.
I crawled under and around behind the shrubs scanning the ground and up into the shrubs as far as I could reach . I had the AT Pinpointer set on the third level of sensitivety. It can reach as far as 6 inches or more with it set at this setting. Again, I searched for near an hour without finding the ring. The final search would be searching the top area of the tall Holly Shrubs.
I started near the back of the residence on the left side of the residence where the shrubs reached the eve of the house. I scanned all through the first shrub with the Pinpointer . It was clear, then the second and it was clear. I started on the final shrub scanning the side as I ran my pinpointer all around and into the shrub as far as I could reach. I then went around to the front side of the shrub at the corner of the residence. I ran the pinpointer in as far I could reach and I received a quick vibration and beep as I wiggled it around. I then slowly moved it around until I got a strong vibration and beep.
I had to part the limbs and leaves with my hands so I could see inside the shrub. A few seconds later I was able to see the ring sitting lodged between three limbs that came together. It was near the middle of the shrub and eye level to me .
I left the ring and went to the door and rang the doorbell. Cleve came to the door. I told him I needed to ask another question. He said he would be out as soon as he got his shoes on. I walked to the shrub where the ring was. Cleve came out and met me. I asked him if he had been on the roof any at all. He said no. I then said well I was just curious.
Cleve started walking back towards the front door and I said « While you’re out here look right here in the shrub and tell me what you see. » He had a puzzled look on his face. He parted the limbs with his hands and looked around for a few seconds. All of a sudden this big smile came across his face and I heard this excited voice say » My Ring !! »
I had left the ring as I found it so Cleve could see where he had lost it and allow him to recover it. At one point while I had been searching for the ring he had sounded as though he had given up hope of ever seeing the ring again. It had been missing for 6 days.
Cleve told me the ring was very sentimental. The ring was made from his Mother and Dads rings. One was 14 kt and the other 24 kt. the two were combined to make his ring, a size 15 !!!! the 5 diamonds came from his Dads ring and the 5 rubys came from his Mothers earrings. He said there was no way it could have ever been replaced.
I received a call from a friend, Ken, who is my Pharmacist. He asked if I was still doing the metal detecting stuff. I advised him I was still metal detecting.
Ken then said he needed me to find something for him but didn’t know if I would be able to locate it with a metal detector. I said ok what is it your needing to be found ?
Ken said he owned a house in the country near Bangs. His renters called and said the septic is backed up. ken said he went out and attempted to find the cleanout for the septic tank. He was not able to locate it and was thinking about having to rent a small trackhoe or backhoe to dig around and find the tank. Then he thought about me and my metal detecting service.
I told him septic tanks have rebar in them so there was a possibility I could locate the tank for him.
I met with Ken that evening and we drove to the property. We walked around the residence but could not find any sign of a septic line.
Ken had to get back to the pharmacy. I told him I would leave the sharpshooter stuck in the ground where I thought the best location was. He advised he and his renter would dig for it afterwards.
I used my Etrac , wide open on all metal and began a search. I conducted a 2 hour search around the residence marking possible locations with surveyors flags. I finished the search and had three likely spots . I reexamined each of the three spots . I decided on one spot that seemed to have the best shape for a septic tank. While running my coil over the location I could pick out the distinct shape but was getting an even stronger signal of about a foot diameter over the weaker signals . I stuck the sharpshooter in the ground over the stronger signal.
I contacted Ken by phone. I advised him I had covered the whole area and I had left the sharpshooter stuck where I believed it might be. He thanked me and said he would go out the next day.
I received a call from Ken the next evening. He was excited to tell me that I had marked the septic tank but the most exciting part was that I had put the sharpshooter directly over the cleanout. He was very thankful.
Ken commented how much time and cost it had saved him. He would of had to take off work and rent a backhoe then took the time to dig up his yard searching for the tank. Then there was always the possibility of damaging the tank or lateral line or something else while digging. That only adding to the cost.
They dug a little over two feet to the clean out. The septic service came in and cleaned the tank and all was flushing well again. Ken and his renters were all happy again.
Saturday November 28 I was browsing through Craigslist. I found an entry for a lost silver and turquoise necklace. The entry read that the person who had lost the necklace had been walking the walk path at the city park in Lampasas. They had not left the walkway and the necklace was lost on the walkway somewhere around the loop. I made contact by the phone number provided. It requested by text only. I texted a message identifying myself and about The Ring Finders on Sunday 29th. I received a response and let them know I was willing to drive the 60 miles to attempt to locate the necklace. They strongly believed the necklace had fallen on the sidewalk and someone picked it up. I agreed but stated there was a possibility it had gone into the grass at the side of the walkway. I advised them I would give it a try.
I arrived in Lampasas at 3:00 to begin the search. I first contacted the Police Dept. and local radio station to see if anyone had found it and called it in. Both locations advised no calls had been received.
The walkway was approximately a half mile around. It was a light rain most of the day with temps in the 30’s. Later in the evening a light snow flurry came through. I searched from 3:00 till 8:00 into the dark. I searched one side all the way around then the other side around again. Searched all the parking areas. After searching the grassy area in front of the parking areas I was satisfied that someone had picked it up.
I text that I was unable to locate the necklace in the park. I contacted the Police Dept and radio station leaving contact information in case someone called that they had found the necklace.
It was still a fullfilling search for me being able to pass onto the owner of the necklace that there was closure that the necklace was not just laying in the park. I never knew if I was communicating with a male or female. No names were ever passed on to me. I advised them I would contact them again if I heard anything. There were no more reponses from them.
I received a phone call on the morning of August 24th. The caller gave her name as Jessica. She stated that she had been at a wedding this past weekend and one of the wedding rings was lost during the ceremony. she was not the bride but a friend of the bride.
Jessica stated that during the ceremony the Ring Bearer (child) was carrying the pillow that had three rings attached by a ribbon to the pillow. When the Ring Bearer reached his position it was found that the ribbon had become loosened. Two of the rings were still resting on the pillow but the third ring was missing.
I asked Jessica a few more questions and then received directions from her. I would be traveling to Hawley Texas. That would be a 90 mile trip from my location. I prepared for the 180 mile round trip to Hawley.
I arrived in Hawley around 12.30PM. I arrived at a home out in the country where the wedding had been held. I met with Genet, the owner of the property, who was also a friend of the Bride. Jessica and the Bride, Kim, were to arrive at a later time.
Genet showed me where the Ring Bearer had walked. It led from the back of the house and covered a route of about 50 yards. Genet believed that the two rings that were found had fallen from the pillow and had been found on the ground while several people searched. I had her walk off an area where she thought the two rings had been found.
I placed cones around this area and out a little more. I began my search and had just about finished searching the area inside the cones. The Bride, Kim, arrived at that time. She met with me. I learned that the two rings that had been found had actually stayed on the pillow. The rings had never fallen off to the ground. That changed the area I had felt the ring should have been in and added more that would be searched if I did not find them there. Now,the rings could be back anywhere along the 50 yards.
Kim went to the house and I continued my search. The ground was covered in short grass but was very sandy. I was sure the ring had been stepped on while the group searched. The ring would be pushed below the sand and out of site. I was finishing the area that the cones bordered. Approximately 8 minuets later I received a signal on my E-Trac that was very promising. The reading was a good signal for a small gold band. With my Pro Pointer I scanned the surface in the area of the signal. I began scraping the sand away and not more than a half inch under the sand, there it was.
I slid the ring onto the small finger of my left hand. I then set up my video camera. I called Genet on the phone and asked if she could have Kim come back outside I told her I had thought of another question I needed to ask.
Kim came outside and I told her that she had not been there before I had begun the search. I told her normally I would get her to fill a search contract form out and do a pre interview video if she was ok with being videoed. Kim agreed to do an interview on video.
In the video I surprise Kim with the ring. It was an awesome experience seeing her reunited with this ring. She had told me she had stopped the wedding while several looked for the ring. This was a special ring. Her rings and her husbands ring were rings his Grandparents had worn for more than 50 years. Both Grandparents had since passed on. The rings had fit both the Bride and the Groom, perfectly. The rings were passed down to them to be married in. The loss of the one ring was very difficult for many of the family members to handle.
Kim was kind enough to send the photo of the Grandparents who had worn the rings for more than fifty years.
Today I received a call from a young man who had lost his wedding ring 3 days ago at a park in Vancouver. He told me he was playing Frisbee football and he wasn’t sure if he put the ring in his bag before the game or if he put the ring in his pocket…
After meeting Doug and discussing the search area and asking a lot of questions to narrow down the search area I decided to start the search where Doug put his bag down.
I knew that this could be a very long search as I would have to search the entire soccer field if the ring wasn’t found near where his bag was.
I started my search and after 10 minutes or so I got a good signal and looked down and saw a big gold band hiding in the golden grass. I was excited and noticed that Doug and his wife wasn’t looking so I picked it up and asked Doug if I could do a short interview about his ring…He agreed but what he didn’t know was that I found his ring.
After a few questions I held the ring up in front of the camera and on the video you can see their reaction…I love my job!!!
If you have lost a ring and need help finding it…Call me ASAP!
