White Gold w/Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring lost in the Ocean. Found and Returned Wrightsville Beach, NC
On Friday, May 22, 2026, just after 8:30 am, I received a call from the Oak Island, NC. Ring Finder, John Finnerin. He asked if I could take a call from a young lady, Amanda, who lost her engagement ring on Wrightsville Beach, NC. I told him I’d be glad to and we hung up. Amanda called me and explained that she had lost her ring the day before. I told her I’d be there in about an hour and 30-40 minutes. On the way, I ask for an address where we could meet and a few more details. In some of her response she stated she probably lost it around 2 or 3pm and wasn’t sure if she lost it in the water or where they were sitting. She also said that they were in the water and did go out to chest deep around 2pm. I looked at the time I’d be there and where the tide was going to be and it didn’t look promising.
When I got to the meeting area, Blaine, her fiancé was waiting at the corner to direct me to parking. We walked up the street to the beach access and I met Amanda. We walked out on the beach and over to the area they had been sitting, Blaine thought it was another 30 yards south. Looking over the situation, it was very close to high tide, and the sea breeze had picked up and blowing some pretty good size waves up on the beach. About the only thing I was going to be able to accomplish then was going to be a grid search of the beach down to the water’s edge. I did an east/west grid search and eliminated the entire beach area. At that point, I was stalling for time hoping that the sea and wind would calm down, didn’t happen! I did try and see how far I could get out in the water. Unfortunately, when a wave hit me and knocked me down, causing me to break the cuff on my detector, my day was done. I came to the conclusion that I’d have to come back and hit the morning low tide for calm seas and before the sea breeze started. I don’t remember if I told Amanda and Blaine that I was going to come back or not. This was Friday, and because of the Memorial Day weekend, I wasn’t able to get back out until Tuesday morning around 9 am. I called my good friend Burwin, who has helped me numerous times and asked him if he was up for an adventure. I don’t think he’s ever told me no.
We showed up a little after 9 am on Tuesday and I asked him to start on the east side, and I’d start on the west side, and we’d meet in the middle. Both of us were doing a north/south grid line. Since I was down a detector, I broke out my Surf PI. I haven’t used that machine in years; it just gets heavy. I was probably a quarter of the way across my area and maybe shin deep when I got a hit. I pulled out 3 scoops of heavy wet sand before I got the target out of the hole. Spread the sand out and ran the coil over the area. Boom! I saw a round object packed with sand and reached down to pick it up. I had Amanda’s ring in my hand. I cleaned it off and took 3 pictures of it. I called Amanda, who was working, and asked her what her ring looked like. I knew I had it from the description she gave me on day one. I also sent her the 3 pictures. As she’s explaining, she stopped and said, “My Ring!” I know there were tears flowing down her cheeks, and she couldn’t talk. I love the surprise reactions, makes it all worthwhile!! I was able to make it to the Post Office and get it in the mail. She should get it Friday.
Today, Saturday I got a text message with a picture of Amanda attached. The text said, “Officially got my ring back! We’re beyond grateful for your help Jim!!”
Amanda and Blaine – I’m so happy I could find your treasure. Thank you for trusting me to help.
Jim
