How to find a lost ring on the beach Ocean Isle Beach NC Tag | The Ring Finders

Sprinkler Solenoid Valve Found Carolina Shores NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call last Wednesday from a repeat customer asking if I could help him find a sprinkler solenoid valve in his yard. We agreed that I’d meet him today, Thursday, Oct 29th. When I arrived, Jim was waiting for me in the yard. He showed me the suspected area where the solenoid was buried. He told me that he had had some landscaping done and the protective boxes had been covered up with dirt and rocks. When I turned on my Equinox 800, I was getting all kinds of EMI (electromagnetic interference), so I turned down the sensitivity. Luckily, Jim had another solenoid that he had already found that I used to test. I knew I was looking for negative numbers and probably in the -4 to -5 range on the VDI. The valves are mainly plastic with very little metal (basically screws, a spring, and some copper wire) in them. When I ran the coil over the exposed solenoid, I wasn’t getting much of a signal. I cranked the sensitivity back up to 25 (max) and was able to get enough of a signal I could distinguish the signal from the interference. After checking a different signal that turned out to be nothing, I swung over an area more into the bushes. I got the low grunt sound and the numbers I was looking for. Jim started digging and after a few inches of dirt and rocks, he spotted the cover protecting the solenoid.  We found exactly what he was looking for. Jim for holding on to my number and giving me a call. So glad I could help.

Jim -Thanks, for holding on to my number and giving me a call!

Jim

       

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Silver Promise Found on Holden Beach, NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Aaron saying that Joe Denton had referred me to help find a lost silver promise ring. The story went that his girlfriend Olivia had tried to pass the promise ring to a friend to hold for safe keeping. Unfortunately, Olivia was standing in a trough that was about 5 feet deep while the friend was standing on top of the ridge. The handoff missed and the ring sank to the bottom of the ocean buried in sand and shells. At first I told Aaron I’d be there closer to low tide, which was about 3 hours later. After thinking about it, I called Aaron back and said I was on my way. I was hoping that by getting there early, I could work the outgoing tide and maybe come across the ring.

When I got there I met Aaron and Olivia in the parking lot. As we walked out to the beach, Aaron said that he had made a sand mound to mark the spot Olivia went into the water. As we got closer to the spot, the mound was gone. Where the spot was now 2 kids playing and unknowingly destroyed the mound. There was just enough of the mound left that Aaron was sure we were in the right spot. Not knowing what I’d be up against, I brought both my White’s PI and my Equinox 800. I grabbed the PI and headed out in the water to find the trough. About the same time I found the trough, I got smacked by a pretty good wave that soaked me and just about knocked me over. New plan, I grabbed my 800 and started working the slope and parallel with the beach. Aaron said they were going to go eat dinner and I assured them if I found it I’d give them a call. After about 20 minutes, I grabbed the PI again and started working the tide line seaward. The waves were still breaking with force, plus the current was stronger than I willing to fight with. I moved south to start a wider search and Boom!!! I hit a great signal, but with the PI it could be anything. I dug the target out, walk up the beach and dumped the scoop out. Ran the coil over the area and found the target again, pushed the smaller amount of sand in the scoop with my foot and shook it out in the surf. There it was, Olivia’s beautiful promise ring staring up at me. I called Aaron and he asked if I found it. I told him that I thought so and was sending him a picture. Bingo, he said it was Olivia’s. I told them I’d meet them at the restaurant they were at and drop it off. When I got there they were both waiting in the parking lot with huge smiles on their faces.

Aaron and Olivia – thank you for trusting me and The Ring Finders to help find your lost treasure. Wish you both the very best in life.

Jim

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Man’s Cobalt Wedding Band Lost on Ocean Isle Beach NC – Found and Returned

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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About 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 27th, I received a text message saying, “Hi Jim, My name is Lyndsey and I heard you are an excellent ring finder. Any chance you are available near OIB (Ocean Isle Beach)”.  I called the number and talked with Lyndsey to get the details. She said her friend, Sean, had lost his wedding band while playing catch with her son in the dry sand. She said Sean had told her he had the ring on until he removed the ball glove and within minutes realized his ring was gone. The last thing she mentioned was that their group spent about 45 minutes looking for the ring with no luck. I told her I’d be there in 35-40 minutes, grabbed my gear and headed out. She texted me her address as I was driving out of my neighborhood.

I arrived about 6 p.m. and met Lyndsey in her driveway. She told me that Sean didn’t know that she had found somebody to try and find his ring and hoped we could surprise him. She walked me out to the beach and showed me the area they had been in. I asked what type of ring and she said she was pretty sure it was white gold. I knew the VDI (Visual Display Indicator) number range I was looking for so I started a grid search parallel to the tide line. Plus, since the ring had only been lost within the last couple of hours, it should be within a couple of inches. I completed the area passing up numerous deeper targets outside the range I was looking for. I confirmed the white gold and the time period and the only thing Lyndsey wasn’t sure of was the metal. She texted someone and found out the ring was made from Cobalt. I had no idea what Cobalt was, so I called a friend to see if he had any ideas on where that would show up on the VDI. He had no idea either, so I did another grid search perpendicular to the tide line over the same area expanding east, west and north. This time it took a little longer because I was checking some of the targets I hadn’t check before. While I’m searching, Lyndsey was checking her pictures on her phone and found one that saved the day! She moved me to search further east, which I did. About 3 more grid lines I hit a shallow, solid 9 on the VDI. On my second scoop, I saw the silver looking ring sticking out of the sand. Boom! After almost an hour and twenty minutes, I had Sean’s ring in my hand.

On the way back to the house, Lyndsey and I devised the surprise return, needless to say, Sean was Surprised! Lyndsey was taking the reveal video and didn’t want Sean to see her so the beginning of that part of the video is filming the floor.

Lyndsey – Thank you so much for trusting me to help find Sean’s ring and for taking the videos!!

Sean – happy belated 2nd Anniversary to you and your lovely bride, Kate. Wish you two all the Best.

Jim

 

 

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Wedding Celebration Contributes to Lost Wedding Band in the Ocean 8 hours after saying “I Do”

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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On Sunday afternoon, I received my second call of the day for a lost ring.  This one had been lost in the very early hours of Sunday morning on Ocean Isle Beach, NC. The call came from Jim, the groom. He said that he had lost his wedding band in the ocean after an evening of celebrating his and he’s new bride, Marie’s 6 pm wedding. At exactly the same time, I was talking with Jim, I was getting a text from Cindi, Jim’s mother. She had done the research and found me through The Ring Finders web site. She had sent my information to her son, and both of them were trying to contact me. At some point Jim passed the phone to Marie’s dad, Jim, and I learned that Jim had lost his ring in waist deep water at 2 am. A quick check of the tide table showed low tide was about 10:30 pm Saturday night, so I’m thinking this might be a tough search. I advised one of the Jim’s and Cindi that I had another ring search at 6 pm and that I’d be there as soon as I got finished with the other search, which was probably going to be about 8 pm with travel time.

I got to Ocean Isle about 7:45pm and met Jim (father), Marie and Jim (bride and groom), and a few of their friends. To help as much as possible with my search, I needed to get a consensus, from everyone that was there when he lost the ring. I needed to know the time, the location, and how deep Jim was. I started my grid search parallel to the beach, trying to work the outgoing tide. Within a couple of hours, it was pitch black on the beach and both the wind and waves had picked up to the point I wasn’t comfortable out there by myself. So, I called it a night and called Marie telling her I and a buddy would be back out around 9:30am the next day.

At some point I had called Jim Brouwer, a good friend that has helped me in the past, to see if he was interested in giving me a hand on this one. The search area wasn’t huge but with all the circumstances, it’d be great to have 2 of us looking. When Jim Brouwer and I got there around 10 am, I showed him the area and we drew a line in the sand where Jim (groom) suspected he entered the water. Jim B. took the north side and I took the south. After about 2 hours and almost at dead low tide, I see Jim B digging a target in about thigh deep water. Considering the time we were out there, I had dug just one bottle cap and Jim hadn’t dug anything, so this was a good sign. As I watched Jim search through his scoop, he raised his head and gave me the “yes” nod.  Thank you, Jim!!

Marie and husband Jim went to get Jim B and me some water, so when I tried to call Marie she didn’t answer. I called Cindi to see if the kids were with her, she said no and then asked if we found the ring. I told her yes but I wanted to surprise the kids. Cindi said she was coming down. Marie called me and I asked her if she’d come down. The plan was to tell Marie and Jim that we were done with the search while I was pointing out the areas we had searched with my index finger. The whole time I had Jim’s ring on that finger. It took a few minutes and I finally said “Follow my finger down.” Jim saw his ring first, and then Marie. Beautiful reactions from both and a few tears ran down their cheeks.

Jim and Marie, Thank you so much for trusting me, Jim Brouwer, and The Ring Finders to help find one of your most treasured items. In just two days, your rings have started the stories of your lives together, and what stories they are. Best of Luck to you both, I wish you only the best.

Jim

    

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Birthday Wish Comes True, Kind of, on Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Sam called me on Sunday, July 5th saying he had lost his gold wedding band in the ocean. My first questions were “what time” and “how deep?” His replies were around 4 p.m. and knee deep. Whew, these were good answers because low tide was about 2 hours before he lost it, so I felt like I had a fighting chance. We set it up that I’d meet him on Monday at 1 p.m. and I’d work the outgoing tide.

I called him as I was walking out on the beach and saw him waving. As we met and walked towards where he and his wife, Elizabeth had set up their umbrella for the day, I started asking more questions. Sam assured me that they were in the same spot they were yesterday and that he was straight out from there in knee deep water. He told me that when he lost his ring, he wanted to take one more swim before they left. He continued saying that as he was riding a wave in, another wave hit him and he felt his ring come off. I started a grid search and did 3 or 4 grid lines parallel to the beach to get a starting point. I then headed out in the rough surf in a perpendicular grid. I’m on my 6th grid line when I notice Sam out in deeper water, diving in an attempt to feel for his ring. When I got to him, I asked if he thought he was out that deep, he responded that he really thought he was. From his previous answers, my thoughts were he wasn’t, but I did a complete grid in the area to put his mind at ease. After finishing the area I continued on with my original grid search. After a few more lines, I noticed Elizabeth was standing at the water’s edge. I stopped and asked her what she remembered. She said she remembered Sam was more at an angle when she saw him frantically looking for something in the water, and she knew he had lost his ring. I knew then I needed to expand my search area to the west, just not sure how far. I knew I was in the hour and a half window before low tide, keeping in mind he was knee deep. So, I just kept plugging along and starting to second guess myself. Like, did I miss it, was I not out far enough, and all the other things that go through your mind when you’re looking for someone’s treasure. By now, I was at least 30-40 yards west of Sam’s suspected loss area. Then BAM!!!! I got the 16/17 on the Equinox 800 VDI I was looking for. One scoop and I had the target, I washed it out in the surf and there was Sam’s gold wedding ring, all by itself, sitting in the bottom of the scoop. I made it look like I was still detecting as I walked up to where they were sitting. I told them I needed a break, as I was grabbing my cell phone from my rolled up towel on the beach. I had his ring half way on my finger as I’m recording, waiting for his response. Elizabeth saw it first, but was speechless with her mouth open. It took Sam a couple of second as the video shows, and then all smiles.

Happy Birthday Sam, I’m sure it’s not the gift you wanted for your birthday, but it turned into a pretty good present!

Sam & Elizabeth – Thank you for trusting me to find your 2 year old treasure.

Jim

     

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White Gold Wedding and Engagement Rings Lost on Ocean Isle Beach NC – Found and Returned

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I had gotten a referral off of a Face Book page about a young lady who had lost both her wedding and engagement rings on Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Her name, Leanna, and phone number were in the referral, so I called her. When she answered, I introduced myself and told her that I was a member of The Ring Finders, explaining what it is that we do. I also gave her The Ring Finders.com web site so she could verify the service as well as who I was. She asked about the cost of the service, and I explained I did this on a reward basis, so if she wanted to do a reward it was totally up to her. Leanne and her husband had traveled back home and weren’t in the area so after talking with her husband, they agreed to have me look. She explained that she had taken her rings off and put them in a bag and left them in a cup holder on her Aunt’s beach chair. It wasn’t until they left the beach and got to the end of the beach access, did they check and find the rings weren’t in the bag. The chair and all the rest of their belongings had been sitting in the dry sand. Her husband stated they were set up to the left of the beach access, about 3 houses down.

This would be my second search for the day on Ocean Isle, just 4 blocks apart. I had already called Jim Brouwer to help me search for the other ring. Thinking this would be a quick search; I decided we’d look for this one first and then get the second one. It never fails, the ones you think should be quick and easy never are. Jim and I got to the beach and saw people set up right where we needed to search. We started our search weaving in and out of chairs, umbrellas, and people. There were a few couples that moved for us after they knew what we were looking for. I took a quick picture and sent it to Leanna to confirm we were searching in the right area. After about 45 minutes, with no luck, we decided to go after the other ring. Our plan was to come back a little later when most of the people would be gone.

After a successful find on the other ring, we showed back up to look for Leanna’s rings. There were still a few people but not near the crowd. As I’m doing a grid search, two young ladies (Virginia and Nadia) walk up to me. They tell me their cousin had lost her wedding and engagement rings the day before. I asked them if their cousin was Leanna, which they replied “yes.” I told them those were the rings I was looking for. We went back and forth about what happened, and I told them Leanna and her husband thought they were behind the 3rd house. I asked them what they remembered about the loss. Right off, they both said that they thought they were a little further east and about the middle of the dry sand. I talked to Jim, and we dividend the new search area in half. I worked the middle of the dry sand walking east, and Jim worked closer to the slope going east. About 10 minutes, I see Jim digging out a scoop of sand, and reaching down and picking something up. He walked over and handed me Leanna’s wedding band. He then walked back to the spot, swung the coil over the area, took another scoop and pulled out her engagement ring. I took both rings and laid them in the sand to get a picture. I sent it to Leanna with a text saying BA-BOOM! I then called her and ask if she got the text, she said she hadn’t checked her phone for a while, I told her she needed too! I heard her kind of gasp and said something like “Oh my goodness.” She was one happy young lady.

Leanna – Thank you for trusting us to help find your lost treasures.

Virginia and Nadia – if you read this, Thank You both for getting us in the right spot, it made all the difference.

Jim – Once again, thanks for your help!

Jim

  

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Man’s Tungsten Wedding Band Lost on Ocean Isle Beach NC – Found and Returned

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a late evening e-mail from Kim advising that her husband, Dondi had lost his Tungsten wedding band. Her e-mail included a description of both the ring and the likely area it was lost in. The area she described was between a local Inn and the pier at the beach access with two red poles. I had a good idea of the search area, but was unfamiliar with the two red poles. I responded to her e-mail, asking a couple of questions and sent a Google earth map picture with the area broken down in a couple of squares. My initial impression was this was going to be a tough search. Luckily, she eased some of my concern when she responded that the search area was about half what I thought it might be. She also told me that her and Dondi had left to go back home. So, I was looking for a ring that had been lost 2 days before, within a 3 hour time line, and from the dry sand to beyond the low tide line. Plus, they weren’t going to be there to actually put me on the spot. Not a big deal, but I thought it’d be a good idea to get a little help. I called Matt Fry, the Myrtle Beach Ring Finder, who already had other plans, so I gave Jim Brouwer a call. Jim’s always up for a challenge and someone I can trust and depend on.

Shortly after talking to Jim, I got a referral off Face book. These were a lady’s white gold wedding and engagement rings that were lost the day before, in the dry sand, and just 4 blocks from my other search. Now, I’m glad I called Jim and got some help.

After a short attempt at finding the lady’s rings, because of the crowd, we decided to go after Dondi’s ring. When we got to that search area, we found the red poles, and divided the search area in half. I took the west side and Jim took the east side. It was just about low tide, so we started our grid searches. I started about knee deep in the ocean, Jim started above the low tide line, this way our detectors wouldn’t interfere with each other. After about an hour, I had finished my search area. I went back to the water’s edge and started a cross grid of both search areas, working my way up the beach. Meanwhile Jim was working his way up to the high tide line. Another 15-20 minutes, I see Jim walking down the beach towards me. Jim doesn’t give up, so I knew that meant only one thing, he found the ring. Sure enough, he walked up and dropped the ring in my hand. I took a picture of the ring in the sand, added a text saying “BINGO,” and sent it to Kim. I then called her; I could clearly tell she was overwhelmed. She told me she was gardening when she got the picture, and she screamed and jumped up. Dondi and her neighbors thought that she had gotten snake bit, thank GOD that didn’t happen.

Later, Kim told me that a friend of hers had told her about the ring finders, and that’s how she found me. She also mentioned that she hadn’t told Dondi that she had contacted me until they were on their way home. She confidently told him that she really felt like I was going to find it, because she had been praying for 2 days. Kim, to be honest, I had a little conversation with the Big Man upstairs as we walked out on the beach, no doubt it helped!

Kim and Dondi, Thank you for trusting The Ring Finders, and Jim and me to find your lost treasure!

Jim – Thanks so much for your help.

Jim   

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Wedding Band Lost in the Dry Sand, Found and Returned at Ocean Isle Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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My wife and I had just sat down and ordered dinner when I got a text message saying “Hi, is this Jim the ring finder?” I called the number and talked to Blythe, who stated she was on the beach taking photos and when she stood up and brushed the sand off her pants, her Tungsten wedding ring went flying. I told her that I’d be there between 9:30 and 10.

After dinner, I dropped my wife off at home, grabbed my gear, texted Blythe telling her I’d be there in about 30 minutes. When I got to the beach, I met Blythe, Cassi and their dog, Jasper. It was very dark as we made our way out to the beach and the area both Blythe and Cassi were sure they were when Blythe’s ring came off. I turned my Equinox 800 on, literally took two steps and got a solid 17 on the machine. I knew I had Blythe’s Tungsten ring. This is the type of ring searches we pray for – lost in the dry sand, and the owner putting us in the exact spot! I scooped the sand up, checked the hole and knew I had the ring in the scoop. As I shook the sand out of the scoop, I heard the familiar sound of a metal ring clanging in the bottom of the scoop. Cassie and Blythe heard it too. I walked over to Blythe, holding the scoop out for her to pluck her wedding band out. Cassie kept saying “you found it already?” Big smiles and hugs, and I think Jasper even got a little excited.

Blythe and Cassie, thank you for trusting me to help find your lost treasure! Have a great rest of your trip and a safe drive home.

Jim

      

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Sentimental Diamond Stud Earring Lost on Ocean Isle Beach NC, Found and Returned

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Daniel early this morning, July 21st, saying his wife Ashley had lost a Diamond stud earring, and asked if I could help find it. He said that they had been walking from their rental across a wooden boardwalk leading, over the dunes, out to the beach. I haven’t had much luck finding small stud earrings, so I told him I didn’t think I’d be able to find it. After thinking about it for 30 minutes, I called him back and told him I’d give it a try but it wouldn’t be until about 10 pm that evening. I also told him to bring his wife’s matching earring so I could test it with my machines to see if one of them could detect it.

Shortly after 9 pm, and after having dinner with family members here for a family reunion, I grabbed my Gold Bug II, and my Equinox 800 and headed out. I called him en route and got his address. Shortly after arriving, we met up on the street and he led me to his rental house, where I met Ashley. She had the other earring so I laid it in the sand next to the driveway and turned on the Gold Bug, wham, I had a strong signal. Ashley lead the way out on the boardwalk stopping at the spot she said that she felt something hit her chest, then she heard it hit the wooden boardwalk. She reached up to her ear and didn’t feel the earring. The spot we were standing at was about 8 feet high above the sand dunes. I made my way out to the beach and came up on the other side of a neighbor’s access. It was a small search area and I was very careful not to damage or destroy any of the undergrowth in the search area. I got a good signal and started sifting the sand through my hand as I continued to check the area. When I hit hard ground I knew it wasn’t the earring. I took a few more steps and got a strong signal and again sifted the sand through my hand. At one point I saw the earring move as I grabbed some sand. I reached down through the sand until I felt the earring, I picked it up, blew the sand off, and held it up for Ashley to see and reach down for. After making my way back up to the boardwalk, I got a big smile and hug. She told me her mother had gotten those earrings for her, and later Daniel had bought her a matching necklace. She was very upset that she had a beautiful necklace and only one earring. Now she has both earrings back and both Ashley and Daniel are an extremely happy couple again, which is why I do this.

Ashley/Daniel – Thank you for trusting me to help find your lost treasure. Have a great rest of your vacation and a safe trip back home.

Jim

 

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White Gold Engagement Ring and Anniversary Ring Lost at Ocean Isle Beach, NC – both Found and returned

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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When I checked my email first thing this morning, I saw mail from Debbie saying she had lost her rings at Ocean Isle Beach, NC and was wondering if I could help. She had put her phone number in the email so I called her to get the details. She said that she had been in the soft sand, took her rings off and put them on top of a cooler. At some point someone lifted the lid on the cooler and the rings fell into the sand and disappeared. I was so excited these were lost in the soft sand, and not chest deep in the ocean.  I told her it’d be a piece a cake and I’d be there in 35-40 minutes.

I met her on the beach and she gave me an area she thought she had lost her 2 rings. One was her engagement ring and the other was an anniversary ring. I drew a line in the sand with my scoop, and started a grid search. On the third row I hit a high signal, which wasn’t what I was looking for for a white gold ring. I dug a scoop and spread the sand out with my foot, when I did I was then getting two separate signals, one the low sound I was looking for. I took a scoop of sand, lightly shook it out of the scoop and saw her engagement ring. I showed her her ring and she flew out of her beach chair with a giant smile on her face. I got a quick hug and went back to get the second ring. I spread out the sand again, this time with my hand and saw her anniversary ring. She now has both rings back and couldn’t be happier, she was sure they were gone for good.

Debbie, thanks so much for trusting me to help find your lost treasures. Have a great rest of your vacation and a safe drive home.

Jim

  

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