We got a call from a gentleman who was mixing concrete for a row of 2 X 2 Steps. He was making about 20 steps for a customers’ walkway. In the process, due to some recent weight loss, his treasured ring which his Grandfather had worn his entire life and then passed on to our him disappeared. Short story, he had the ring on, made 20 concrete steps and 2 hours later when finished the ring was gone.
He was pretty sure it was in the 3rd step as a bag of quikCrete had burst open and he had scooped concrete with his hands. Upon arrival with our Garrett AT Pro Metal Detectors we began scanning each step. Few normal beeps and noises until I reached the 1st step. It was not a normal Gold Signal but it was extremely strong. I told the customer, I’m not sure it’s your ring but there’s definitely something there.
He said OK and picked up the 2X2 step and threw it on the ground breaking it into pieces, then he yelled “There it Is”. He did a little dance in the yard, gave us a big hug and told us we made his year.
I received a call from Jeff who had lost his white gold wedding ring while swimming at a friends camp over the summer, asking if I would be able to look for it. Although the late October Sunday was an unseasonably warm day the waters of Bunganut Lake in Lyman had cooled off quite a bit since Jeff lost his ring. The search area was small with about a 10’ maximum depth, but strewn with large boulders which made navigating and detecting a challenge. After about two hours I was able locate and reunite Jeff with his ring which I found at the base of one of the boulders and covered in a couple inches of silt.
Joel called and said he believed he lost his family heirloom gold wedding ring while removing leaves from his yard. He said he got my phone number from theringfinders.com. I told him not to disturb the leaves that he bagged and do not rake any more leaves. I drove the 90 miles from Kerrville to Joel’s house in New Braunfels, Texas. Within 10 minutes I had recovered Joel’s ring slightly buried in the earth below a pile of leaves. Joel was ecstatic to have his ring back. Joel said he thought about renting or buying a metal detector but realized he wouldn’t know how to properly use it. Smart man Joel! Leave it to the experts, contact theringfinders.com when you lose you precious items.
Jeremy, thank you so much. Backstory: this is a custom wedding band that reflects our shared love of Lord of the Rings trilogy story. We’ve read the books and watched the movies many, many times. I was doing yard work and pulling weeds. I noticed the ring was missing when I went to throw the weeds in the yard waste dumpster. I was searching through the yard waste dumpster, the trash bag I had just taken out, and crawling around the area I was doing yard work for 2 days. That’s when we found your website. You found the ring within 10 minutes or less and were a pleasure to work with. We’d recommend you to anyone who is in need of your services. Thank you!!
Diane messaged me that she was frolicking near their North Topsail beach rental when a large wave came and knocked her over. As her hands plunged into the sandy bottom, her loose wedding rings slipped off. She didn’t realize they were gone until she returned to the beach house. I started my search in the rolling waves just before low tide after asking a few questions. Sadly, the rings remained unfound on this initial try. Diane attempted to show me a photo taken by someone in her group right after her fall, but the glare and my poor vision made it impossible to see on her phone. I requested the photos be sent to me, and upon reviewing them on my laptop, I understood I had been searching too far out; the tides suggested she must have been nearer to the dry sand.
On my second attempt, I spent over two hours conducting a North-South and East-West grid search in the wet sand around low tide. My arms ached from the effort as I expanded the search zone. At last, a bit beyond my previous search area, I discovered the beautiful ring hidden under the wet sand, a spot that would have been submerged most of the time. I called Diane over, and her relief was palpable, especially since they were set to leave the next day and had begun packing.
It all started with a text from Mike on Saturday evening – his wife Janine had lost her custom 8-diamond wedding ring back in the spring of 2023. They had tried everything: bought a metal detector (but had no idea how to use it) and enlisted 8 friends to help search the yard – all without luck.
The ring had gone missing while Janine was mowing the lawn, likely bouncing out of her sweatshirt pocket. I knew this wasn’t going to be a typical ring recovery. A heavy gold ring lost that long wouldn’t just be on the grass – it would be in the dirt.
Despite the 3-hour commute, cold 45-degree rain, and muddy conditions, I got to work. After digging around 60 holes across their 1.5-acre yard and 3 hours of searching… success! The ring was just a few feet off the driveway.
When Janine saw it, she burst into tears, gave me the biggest hug, and said she thought she’d never see it again.
There’s no better feeling than helping someone recover a symbol of love and memories they thought were lost forever.
Lost Ring Recovery in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Montecito – Call Dave MacDonald Today!
Lost your grandmother’s ring, wedding ring, or another cherished piece of jewelry in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, or Montecito? Act fast—call or text Dave MacDonald, the metal detection expert serving Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, at 805-290-5009. Time, tides, lawnmowers, and even other detectorists can work against you, so don’t delay!
I recently got a call from Glory, a young woman unwinding after weekend classes at Pacifica Graduate Institute near Santa Barbara. She’d been playing volleyball with friends on a grassy field when a powerful spike sent her grandmother’s ring soaring off her finger into the grass. Glory and her friends searched for hours in the Montecito-area hills, but the ring stayed hidden. Desperate, they turned to the internet and found me—Dave MacDonald, the local metal detection specialist—and set up a time for me to help.
I couldn’t make it that day, but I promised Glory I’d arrive at sunrise the next morning. She was nervous about heading back to Berkeley before the search, so I reassured her I’d mail the ring to her once found. At dawn, I arrived in Summerland—just minutes from Carpinteria and Montecito—met the campus security guard, and mapped out a grid pattern to scan with my Minelab Manticore. After three careful passes, I got a sharp high tone. Using my pinpointer, I confirmed a surface target, parted the grass, and there it was: a stunning 24k gold ring nestled in the green.
I showed it to the guard, and we agreed it matched Glory’s description. I snapped a photo, texted it to her, and confirmed it was her grandmother’s ring. Now, it’s safely on its way back to Berkeley, where it belongs!
For lost ring recovery in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, or Montecito, don’t waste time with rentals or DIY searches. Whether it’s a ring, necklace, pendant, or bracelet lost in the grass, sand, or surf, I’ve got the expertise to help. Call or text Dave MacDonald, your Santa Barbara and Ventura County metal detection expert, at 805-290-5009. Let’s make a plan to reunite you with your lost jewelry today!
It was a beautiful day at the Jersey Shore, the perfect opportunity for Lisa and her friends to enjoy some time at the beach. What they didn’t plan for, however, was losing her rings in the soft, sugar-like sand so typical of these beaches. After searching for a while with no luck, someone in the group suggested calling NJ Ring Finder for help. Having heard about many successful recoveries on Long Beach Island and nearby areas, they were hopeful it wouldn’t be a wasted call.
Once I got the call, we arranged to meet shortly after. As I walked down the dune path towards the beach, I saw the group gathered in a large circle around their chairs, securing the area where the rings were lost. After a quick conversation to get the details, I got to work, carefully moving my metal detector’s coil back and forth across the sand.
Within just a few passes, the detector gave off a low, steady tone. I had a strong feeling this was it, and sure enough, BINGO—it was her ring! Everyone was amazed at how quickly the recovery happened.
Another successful search in the books. I love this job—saving vacations and creating lasting memories!
Professional lost item recovery of items of value, jewelry, rings, necklace, charms, earrings, watches, keepsakes, wallets, cell phones, hearing aids, car keys and more.
Metal detection, experienced SCUBA recovery diver for hire, lost in house, lost in car, lost on land, dropped in the lake, lost in the snow, and items thrown in anger.
Serving the Pacific North West WA state, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellevue, Everett, Redmond, Auburn, Renton, Sumner, Tukwila, Federal Way, Fife, Milton, Puyallup, Bony Lake, Graham, Parkland, White Center, Mercer island, Tulalip, Crystal Mountain, Summit at Snoqualmie, Newcastle, Edmonds, Bothell, Enumclaw, Montlake Terrace, Mukiteo, Kingston, West Seattle, Alki, Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Issiquah, Lake Union, Arlington, North Gate, Green Lake Park, Gas Works Park Seattle, Wallingford, Golden Gardens Park, Carkeek Park, Denny Park, Juanita Beach Park, Kenmore, Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Kirkland, Duvall, Snoqualmie, Preston, North Bend, Puget Sound and many more…
I lost my ring how do I find it with a metal detector in the yard, snow, lake and sand. I need an experienced recovery SCUBA diver near me to find my lost wedding ring, cell phone, wallet and car keys.
