lost ring recovery specialist Alabama Tag | The Ring Finders

University of Alabama College Ring Lost for Almost 20 YEARS…Recovered from Pond in Somerville, AL!

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Bama fans, you’ll be very proud of this ring recovery!

I received an email from Joel on October 6th, 2019 asking for my help with finding his ring.  Joel explained that several years prior he was tossing a decoy duck into a pond on his family’s property, when his ring slipped off his finger and landed in the water.  This wasn’t just any ring; this was a University of Alabama college ring that Joel had purchased in 1993 to commemorate him earning his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) Degree!  Based on current conditions at the time, Joel wasn’t sure if he should pursue his master’s degree, but decided to push through anyway and persevere.  You can only imagine how much sentimental value this ring held to not only Joel, but the rest of his family as well.  They were devastated by the loss!  Additionally, Joel told me that ArtCarved had made his class ring and it had a stadium style design, which they no longer make.  Based on all these factors, I knew I had to find his ring!

The pond was on their property in Somerville Alabama, therefore private, so I didn’t have to worry about anyone else trying to find the ring.  Joel and his wife, Melody, knew the general area of where it landed in the pond, but they just couldn’t get to it due to the water.  Joel had initially purchased a metal detector, wrapped it in a garbage bag, and tried to find the ring, but to no avail.  He searched on Google every few years or so for a metal detecting service, until he eventually discovered The Ring Finders directory.

Attempt #1.  We arranged for me to come out the following Sunday, October 13th, 2019 to conduct a search.  The water was about 3-5 feet deep.  However, the two main factors I had going against me were the mud/sludge on the bottom and the temperature.  The sludge was about a foot deep, and the weather had just turned cooler about a week prior.  Armed with my AT Pro and long handled sand scoop, I conducted a wading type grid search for as long as I could in the cold water.  I had a wetsuit on, but I could only manage to search for about 1.5 hours before I had to call it.  It was difficult to effectively pull a scoop of that deep mud, as it acted as almost a suction.  I was able to dig a few signals, which were the usual pulls tabs, foil, and other trash targets.  I told Joel that I would be back out in the summertime when the water was warm.  I apologized to him, because he would have to wait an additional 9-10 months for the next search attempt.

Attempt #2.  We scheduled the next search for Sunday, August 2nd, 2020.  Unfortunately, Alabama was having an unseasonably rainy summer.  The pond was deeper than it was in October.  My husband, Lindell, and I searched for about 2 hours, but had to call it due to the depth of the water.

Attempt #3.  The third time’s the charm!  This search was scheduled for Sunday, August 16th, 2020.  Lindell and I had planned to obtain our Open Water SCUBA dive certifications this year, but that got pushed back until next year due to a surgery I needed.  We had completed the basic dive certification on our honeymoon in 2010.  So, we decided to buy a hookah dive system made by HookaMax.  This is a surface supplied air compressor that always you to dive with a regulator and dive hose to a max depth of about 20-30 feet.  We also constructed a PVC grid that would sink to the bottom, so that we could keep a tight gridline.  Huge shoutout to my good Ring Finder buddies, Brian Rudolph from Washington D.C., and Jeff Morgan from Seattle!!!  Brian helped us with the purchase of the hookah system and Jeff helped with the construction of our PVC grid (grid system was passed on by Ring Finder, John Volek from Houston).

Armed with new capabilities to overcome the depth, temperature, and sludge; Lindell and I went out to Somerville!  We decided it was best that only I conduct a search, so that Lindell could monitor the situation topside.  I had my Equinox 800 with the 15” coil to cover maximum depth and area.  I conducted another wade type grid search, but was able to dive down with the hookah system to check targets with my pin pointer.  It was near zero visibility, but I could easily feel for the target with my gloved hand and pin pointer.  After about 2-3 hours of searching and only finding trash targets, I asked Joel to tell me again the general area of loss.  I went back over that area even though I had already covered it.  But as we know, if you miss it by an inch then you miss it by a mile!  After a few gridlines and checking some targets, I check another.  I have the item in hand under the water and started feeling the shape of a class ring.  With my non-gloved hand, I could feel the smoothness of the band.  I quickly shook off the muck and saw that glimmer of a crimson/red stone!  It was Joel’s 10k yellow gold UA ring!!!  What a beautiful sight!  We had found it after almost 20 years of it sitting at the bottom of this pond!  Such a great feeling!  It was getting later in the day, so I was relieved that we were able to pull it this time!  The ring wasn’t too deep for the detector to pick it up!

I surface with a big old smile and yell with excitement, “we got it”!!!  I walk it over to Joel and open-up my fist to reveal what he’s been waiting so long to see.  This was one incredible looking ring!!!  There was absolutely no tarnish or corrosion on it.  It looked the same as the day it went in the pond!  Both Joel and his mother-in-law were so grateful and in shock!  It’s hard to put their reaction into words.  The ring was now back on Joel’s finger where it belongs!  As always, I thanked the Lord for a safe and successful recovery!  Huge thanks to Lindell for assisting me with these searches!

I’m coming up on my 2-year anniversary with The Ring Finders.  I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, hear their stories, and help them find what may have been lost forever!  What a blessing it has been!  I give all glory to God and pray that I’m able to continue His work and help many more!

If you or someone you know has lost a ring, jewelry, or other metal item, please contact a member of The Ring Finders.

 

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FOUND…Ladies White Gold Wedding Ring Lost in Lake Mitchell, Clanton, Alabama!

  • from Huntsville (Alabama, United States)
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I received a call from Greg and Jamie right before lunch time on Sunday, July 12th, 2020.  They explained that Jamie had lost her white gold wedding ring while swimming in Lake Mitchell on the 4th of July.  Jamie’s ring is normally a snug fit, but after swimming for a few hours making the ring slightly loose, her ring slid off and into the water after getting snagged in the back of their boat’s wooden platform while she was climbing out of the water.  Jamie watched in dismay as the ring fell and she tried her best to grab it before it sunk to the bottom, but to no avail.  Greg borrowed a mask and searched the lake bottom, but was unable to come up with her ring.  Jamie’s wedding ring was custom made by a friend and had huge sentimental value.  I could tell just how much it meant to her as she was unable to talk about her ring without getting emotional.  Greg ended up buying a Nokta Makro PulseDive Pinpointer and searched with SCUBA gear, but only found pull tabs and bottlecaps in the area that he was able to cover.  During a Google search, Greg’s sister found the blog I wrote about the ring recovery I did a few months earlier for a ring lost in a lake in Tuskegee, Alabama.

There was a large storm passing through Huntsville when they called me, but it was supposed to pass to the east.  Lake Mitchell is in Clanton, AL and about a 2.5 hour drive south of Huntsville, so the weather was clear down there.  Greg and Jamie asked if I would be willing to do a search and I told them I’d be more than happy to!  I could come out that Sunday or wait until the following weekend when I was off again from work.  Jamie preferred that I come as soon as possible as the lake was a public area.  I agreed and my husband, Lindell, and I gathered up our gear and were on our way within the hour.  We met up with Greg and Jamie and were on the water by 2:30pm.  The area the ring was lost was about a 10 minute boat ride from the marina.  We made it out there and I had just got in the water with my detector when we realized the storm took a turn south and was upon us.  We decided to take cover and wait out the storm.  Lindell and I were finally able to get in the water and conduct a search around 4pm.  We searched for about 3 hours, but only came up with the usual pull tabs, bottle caps, and fishing gear.  Jamie decided to call it as it was getting late.  She asked if I thought that her ring was gone forever.  I told her that if her ring was there (which she saw it fall off), it could definitely be found.  I just needed more time to complete a thorough grid search.  If you miss it by an inch, then you miss it by a mile.  We planned to do another search the following Saturday starting earlier in the day.

Lindell and I went back out to Lake Mitchell and met up with Jamie and Greg on Saturday, July 18th.  The ring was lost in about 3 feet of water, but there was a possibility that the water level had changed.  There was a permanent marker buoy there as our reference point.  The search area was now around 3-5 feet of water.  During the week I made marker buoys with dive weights to mark a 4 corner grid.  We set-up the grid and I got in the water with my Equinox 800 and long handled XTREME Sand Scoop.  I told Jamie not to be discouraged as the search may take a few hours to check all signals that came up in the white gold range.

Greg brought 2 SCUBA set-ups.  Greg and Lindell planned to conduct SCUBA searches.  I was unable to dive as I had a craniotomy to remove a benign meningioma about 7 weeks prior.  Greg helped Lindell get set-up and Lindell got in the water with our brand new Excalibur 2 about 10 minutes after me.  Lindell started on the opposite side from me (area we had not had time to search the week prior).  Greg was just getting in the water when Lindell came up to me.  Inconspicuously, Lindell showed me a ring.  It was Jamie’s lost wedding ring!!!  Lindell’s 4th target after 3 pull tabs was Jamie’s ring!  Lindell said he was going to surprise Jamie.  Lindell then went up and showed Greg.  Jamie hadn’t noticed, because she was trying to keep busy by walking around in the water.  We all remained calm.  Lindell went up to Jamie and had her scan his hand with the Excalibur.  She said his watch was setting off the detector, Lindell then opened up his hand and revealed her ring.  Jamie stood in shock for a moment, because she thought the search would take a while.  Once Jamie realized it was her ring, she was just overcome with emotion!  What a great feeling!!!  This is the best part of being a Ring Finder!  The second best is finding the ring.  Celebration hugs and high-fives followed.  We took a few pictures and took a few moments to let it all sink in.  Jamie’s ring is absolutely gorgeous!!!  I had never seen a ring like this before!  As always, I thanked the Lord for a safe and successful ring recovery!

Jamie and Greg are such a sweet and friendly couple!  They brought sandwiches and offered to take us around the lake on their boat for the rest of the afternoon.  We graciously accepted and had a blast!  Lake Mitchell is absolutely beautiful!  What a great day!!!

If you or someone you know has lost a ring, jewelry, or other metal item, please contact a member of The Ring Finders.

 

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High School Class Ring worn for 30 years Huntsville, Alabama…lost, but now…FOUND!

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I received a voicemail and text message from Matthew on Friday, 8 May 2020.  I called him back and he told me that the day prior, he lost his very sentimental high school class ring that he’s worn every day for the past 30 years!  Matthew explained that he was doing some yard work, and he saw his ring fly off while tossing a stick over his fence and into the wood line.  He rented a metal detector and tried to find his ring, but quickly realized the detector was not top notch.  He went back on Google and came across The Ring Finders.  I told him that I would be able to come out that Sunday for a search, since I was helping a local flower shop deliver Mother’s Day orders on Friday and Saturday.

My husband, Lindell, and I went out on Sunday afternoon armed with our Equinox 800, AT Pro, and Garrett carrots (pin pointers).  We thought that the ring should be behind the fence based on Matthew’s story and test ring throw.  Matthew remembered one item flying straight and one item flying towards the right and into the woods.  The search was fairly difficult based on the amount of brush, old fence posts, and trees to detect around.  There were also a lot of signals to check from random items being discarded over the years.  We did our best to detect around everything while trying to keep a tight gridline going.  We also used our pin pointers where our detector coils wouldn’t fit.  After about 2-3 hours we had to call it quits.  Matthew thanked us, but based on my persistence, I knew I would be back out.  He lived close by in Huntsville, so the drive was fairly short.

I went back out in the morning that next Friday, 15 May 2020, so that I would have plenty of time to search.  I decided to check the yard first in case the ring didn’t make it over the fence.  No ring, so I headed back out in the woods.  I thoroughly searched around all the fence debris in case the ring bounced down in one of the gaps.  After another 2 hours, I felt confident that the ring was not in that area.  I decided to try back out in the yard.

One of the last areas I searched in the yard was where Matthew was standing when he threw the stick, which I didn’t check earlier in the day (lesson learned lol).  The grass was very short, and I thought we would’ve been able to eyeball a large gold class ring.  I checked a couple of surface targets with my pin pointer and started to see a gold outline of a ring move that was barely sticking out of the ground.  Matthew’s lost ring!!!  The ring had definitely been stepped on and was flush with the ground.  Barely visible and couldn’t be seen by just eyeballing it.  I jumped up and started celebrating!  I ripped off my gloves, tossed up my hat, and thanked the Lord!  I was so happy, relieved, and honestly shocked that the ring was right under my nose the entire time.  Matthew was probably standing on the ring when he did the test throw.  A great reminder to always think outside of the box, because rings sometimes end up where we least expect them to.

Matthew had to work that day, but his wife and daughter were in the house.  They didn’t hear me celebrating, so I calmly took the ring to the front door for the surprise reveal.  This is the best part of the job and it never gets old!  It’s hard to put their reaction into words, but I would say it’s pretty close to pure joy, happiness, and amazement!  Matthew’s wife and daughter then decided to surprise him at work.  I can only imagine his reaction.  Matthew’s ring has a 30-year story attached to it, and now that story gets to continue.

I’ve been waiting for Matthew to send a smile photo before I posted this blog, but haven’t received it yet.  I really wanted to get this posted before Memorial Day.  I should’ve had his wife or daughter take a photo while I was there.  Or I should’ve taken a selfie with the ring.  Until I receive his photo, I’ll just post one of me with a big smile and a thumbs up for another successful ring find!

 

 

If you or someone you know has lost a ring, jewelry, or other metal item, please contact a member of The Ring Finders.

 

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