Massachusetts Tag | The Ring Finders

Campground Beach, MA Lost / Found / Returning of Wedding Band

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 25, 2025

With sunshine and high temperatures the desire to “Go to the Beach” to cool off is a prime cause for more rings to be “lost” and the need for a member of TheRingFinders.com to find the lost ring.

Jon found himself in just that situation on the 24th. As the tide was rising he and Kaden, his son, dug a hole on the sand bar. Then today Jon called for help. Within 2 hours I was ready for another search. I arrived an hour early due to the lack of beach traffic. Jon had left the beach to run an errand, leaving Kaden to show me the hole. I was glad to have a guide, otherwise I might still be looking for the correct area to search. At the hole which was the point were the loss was to have occurred. I started to drag my scoop to line a box in the sand. I had gone about 15 to 20 steps before getting a signal. One shallow scoop and I had the wayward ring. Now all I had to do was wait for Jon’s return.

When Jon showed up I went to shake his hand. He felt the ring and could not believe I had found it and he quickly put it back on were it belonged and gave me a big hug.

Lesson learned: Always leave a good, lasting impression. In this case there were two, the hole in the sand and a big hug.

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Private Beach in Brewster, MA – Platinum/Diamond Wedding Band Lost, Found, Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 25, 2025

When you believe you are doing everything correctly, something has to go wrong. Mary Rose found out the hard way at the beginning of her vacation on Cape Cod. It happened on the beach and started with Mary Rose putting her two rings into a plastic bag for safe keeping. Well, safe until she went to put them back on. Instead of two rings on her finger, she had only one. The other, a platinum ring with 8 diamonds, her mother’s wedding band, could not be found in the sand where it fell.

In the hours that followed, her husband made a mad rush to purchase a metal detector. It was the best tool for the job. But with most tools the detector has a learning curve for one to be successful with its use. With a bit more practice and a better sand scoop I believe the ring would have been found. As easy as it looks, it takes many hours of a metals detectors’ use to be able to use it proficiently with the ability to identify a target as good or trash. Then one also needs the correct accessory to retrieve the target.

The family put a few hours into searching and even using kitchen strainer to sift the fine, dry sand. After the hours with no success, an internet search for help ended on TheRingFinders.com website and my contact information. Within three hours I was on the beach and searching. A small area, knowledge of what my detector was telling me, and a beach scoop, the ring was located and pulled from the sand in less than 2 minutes. Another few seconds passed and Mary Rose had the sentimental ring back on her finger and a smile on her face.

Before leaving I spend some time in explaining my equipment and a few suggestions for son, Will, on how to use his new detector to become a more proficient metal detectorists. The most important suggestion was DO NOT to bury his grandmother’s ring in his practice of using a detector.

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BMW FOB Lost in the Sand – Bank Street Beach Harwich, MA Found and returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 22, 2025

The warm temperatures and bright sunshine had brought quite a crowd to Cape Cod’s beautiful beaches. One such fun seeker was Charlie who hails from England and drove his mother’s car to the beach. It was a wonderful experience, soft sand, good friends all enjoying the day…until it was time to leave. A frantic search started for the missing car fob, without it there was no way home.

The search for the fob failed and an internet search for a metal detectorist that could help. TheRingFinders.com showed up on the search results and Luke was the closest. Luke had another commitment and reached out to me. As luck would have it, I had just returned home from returning a lost/found wedding band and I could leave immediately.

The short story is I met Charlie and his friends in the parking lot, walked to the area where he had spent the afternoon. The area marked out for me was relatively small and in less than five minutes the fob was in my scoop, we were heading back to the parking lot and then onto home. The next day was to be even better weather wise and of course, to find a more secure place to put the car fob while on the sands of Cape Cod.

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Lost Ring Found and Returned Seagull Beach Yarmouth, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 22, 2025

Nick and family were enjoying the sandy beach and the start of a heat wave on sunny Cape Cod when Nick had the need to wash his hands. A quick run to the water’s edge and a few swishes in the water left his hand clean, smooth and without his wedding band. The surf was churning the seashells in a motion that washed his ring and shells together. Nick lost sight of the ring and all the searching did not reveal its location. A sleepless night followed and the morning’s question was: What to do now?

A suggestion to rent a metal detector, a Google search for a dealer revealed the name and phone number for J&E Enterprise. The call from Cassandra was answered by Eleanor, the owner, who strongly suggested that she call a RingFinder – Richard as he would be their best way to recover the ring.

A half an hour after the call came in, I was on the beach ready for the recovery. I was assured that the ring was lost right where the sea shells covered a strip of sand. After searching the suggested area I realized the ring was lost at low tide, not at the high tide line where the day’s shell line lay. The tide would have been lower so I moved my search to the low tide line of shells. My first two signals were too deep, the third was a target I had to dig. Yes, it was in my scoop. I left it in the scoop and Cassandra was brave enough to move the shells in the scoop and retrieve Nick’s wedding band.

I believe I saw tears of joy and great emotions as Cassandra placed the ring back on Nick’s finger. I just love my hobby at moments like that! Then I was told of another loss of 2 rings, I found out that the loss happened four years ago. Well, on a public beach, I had to agree that the rings were long gone. That is why time if of the essence to start searching for a lost item. I left leaving a suggestion, should another “loss” occur. That was to drop a few coins, pull tabs, anything metal in the area the “loss” happened. That would make the search for the correct area be easier to located a day or so later.

The only thing left was to wish everyone, the best and to enjoy the remaining time on vacation, leave the jewelry at home or wear a silicone ring as a “Keeper” so a sentimental ring will not slip off one’s finger.

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Englewood Beach Yarmouth, MA Wedding Band Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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June 7, 2025

It was on the fifth day before Dan’s first anniversary that he and his wife were enjoying boating on Cape Cod’s water, visiting a small island and a sandy beach with their granddaughter and family when somewhere along the way his one year old wedding band slipped off his finger.

The previous days of searching did not locate the ring. After hearing of a story of one of my previous finds, Dan’s wife took family recommendation about a group called TheRingFinders and and did a web search. Her search showed 4 entries for Cape Cod and she called me as I had over 200 returns and was the closest to her. Within two hours I was searching for the ring. Dan and Donna showed up about ten minutes into my cursory search. I had gone under the swing set and down to the water’s edge with only one signal, that of a of a penny. We then talked about Dan’s area of walking on the beach and I was close, but I was not close enough. The area were a dinghy was moved to and that of a swing set, where the granddaughter had enjoyed being push by Dan, would need a more thorough search.

I continued my search to the dinghy area and then up to the swing set area, finding a button and another penny on the way. I expanded the area under the sixth swing and very close to a leg of the swing set the best signal of the day rang into my ears. A small scoop into the sand, a quick shake of the scoop and there it was – the ring that would not stay lost for the evening’s anniversary party. What a day for the 78 year old couple, on their first anniversary! A day to remember.

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Lost Ring Found Under the Starlight of South Dennis, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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October 2, 2023: While preparing for a monthly association meeting I just missed answering my cell phone. Luckily the caller followed the answering message and called my home line. My wife was near enough to get the phone to me before the caller hung up. The caller was Dennis and he had been cleaning off a swinging chair readying it for an hour or so of enjoying the morning sun and bright blue sky. Something that had not been seen for the previous few days of rain and heavy fog. As he brushed the leaves away, away went his wedding band.

In hours of searching he did not find the ring. At the local hardware store that rents a metal detector he was told that he would be very lucky to find the ring with their rental unit. With that said he was given information about the local guy (me) that has professional equipment for such a search and to contact him through TheRingFinders.com. And Dennis did.

As I said, I had a meeting to go to and the sun was setting about 6:30 with last light at 7PM. My luck and Dennis’s was that the meeting was very short and I could be detecting within 10 minutes, and I was. Twilight was replaced by moon light and flash lights so I could continue my searching.

I knew the ring would be somewhere within the area of the chair, fence, garden and grassy area. I covered the grassy area first as it was the easiest to detect over. No ring was to be found. Next I started between the chair and garden’s edge. I was going to leave the planted garden area for last. I had no need to, as the third swing between the chair and the garden’s edge I heard a very promising signal. A sweep with my pin-pointer and Dennis saw a glitter from his ring, even before I did. He was so fast in his motion of picking it up and putting the wedding band back where it belonged, on his finger. I never saw it happen.

Now it was time to do a bit of talking. Put retired Army and Navy men together and they can talk for hours. We cut it short and took a few pictures and said our Thank Yous and I was on my way back home knowing Dennis’s wife would have a bigger smile on her face than Dennis had on his, though it would be hard to do so.

Be All That You Can Be — Anchors Aweigh

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First Encounter Beach Wellfleet, MA Lost Wedding Band Lost, Found, and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 3, 2023: Not all returns can be accomplished within minutes. The one bit of information that has the most effect on the length of time it takes one to find the target is when the person that suffered the loss tells us were the loss took place. For example “I was in waist deep water, right here!” Well the loss took place three hours ago and the tide has risen or fallen. That being so, the “right here” could be 10 or more feet away. Likewise the time the loss happened. Also what the person was doing when the loss happened, i.e. throwing a football, riding on a lawn mower, swimming laps etc. As with losses in water can also be applied to losses on the land or sand of a beach.

Well whatever kept Luke from finding a man’s wedding band in salt water, he did not find the ring in 6 hours of searching. Sunburned, exhausted and prior engagements ended the search prematurely. Before leaving the beach he called me for a bit of assistance. I had just left from a ring return in which I was successful in finding the ring in under 5 minutes. That is another story. With the approval from my wife after promising a Fish and Chips dinner she said “Lets go get number 2 for the day”.

I was fortunate that the tide had gone out and the believed area of loss was on the set sand area of the beach. I started searching were I thought Waist Deep Water would have been 6 hours previously. I gridded the area in ever lengthening passes as I progressed toward the water and closer to were I was told was the likely area of loss. Some 90 minutes went by with only three other targets being retrieved I found the ring under an inch of sand.

The story of how the ring was “lost” was relayed to me and I have quoted here.

“We were enjoying our first visit to First Encounter(Beach) with a family-friends. We were passing the football with their son, Maximo.

Michael had no clue his ring fell off his finger until I passed (the football) to him and he looked down at his hand when he caught the ball and said “Uh oh…” That was at about 1 o’clock. At 1:08, I texted Luke asking for his help. Michael (and Luke) searched through the high tide for 6 hours, only getting out once. At 6:44, Slick Rick finally found (the ring) right around the area where Michael and I were playing catch!”

The sun was setting in a half an hour, just time for the tents to be taken down, packed into the car, watch the sunset and finally rinsing sand covered feet before driving out of the parking lot.

What would have helped would have been someone dropping a few coins, pull tabs, burring a couple of soda cans, anything metal so when a detectorist arrives they would be able to locate the correct area faster.

With all that happened on this day, nothing is more important than a lost sentimental belonging being found and returned to its owner. Stephanie and Michael had very kind words not only for me but Luke as well. Very big smiles were not only on their face but everyone’s face I passed on the way back to my car. And yes, my very patient wife did get the Fish and Chips dinner. This was a day I will remember forever.

 

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Covell Beach, Centerville, MA Engagement Ring Lost, Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 3, 2023: Labor Day weekend was one of the best beach going days of the year and many were taking advantage of the calm seas and warm weather. So temping was the gentle water that Stephanie could not refuse a swim at high tide. OOPS…her engagement ring just slipped from her finger into the waters of Nantucket sound. As it always happens, several beach goers helped in the search to no avail. It was then time to call in TheRingFindrers.

I received the cal and within the hour I was suited up and ready for the search. A quick talk with Stephanie about the time of loss. I now knew what she was doing, were she was, how deep etc. About two hours had passed since the loss when Stephanie went to the spot she lost her ring. OK, I told her to stay there and I would search my way out to her. On the second pass in front of the beach full of onlookers I got a perfect signal from my detector, took one quick scoop and shook out the sand. There in the bucket was a brilliant sparkle, I had the ring.

Steve, Stephanie’s fiancee, was there looking into the scoop. I did not let him remove it as Stephanie was the one that “Lost” the ring, Steve had given it her once, so it was Stephanie’s responsibility to retrieve it from the scoop. A few shells hid the ring form Stephanie’s view. That did not last long and before the ring was pulled out of the scoop and put back on the waiting hand.

Lots of congratulations, Thank Yous, and big smiles were waiting our return to the dry sand. Pictures, stories all followed not only in the immediate area but along my way to the parking until I left the ever so happy couple, their family and friend to their fleeting summer time hours on the soft sandy beach.

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South Cape Beach, Mashpee, MA Lost I-phone Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 1, 2023: As Jamo’s daughter said “It was a great weekend on the Cape” at least until her father rushed into the water and lost his cell phone. The party of three searched for the phone but did not find it. Photos, contacts and other information was to spend three days buried in chest deep water. After viewing a 1851 Large Cent that Leighton (another RingFinder) had just found and abut 10 feet away that I heard a strong signal. It took two tries to get the target into my scoop and pull it from the bottom of the beach. Amazingly it was an I-phone11 in good looking condition.

At home I did not see any ingress of water into the phone, I pulled the SIM card and there was no sign of water there either. With all the power cords I had, none fit the Apple. I called Leighton and asked him to bring me one the next day.

The next day the phone was put on charge. A half an hour later it turned on with a photo splash screen which was locked. We tried a few common pass-codes and none worked. I did not know how the Emergency Number functioned and being hesitant about it dialing 911. I did not want to activate a 911 call. I spent some time researching and found Medical ID might yield some usable information. My luck, it only gave the owner’s name and age. There was no emergency contact name or number. However the first name was unique – Jamo.

I searched Facebook and found two matching names and with the age deleted one. I messaged the other and had no answer. I was able to deduce Jamo’s daughter’s name and from her Facebook page her husband’s name and his Facebook page. I messaged each of them and waited… A few hours later I received a text from Susie. I called her number and YES, the phone was her father’s. We held a short conversation which was interrupted by a call on my home phone from Jamo.

I told Susie I would call her back and answered My other phone. I talked with Jamo and related the story of finding the phone and search for the owner. As fate had it, Jamo was returning to Cape Cod the next day and we made arrangements to meet and make the return. The “Next Day” turned into another two days before the phone exchanged hands. At the exchange…shat an outstanding note Jamo had written and then read to me. This is one gift that is at the top of my most memorable returns the list.

The moral that we all can learn form this return it to put a contact phone number into your Medical ID if you have a cell phone. I have entered two contacts and my home phone number in mine, not that I plan to loose my phone, but one never knows what will happen. Lets all keep on smiling along with Jamo.

 

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Truro, MA Lost Car Key, Found, and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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August 30, 2023: Luke Berube was overloaded with work and called me to help him out by taking on a search/recovery of a lost car key. As RingFinders do, I answered the call setup a time for a search. Also as usual my detecting partner, Leighton Harrington, was contacted to go on the search as two detectors can make for a faster and more complete search for a lost object. His company also makes for a more enjoyable ride to and from the detecting site. The weather forecast for rain and wind did not deter our effort.

It seams Cal had a great time on the beach and his enthusiasm did not stop until he reached his car at the end of the day. He was lucky enough to have a spare key but his mother was adamant about finding the key that was lost somewhere between the beach and car, more than likely in the sandy path going over the dune.

Several family and friends searched for the key even using a rake over the entire path. The key was not found. What was found was a link to TheRingFinders.com and a call was made. Now two days after the loss, the detecting search was on. The path was nice clean, soft sand, a pleasure to walk on and dig in. After two trash targets I had a large signal and it was deep according to my detector’s ID screen. After four scoops, I was about to give up but instead I took another slow sweep and then a pinpoint reading. With that information I placed my scoop and stood on it to get to a depth of 8 inches. Lifting the scoop in a sweeping arc, I saw a little blue flash. It was the quick disconnect and attached to it was the missing key.

It was difficult to comprehend how the key got so deep in the sand. Best theory is that the foot traffic, raking action, along with blowing sand over the past two days caused the key to be so deep in the sand.

It was a pleasure meeting Cal’s father and relating a few stories. Cal was at the terminal waiting on the arrival of his girl friend. As we ended up with thanks and good-byes a drizzle started to fall and then the rain came. Perfect timing to a perfect return.

 « BE THE REASON SOMEONE SMILES TODAY »

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