The Bay Area Ring Finders Tag | The Ring Finders

Platinum Wedding Band Lost on Open Water Swim…Recovered In Alameda!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

Mark was having a rough start to his paternity leave.  First a sick little one at home on day 1, but then the unimaginable happened to him.  While getting some exercise on Day 2 by way of an open water swim in the San Francisco Bay, he had at some point lost his Platinum wedding band.  He sent this message to me at a bit past 10pm on Sunday…

« Hi Brendon, I saw TheRingFinders website.  I think I lost my wedding band swimming this morning in Alameda, CA.  If you are available tomorrow, (I) would be willing to meet you out there. »

Unfortunately, I did not see the message until I had arrived at work the next morning. I was quick to respond to Marks request.  After a short call to discuss the ins and outs of the location, time of day, tides, and the likes we determined that the next mornings low time was our first best shot at a search.  He sent me some really cool GPS tracks of his two swims that morning and if we could get them to jive, it would make for a smaller zone to search. We might only searching the paths of travel rather than run a larger scaled grid search.  Mark also mentioned that if I had extra equipment, he would be glad to join in on the action.

I arrived and met Mark just prior to low tide, around 8am.  He was stunned at how little water there was and I was happy to know I wouldn’t necessarily need to get wet to perform this search.  I pulled out my back-up metal detector with an extra scoop and after a 5 minute tutorial on how it worked, Mark was off.  He and I decided to each take one of the paths of travel and divide our efforts into two searches.  I was completing my search efforts of the first track after about an hour.  It resulted in the removal of a minimal amount of trash but no ring.  As I made my way towards joining Marks efforts, I noticed that he was working a hole.  Moments later he shouted, « I found it!!! ».  I could see that he was fully excited as I ran down to congratulate him.  I pulled out my camera and snapped a few quick shots as he triumphantly held up his platinum wedding band. We had made the recovery!!!

Thanks Mark for allowing me to help out with the search and recovery of this ring.  I can only imagine the gratification of locating and recovering your own lost item once you had the right equipment.  You can join me on another recovery anytime!  Best wishes for you and your families future!

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Lost Engagement Ring in Solano County…Found!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

The thing that I enjoy most about doing this work are the stories, and this was a really good one!

Mary and Frank are an elderly couple living in Solano County!  Mary had first contacted me to discuss a very important engagement ring, a yellow gold solitaire ring given to her 23 years earlier.  She had been doing a bit of gardening in the backyard when she thought to herself that it was probably a bad idea to have her wedding and engagement ring on while performing this work.  Like so many others have done, she removed the rings and put them into a pant pocket and went about her work. Later, when she tried to retrieve her rings only the wedding band was found.  She admitted to being so disappointed that she had used a bit of profanity and had been loosing sleep over the entire ordeal.

Mary had been previously married and enjoyed scuba diving. Her outings found her in contact with Frank, a boat Captain.  Frank is a Veteran Naval Aviation Navigator serving 3 tours in Vietnam and a sailing enthusiast who at the time co-owned a 40′ Valiant sailing vessel used to travel as far North as the San Juan Islands and South to Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.  The group enjoyed many trips together and a 30 year friendship. 23 years ago things had changed in their lives and Frank proposed to Mary and they have been married ever since.  To Mary, the ring represented 53 combined years of friendship and love.  I had to find this ring!

Mary led me to a beautifully manicured backyard and told me the story of how and when the ring was lost.  We decided to start with three target areas which included a small lawn area that was searched with no luck.  The second area didn’t reveal much either.  In our third target area between two small shrubs, a 12/13 on the Equinox 800…we made the recovery!!!

As I held up the ring, Mary was overcome with emotion and gave me a long and strong embrace, her nightmare was over. We took some pictures to commemorate the occasion and spent the next 20 minutes talking about travel, life, and family…the important things.  When we went into the couples beautiful home to give Frank the good news he too was excited, gave me a good handshake and made a really funny joke about kissing me!  Thank you kindly for your service to our country Frank!

To Mary and Frank I wish you all the health and happiness in the world.  Your story made me extremely happy and was an inspiration.

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Lost Platinum and Diamond Wedding Band…Recovered from the Soccer Pitch!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

I was cooking Saturday morning breakfast for the family when Eric called.  His wife was assisting with setting up soccer goals for an early game and lost her Platinum and Diamond wedding band somewhere amongst the grass.  They looked for quite some time and even enlisted the help of others at the field.  At one point there was a cheap child’s metal detector deployed, but with low batteries and an abundance of « beeps » it produced more frustration than results.

I was keen to the task, but schedules meant the ring would overnight there until the following Morning when I could get an early jump on it.  When I arrived, it was just before sunrise and it was shaping up to be a gorgeous day. The nicely groomed fields were wet from overnight fog which played a nice roll in my grid searches.  I noticed that as I swung from side to side, if I brushed the top of the grass it would change the color and I knew exactly what I had covered and where I had not.

The field was large, but Eric had met me there and showed me the target areas for our search.  It was still a large enough area to take some time and after I cleared one of the target areas we moved off to the next.  The field was trashy with a lot of deeper targets but I did locate a few odds and ends.  Then after 20 minutes or so in the new location…We made the recovery!  Tucked out of sight in the green grass the small wedding band came into view and Eric confirmed it to be our target.  We took a few photos and a video and the mission was happily accomplished.

Thank you Eric for your feedback and in trusting me with your wife’s ring.  I wish you all both the very best and hope you tell the story of the once missing ring far and wide.

 

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Beautiful Vintage Ring Lost While Gardening…Found!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

It was early in the morning Saturday the 9th when I got a text message about a lost ring in the garden.  I was on my way out the door with two of my three boys to hand out flyers for the BSA’s big annual community service project Scouting for Food.  I text the couple back arranging to meet them for a search after the scouting project was completed.

I arrived at the home around 11:30am and met the sweet couple.  They told me the story of how they had been gardening together in the yard performing a number of different tasks.  The yard was huge and very nice and as we identified areas on interest, I created a kind of priority list in my head.  I explained a number of things about how the metal detector worked and how the search would be performed and we started in. As systematically we checked off site after site in the yard and had not made a recovery I could tell the couple (who wished to remain anonymous) was getting discouraged.  We looked at the very last location on our list when I got a very low blip and honestly if I wasn’t performing a search for them, I might not have bothered investigating it.  It was coming in at a 1 or 2 on the Equinox 800.  As I moved some yard debris I saw the ring and quickly recovered it.

When I revealed the ring to the couple they were both surprised and relieved that…WE MADE THE RECOVERY!!!!

Thank you to the couple for trusting me and the process to locate this beautiful lost heirloom!

 

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Platinum Wedding Band Lost in Benicia, CA… FOUND!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

Imagine this if you will… Your anniversary is 11-11-11 and only days away.  You are only hours away from leaving for an amazing out-of-state anniversary trip with the entire family.  In fact, you were supposed to leave earlier this morning. However, flights were canceled and rescheduled due to inclement weather in another state. Plans will have to change.

Now imagine it is a beautiful cool Autumn day.  The sky is blue and the grass is Kelly green.  Crisp and colorful fall leaves are everywhere.  In an attempt to make the best out of your rearranged plans, you pack the truck with bikes, balls, and games and head to the local park.  Upon arrival, the chaos of unloading everything required for a fun time with the family ensues.  Everyone is excited!

In less than an instant, excitement turns to panic when you realize your Platinum wedding band is no longer on your hand and is missing.  Everything stops and a search for the ring becomes the new priority.  Anxiety and stress takes the place of joy and excitement.  Hours into the search and the ring is still at large.  Most of the family have now returned home leaving you to continue the unwavering search.  Eyes glued to the ground you cautiously rake the area inch by inch hoping that the ring turns up. Leaving for your trip seems unfathomable without the object.

At some point, a stranger shows up with a metal detector.  Located on THERINGFINDERS.COM, an international network of elite metal detectors, your wife has requested help.  In less than 30 minutes help has arrived on the site.  You give the dashingly handsome detectorist a quick run down of the events and locations pertinent to his search.  He asks you to complete a search contract while he gets started, and before you can even finish the brief form the platinum wedding band is recovered and the nightmare is over.

To the family…I’m so glad that I was able to assist you and with an overwhelmingly positive outcome.  Happiest of Anniversary wishes and have a safe and amazing trip!

   

                     

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Yellow gold wedding band lost in Lake Del Valle….Found in 4 feet of water!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

Ben text me with a request for help searching for his gold wedding band lost in Lake Del Valle over the holiday weekend.  Since I was out of town for work early in the week, we agreed to search towards the end of the week.

 

On Friday, I geared up for the search and we made plans to meet at the lake after my shift.  Since I got to Del Valle a bit earlier than our agreed meet up, I jumped in and started the search.  The lake was remarkably quiet considering the amount of debris along its shore(s) and picnic areas.  I now knew that if I could get the coil over our target we were going to be successful.

Ben arrived shortly after I cleared the area out in front of one of the buoys.  He showed me an area that he believed the ring would be found and it wasn’t long before I got a strong double beeping low-tone.  Due to thick vegetation on the gravel bottom it would take a bit of time and Ben’s assistance, but… We Made The Recovery!!!

After a quick celebration in the water, Ben and I met up on the beach for some photos.  It was a beautiful Friday for the recovery and an excellent way to end the week.

Thank you Ben for contacting me and allowing me to assist you in the search and recovery of your wedding band. It was a pleasure to meet you and best wishes for your future!

 

 

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Lost unique white gold ring with diamond…Found at Baker Beach!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

I contacted Debra early on Wednesday after reviewing a Craigslist post about a lost white gold ring with a diamond.  She had been on Baker Beach when the ring went missing and after talking with her I could tell that it was troubling her.

I sent her a link to THERINGFINDERS.COM site and agreed to search for the ring the following Saturday.  She agreed and was very thankful for my offer.  Later that evening my good friend Jes Muse, founder of The Bay Area Bleepers (check it out) sent over the post suggesting that I perform the search as she would be out of town.

I woke up at 4:30 Saturday morning, packed my gear, and made the hour drive to the coast.  When I arrived, there were few people on the beach and at one point I shared the beach with no one but three coyotes.  The fog was thick, so much so that it fell like rain and the sand had a thin wet layer on top.  I opened up a photo that Debra was kind enough to mark up of the area that would become the search zone.  The detecting was difficult with seemingly never ending targets hid beneath my grid pattern.  I cleared handfuls of trash from the beach as I searched.  And then, a ring!  Sadly not the ring I was there for, but a happy consolation.

After about two hours of searching, I decided to call Debra and give her an update and to get a better account of where she might have been.  As it turned out, I was working away from where she had been and after a 20 yard course correction and pockets full of trash, I hit an 8-9 VDI (visual display indicator) that sounded very promising on the equinox. In one scoop I had the item, but it had not revealed itself.  I’m happy to announce, WE MADE THE RECOVERY!!!

The exciting part was yet to come.  I took a few photographs of the ring and the beach and sent them on to Debra.  The next thing I did was gave her a call and when she answered I simply asked if she had gotten my photos.  She admitted she had not but went straight to them.  That is when I got my payout!!!  She was so extremely excited that I could feel it through the phone.  It’s a feeling like no other.

   

After our celebration over the phone, I agreed to drop off the ring on my way home.  She lived along the route I would travel home and I was excited to get to meet her.  I quickly packed the gear and 45 minutes later the ring was back with Mrs. Debra.

It takes a lot of trust for someone to disclose a bunch of details about their missing valuables, especially when they are so sentimental.  Thank you Debra for putting your trust in me to assist you in the recovery of your unique and beautiful ring and for your generosity!  It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you the very best in your future!

   

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Platinum Wedding Band Lost in Sunnyvale, CA…FOUND!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

   

I have been requested for a string of esoteric recoveries involving planning, special equipment, and unusual conditions as of lately.  This was NOT one of them!

The most difficult part of this recovery would be the hour commute to the site.  I was requested to search for a lost platinum men’s wedding band on a sand volleyball court in Sunnyvale, CA.  This recovery was completed before the client could even complete the search contract.  Everyone was extremely surprised and happy to have located the ring so quickly!  The couple had only been married 6 months and it was the second time the ring had been lost.  I jokingly told them to keep my number on speed dial!  We made the recovery!

To the family… Thank you for trusting me with your ring recovery!

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

 

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Lost Wedding Band on Inverness, CA beach…Found with Metal Detector!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

The California summer heat is here and the lost item recovery business is booming!

On Monday July 1st, I received a multitude of requests for assistance.  One of these calls was from a couple in Inverness, CA who were enjoying time at Shell Beach on Tomales Bay.  Over the years, Tomales Bay has become a favorite destination for our family, but is over an hour and a half drive from our little town and 2 and a half hours from my office.  I informed the couple that I was onboard with assisting but would be contacting a few of the other members who might be more local for their availability.  In the end, I found no availability and knew I’d be making the drive.

The couple had lost the ring very early in the day and spent the rest of their day searching and exploring any avenues to recover the sentimental object.  A sign was posted at the entrance to the beach for the missing ring with contact information, they looked into metal detector groups, and even found a metal detector for rent and searched the area to no avail. Over the phone I tried to provide a short tutorial on how to use it.

Rather than make the long drive out late in the day, I scheduled to leave early the next afternoon to perform the search.  I asked my family if they would like to escape the triple digit heat and head to the beach with me.  They were all too happy to tag along and so we packed for the outing.

On arrival we hiked the short path down to Shell Beach. We had stopped for a picnic on this beach while kayak camping a few years earlier.  The beach was moderately crowded with mostly locals looking to escape the days heat.  And we weren’t there long when we met Jacob who explained the circumstances and defined the search area.  The metal detector attracted just about every child on the beach who hovered and followed as I grid the target area.  I handed out clad coins as they were plucked from the sand to those who kept back and helped clear obstacles.  It wasn’t more than 15 minutes when….WE MADE THE RECOVERY!!!

The interested children were the first to know, then my family and the surrounding adults who all clapped and came up to offer praise and ask questions.  Jason was the last to find out, but when I showed him the ring…his reaction was priceless!  It’s absolutely my favorite part of doing this!  Thank you Jacob for the opportunity to assist and to your very kind spouse for coordinating the event.  I wish you both nothing but the best in your future.  Be sure to tell the story of that ring far and wide!

 

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The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Buried Sewer Clean-out’s…Located By Metal Detector!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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As a member of THE RING FINDERS community, I often get calls for missing items such as; men’s and woman’s rings, earrings, cell phones, and keys.  I even have gotten a number of requests for missing or locating property pins.  I also get to meet a great deal of interesting personalities while on these requests for assistance.  Ken’s story is a little bit different and takes place on a large plot of land.  A few years earlier, he had trenched and ran new sewer lines with a clean-out every 100 feet.  Before burying these lines he capped the clean-outs with a big brass fitting.  The thought was that these large brass caps would be simple to locate with a metal detector should the need arise.

Fast forward to May of this year, Ken purchased a metal detector and fabricated a probe to rediscover his clean-outs.  After several attempts at locating them and hundreds of probes pushed into the ground, I received a request for assistance.

Our First attempts found highly mineralized ground and a lot of debris around our target area.  Usually, I would move to a smaller coil, ground balance, and turn up the target separation on my equinox, however in this application we needed depth to locate what was thought to have been 16″ to 18″ down.  We searched for 2 hours in the hot days sun before concluding our search.  Ken and I had a lot of great conversation but both were disappointed in the result.  I left questioning if I had the depth required to even see our target.

I stewed about the issues we had faced for a couple of days and decided I needed another shot.  I utilized the money I received from our previous search to supplement the purchase of a new larger coil.  I turned my target separation down to 1 to achieve maximum depth and power and on Saturday I returned to the field.  Ken had located some older photos that proved we were indeed in the right area.  We gave it another shot and we found a target and probed…nothing!  Found a target and probed…nothing!  Our third and best target we probed…it was an area we had probed during the previous search…suddenly Ken hit something!  We both smiled, hopeful that the search was indeed over.  We both grabbed a shovel and began to dig and at just about 20″ in depth we located the first brass clean-out cap.  I think we were both equal part excited and equal part relieved.

Afterwards, we marked out 100′ up hill in the direction the sewer pipes traveled and began again.

Thank you Ken!  I enjoyed our conversations and the opportunity to work on a different project than those I typically perform.  I learned some valuable knowledge and procured new equipment to continue helping others.

The first clean-out located at 20″ of depth

15″ coil utilized to locate the target

Our field as seen from above

100′ uphill to the second location

The newly stubbed-up clean-out with marker!

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The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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