#YorkMaine Tag | The Ring Finders

Platinum Engagement and Wedding Rings Lost On The Beach, in York Maine, Found With A Metal Detector, at Long Sands Beach

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🌊 A Race Against the Tide: The Search for Katie’s Rings 💍
I received the following text

*“Hi, my name is Katie. I found your info on Google saying you try and find people’s lost wedding rings? I lost mine today on York Beach, Maine , Long Sands right before high tide.

We tried to go look but couldn’t find it or our exact spot. Was wondering how your services work and if you might be able to help me. My husband and I have been married for almost 9 years… we walked down the horrible steps and then sat on the wet sand before high tide, in between the bad set of stairs and the ones just south of them. There’s a house across the street, its number is **, and it has little buoys that kinda look like popsicles.” 🗺️

Along with the message, Katie sent a Google map with a pin drop and GPS coordinates. Excellent.

⏱️ The 5:30 AM Game Plan
After looking at the location and the tide charts, we knew our best chance of recovery would be early in the morning on July 5th. Gary and I arrived at Long Sands Beach in York Beach, Maine at 5:30 AM. 🌅

With low tide at 9:31 AM, we had plenty of time to search for her wedding and engagement rings, which were soldered together. With two of us on the job, we could cover the entire area without worrying about the incoming water.

Katie had lost her platinum wedding set when she took them off to apply lotion to her children. 🧴 She placed them in the cupholder of her beach chair. As the family enjoyed their beach day, the rings slipped her mind. When they packed up, the rings fell out of the cupholder as the chair was carried away to the truck.

One big concern I had was that they had set up on the hard-packed wet sand. If the rings fell there, they wouldn’t sink right away. They would sit on the surface until the tide came in and buried them—meaning anyone walking by could have easily spotted them and picked them up. 😰

🔍 Cruising the Grid
Gary and I hit the beach as planned. Gary started up in the dry sand, working his way toward the water. 🏖️ I started on the hard-packed wet sand, working toward the shore. If we didn’t find them here, our backup plan was to search their walking path to the “Horrible Stairs.”

The area was a little larger than I thought. Our grid search was yielding nothing but a few coins and the usual beach trash—pull tabs, foil, and bottle caps. 🗑️

As we neared the end of the section, Gary stopped so I could finish it off. He was about to move to the walking path. I didn’t have a good feeling about that path because the Beach Cleaning Rake had gone through the area just before we arrived. If the rings had been there, the machine could have dragged them anywhere.

I was starting to lose hope. We were running out of real estate, and the rings were still missing. 📉 I had maybe two or three passes left before I was completely done.
* First pass: Nothing.
* Second pass: Almost finished, and then…

💥 BANG!!! The Sound We Needed!
I received the exact target tone I had been waiting for! 🔊 A loud, low tone, repeatable and just 0–2 inches below the surface. The Target Identification (TID) screen showed a low-conducting metal reading 18-19. Definitely platinum.

I yelled over, “Gary, I think I found them!” 🗣️

The target was so loud I knew it wasn’t deep. Once I used the pinpointer, I didn’t even need to dig. I could actually see the outline of the ring right through the wet sand. I brushed a little sand away with my finger, and there was Katie’s precious wedding set! 😭✨

UNBELIEVABLE!!! Just one more pass and we would have walked away. This is exactly why we never break a grid search. You just never know where a lost ring will be.

🎁 The Big Surprise
I took a video to surprise Katie. I started the video making it look like an unsuccessful search, only to quickly pan over to Gary with a massive smile, holding up the rings!

👉 « Check out the video Reel on our page to see the exact moment we surprised her!!!

Within a couple of minutes, Katie called us. Hearing the pure excitement in her voice was the absolute best. She told me she and her husband Klayton were just down the road and would be right there.

Within ten minutes they arrived. Just watching her walk down the street was incredibly rewarding—you could see the « bounce » in her step, and her smile said it all! 😊

As Katie received her wedding rings back, the relief was unmistakable. The anxious voice from the night before was completely gone, and the rings went straight back onto her finger where they belonged. Life was good once again! 💖

Gary and I truly have the best job in the world. We love what we do.
Remember: “If It Matters To You, It Matters To Us.” 👋🕵️‍♂️

 

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Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Beach Sand, Found With A Metal Detector, On Long Sands Beach, York, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🇺🇸 A JULY 4TH RESCUE! 🇺🇸

On Saturday, July 4th, as our nation was celebrating our 250th anniversary, I received a call from Nick. Nick had arrived at Long Sands Beach in York Beach, Maine. It was still early in the morning as he, his family, and his friends were setting up their beach spot with a large umbrella, chairs, and other gear.

☀️ THE ACCIDENT ☀️
Nick had sat down in his beach chair to apply sun protection. He took his wedding ring off and placed it on his lap. Once finished with the lotion, Nick stood up and, moments later, realized his wedding ring was now somewhere in the sand.

❌ FRUITLESS SEARCHING ❌
After getting help from others in his beach group, they realized walking through the area and sifting sand with their fingers was fruitless. They knew they may actually be moving the ring out of the area or even pushing it deeper into the beach sand.

🛑 QUICK THINKING! 🛑
Nick wisely had everyone stop looking for the ring and then called me. He also made a very good decision and stopped all traffic through the area by positioning the beach chairs in a circle around the zone where the ring was thought to be. Great job, Nick!!!

🚗 ON THE WAY 🚗
Nick asked if I could come down and search for his wedding ring. Enough said—Cheryl and I were on our way to York.

🅿️ THE PARKING NIGHTMARE 🅿️
Because it was a Saturday and a July 4th holiday weekend, traffic and parking were big issues up and down the Southern Maine Coast. The travel time was longer than usual and parking was nonexistent in York. Streets and lots near the beach were completely full.

🥵 THE TREK 🥵
After driving further and further from the beach area, Cheryl and I finally found a spot, but it came with a physical price. The parking spot was literally eight-tenths of a mile from where Nick was on the beach!Cheryl and I grabbed the equipment and started walking. It was very hot, and I wasn’t looking forward to the return walk to the vehicle, but I knew I would be in a great mood if I could find Nick’s wedding ring. I called Nick to tell him we were getting close, and he said he would meet us at the lifeguard stand.

🏖️ THE ARRIVAL 🏖️
Once Cheryl and I arrived, we saw Nick waving to us. We made our way over to the scene of the lost ring, and I started searching just behind the chair Nick had been sitting in.

🔍 THE FIRST ATTEMPT 🔍
His wedding ring was not behind the chair. I asked if the chairs could be moved backward a little bit, out of the way. As the chairs were being moved, I started searching the side of the umbrella where Nick had been sitting. My first grid pass resulted in no targets.

✨ FOUND IT! ✨
As I started my second grid pass, I heard Nick say, “I see it!” Nick then bent over and picked up his wedding ring. It was actually just a little outside the zone where they thought it would be.

🧐 A BEACH MYSTERY 🧐
Had the ring stuck to Nick for a few steps when he got up? Had it been moved while everyone was searching for it? We will never know! We believe the ring was covered by sand as people started moving chairs and coolers, but then became uncovered again by the activity of clearing the area

.🎉 BACK TO CELEBRATING 🎉Either way, Nick was absolutely thrilled to have his ring back, and the tension instantly vanished. It was time for Nick and his group to get back to celebrating the holiday and enjoying life!

🥾 THE HIKE BACK 🥾
Cheryl and I started our long hike back to our vehicle, already wondering what adventure would be waiting for us next on this hot holiday weekend

.💬 A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM NICK 💬
Later that afternoon, I received the following text from Nick: »The relief you bring to people must be rewarding to witness. And your willingness to help others, especially on a holiday, is extremely generous. You saved me a lot of guilt and anxiety, and I can’t thank you enough for the service. Take care and be well. – Nick »

❤️ WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO ❤️Nick, it is extremely rewarding! There is absolutely nothing like seeing someone get their sentimental ring back and watching the smiles spread across their face. We truly have the best job in the world, and we love every minute of it.

🙌 Remember: If It Matters To You, It Matters To Us! 🙌

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Sentimental Sterling Silver Ring Lost In The Sand, Found With A Metal Detector In York Beach, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🏐 Lost Ring at Short Sands Beach, in York Beach, Maine! 🏐

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #230

On Tuesday evening, just after 8:30 PM, I received an urgent call from Andrew. 📱

His daughter, Kristen, had just lost an extremely sentimental sterling silver ring. She has worn this precious gift every single day since she was 14 years old! 🥰

This ring has traveled the world with Kristen, accompanying her on trips across three different continents. 🌎
Needless to say, it is irreplaceable.

Kristen had lost the ring just thirty minutes before Andrew called me. The family is currently on vacation and was enjoying some time at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine. 🏖️

While playing volleyball on the beach just before sunset, Kristen felt the ring slip right off her finger as she was serving the ball! 🏐💥
Andrew and his family immediately began searching, but they just couldn’t spot it in the sand.

However, Andrew made a brilliant move—he marked the exact area where Kristen was standing when the ring flew off! 📍

Knowing that precise location helps immensely during a recovery. 🧭

As they were searching, a kind person walking their dog on the beach saw their plight and gave the family my contact information. 🐕‍🦺

After checking out The Ring Finders of Maine Facebook page, they liked what they saw, and Andrew gave me a call. 📞

I told Andrew I would be there in approximately 45 minutes. He said he and his family would wait and continue their search. 🕒

Once again, thoughts of a beach cleaning machine crossed my mind. 🚜 I wasn’t sure if Short Sands Beach uses mechanical cleaners or not, but I didn’t want to take any chances!

Cheryl and I quickly packed up our gear and jumped on the Maine Turnpike , heading south once again. 🚗💨

It was now 8:45 PM and completely dark—but at least it wasn’t raining! 🌙✨

🕵️‍♂️ Under 30 Seconds to a Miracle! ⏱️💍

We pulled into the parking lot near Fun-O-Rama @ Short Sands Beach , and I called Andrew. 🚗

He immediately came over to Cheryl and me, walking us over to where his family was sitting in their beach chairs, patiently waiting. 🏖️

The family had brilliantly placed a volleyball at the exact spot Kristen had been standing when she served the ball and the ring flew off. 🏐📍

I explained my game plan to the family. I would start just in front of the volleyball and swing my detector back and forth, making my way toward Fun-O-Rama .

If it wasn’t found within 30 feet or so, I would then search behind the ball—just in case the ring slipped off during her backswing. ↩️

I started the search right near their beach chairs and began walking toward the water. Within just 10 seconds, directly in front of the volleyball, I got a non-ferrous target signal! 🔊

At first, it was a slightly scratchy tone, and the TID (Target Identification) was jumping around in the 80s.

That definitely indicated a high-conducting metal, right in the sterling silver range! 🪙 (However, modern quarters also ring up in the high 80s).

I used my foot to push some sand away and scanned the area again. This time, I got a very solid 88–90 on the TID! 🎯

Honestly, I thought it had to be a quarter. There was no way Kristen’s ring fell directly in front of where she was standing, just a couple of feet away… right? 🤔

I reached into the sand, fully expecting to pull out a coin—but it was the silver ring!!!

💍✨ Unbelievable!!!!

I raised my hand with the ring and held it up to show the family. 🙋‍♂️ I watched jaws drop and heard nervous laughter break out as the entire family rushed over to me! 🏃‍♂️💨

I handed the ring to Andrew, with Kristen right behind him. As soon as she saw it, she cried out that it was her ring! The smiles, high-fives, and pure joy instantly erupted! 🙌🥳

It is absolutely crazy—just 5 seconds after I started swinging the detector, I hit the target. The ring was back in my hand after just 27 seconds total! (Cheryl’s video helped me time this out perfectly!). 📹⏱️⚡

The entire family was ecstatic, telling me all over again just how much this ring meant to Kristen.

Kristen and her family thanked us repeatedly as she looked down at the ring, safely back on her finger where it belonged. ❤️
As we were wrapping up the celebration, a woman walking her dog strolled over. The family pointed her out as the incredible person who had recommended The Ring Finders of Maine to them in the first place! 🐕‍🦺

I thanked her for her amazing support and referral, and she smiled and told me, “I love what you do.” It is always such an incredible feeling to hear positive feedback from our followers and fans! 🥹🙏

All that was left were the big hugs before we said our goodbyes. Everyone was still smiling and laughing as Cheryl and I walked away into the night. 🌙

Now, this wonderful family can fully enjoy the rest of their Maine vacation without the heartbreak of a lost ring hanging over their heads! 🌲🦞☀️

🤯 Lightning Strikes Twice! ⚡🏐

Another ring is back on the finger where it belongs! 💍 For the second night in a row, we successfully completed an evening recovery in pitch-black darkness. 🌙

But here is the truly crazy part: for the second night in a row, a ring was lost while playing volleyball! 🏐😲

In my 25 years of metal detecting, I have found well over 500 rings. I’ve found them in the dark and I’ve found them around volleyball courts. But in a quarter-century of doing this, I have never been called in to specifically search for a ring lost during a volleyball game. ❌

Now, on two consecutive evenings, I’ve been called out to find rings lost while serving a volleyball—first in Old Orchard Beach, Maine (OOB), and now in York Beach! 🏖️💥
What are the absolute odds of that happening?! 🎲📊

Just remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” ❤️

I truly have the best job in the world. I love what I do! 🙏😊

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