Lucy and I went for a walk on the beach yesterday morning and I noticed a guy barefoot, going back and forth over the sand with a metal detector.
It looked like he had a shovel too and all I could think was holy cow, this guy is really into his treasure hunting. Everybody needs a hobby. Good for him!
Well, thirty minutes later as Lucy and I were finishing up our walk, he was still out there and that’s when I began to wonder if this was just a hobby of his or if there were people out there who make a living off of doing something like this.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always found it fascinating how people earn an income. Especially the non traditional ones.
Yada yada yada… I was at the general store a little while later and noticed a card in the window for The Ring Finders of Maine. And the guy {from the beach} was on the card!!!
It turns out, he’s part of a larger group of metal detecting enthusiasts who comb beaches, forests, and fields trying to help people recover their lost items.
Each “ring finder” sets their own rates and terms and the best part is that their group of ring finders can be found all over the world!
The guy who I saw on the beach does not charge for his time {wow!} just a low transportation fee starting at $10 presumably to put a little gas in his tank.
I love this!! I would have never known this service existed unless I had seen him in action on the beach.
I only own 1 piece of jewelry {my wedding band} so while I’m pretty sure I’ll never need to call to have something recovered, it did make me wonder how many people lose a ring {or other piece of jewelry} each year at the beach.
Have you ever lost a piece of jewelry? Would you have called in The Ring Finders if you knew the service existed?
Curious minds want to know. 😉
~Mavis
Mrs. C. says
I remember that about 30 years ago, a wealthy newlywed couple was honeymooning on Kauai. She had an engagement ring that was insured for over $1 million. They went swimming on the beach in front of their hotel and she lost the ring in the water. They notified their insurance company and the company immediately hired a crew of scuba divers with metal detectors to look for it, and they found it!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
WOW!
Washashore says
I used to live on Martha’s Vineyard and there was one guy on the island who everybody called when a piece of jewelry was lost. He was jokingly called the Ring Whisperer. It was amazing what he could find for people. It was definitely something only known among locals, but when a visitor reported something lost, everyone knew who to call!
Mavis Butterfield says
I love that!
Brianna says
I metal detect as a hobby and have for 15 years. I was inspired when I lived in Waikiki and I would see several of them each night comb the beach and they would get some pretty cool tourist treasures. My treasure hunting has stayed a hobby and I would say at this point my detector and pinpointer hasn’t paid for itself yet, I usually end up with coins and trash. I have good luck after events on fields where lots of people congregated for a day. It definitely takes patience too, but the fun is not knowing what you might find.
Mavis Butterfield says
So far all the HH has found is a penny. Ha! Maybe he needs to put more time into it. 😉
Virginia says
What a sweet man to give away his precious time!
I’m sure he’s very busy over the summer in Maine.
Looking at the photo, it appears he has another metal detector behind him. I’m curious to know if they’re functioning simultaneously.
Mavis Butterfield says
I thought it was a second metal detector too at first but it was a shovel.
Virginia says
Ahhh, makes sense
Dennis Boothby says
Thank you. Yes I was extremely busy this past summer, but in my retirement years, it’s something I love to do.
Linda Sand says
My not-yet-husband dropped my class ring out of a helicopter. He and a friend looked for it but metal detectors were not yet a thing then. I wonder if anyone ever found it?
I read once about an organization that researches found class rings to return them to owners but they haven’t contacted me. 🙂
Mary says
I have indeed lost a ring- in fact, two of them-on a beach in Prince Edward Island about 50 years ago. One was my high school graduation ring, one an opal my brother had brought me from Australia. I had put them in the pocket of a denim beach blanket that I’d made, went swimming and forgot about them. When we got ready to go, we shook the sand off the blanket and the rings must have gone flying because we never found them, after at least an hour of looking,
GrannyB says
There is a Facebook page Lost & Found Weddings Rings and it’s quite sad how many people lose their rings. A lot are referred to Ring Finders around the world to look for and hopefully recover their rings and most do it for a donation.
Vanessa Strawder says
Have you ever watched Detectorists ? : )
I think that and magnet fishing both sound interesting
Ramona says
I watched that show several years ago. I was going to suggest it until I saw your post.
Teri says
AWESOME!! I haven’t lost anything (yet) but love this!!
Christine says
My husband lost his wedding ring while boogie boarding. The board’s wrist band got hung on it and pulled it off.
C P says
That’s a wonderful service. If you ever browse around You tube, you can find metal detecting channels. Many of them try to locate items for free, and earn money through their channel views. It seems like a win win situation for all parties involved. I’ve also seen channels that video yard cleanups, usually for owners who are sick or for some other reason aren’t able to keep up with the property. It’s very inspiring to see!
Jane says
About 15 years ago, we were camping at a State Park on Lake Michigan, with our family. One of our grand daughters and a cousin who were both about 7 or 8, were playing in the water, doing hand stands, and found a man’s wedding band. They put a notice up at the ranger’s station and by the bath rooms, and shortly after that, a man came to their site and described the ring…and it was his! He was so excited. He got the kids a bag full of penny candy and gave them $50! The kids were pretty happy with their reward, but not as happy as that man:)
tc says
I watched this whole series, it is really great, you will enjoy it
Detectorists (TV Series 2014–2022)
IMDb
https://www.imdb.com › title
18
The lives of two eccentric metal detectorists, who spend their days plodding along ploughed tracks and open fields, hoping to disturb the tedium by unearthing …
Rating: 8.6/10 · 21,839 votes
Ramona says
I have not lost any rings just one earring about a year ago in my 67 years of life.
After returning home from Bartell drug store here in the PNW I did find a wedding ring in my bag. I knew it was my cashiers from the store. I called and told them in was in my bag. She had already gone home for the day. The lady I spoke to said everyone was looking all over the store for her ring. I returned it the next day and she was so happy it had been found.
Jeri says
I once found a University of Washington Rose Bowl ring in a free box at a garage sale! I took the ring from the free box. It was engraved with the player’s name and jersey number, so I proceeded to track the owner down. It was quite a lengthy task hunting him down, but if I recall, it was the alumni association that eventually got ahold of him. He contacted me and I was able to get that ring back on his finger! He was very grateful and wanted to give me a reward, which I declined. However, he was working as a Santa at a Christmas tree farm and offered to bring us a Christmas tree which I accepted. He arrived dressed as Santa much to the amazement of my two very young kids!
Virginia says
What a lovely story!
Cindy Brick says
Shoot, forget the jewelry — they can find my long-lost set of car keys! It’s been more than five years now. I THINK they’re at a friend’s house…but I scoured that place, and their front yard, to boot.
Ashley Bananas says
My brother lost a ring our father gave him on the beach. He and his friend bought metal detectors and found it a few days later. It was pretty cool.
Dennis Boothby says
Hi,
I just came across this article. My name is Dennis and I am “The Ring Finders of Maine”. You may see all my 80+ recoveries and returns, on my Facebook Page, The Ring Finders of Maine.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to write such a wonderful article. Next time you see me, on the beach, stop by and say hello.
And yes the Transportation Fee covers my Gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc.