The Ring Finders Blog

Lost Gold Ring – Recovered in Evans City, PA by Metal Detectorist Brian Carpenter

  • from Indiana (Pennsylvania, United States)
Contact:

Lost your ring, other valuable jewelry, cellphone, keys, or other metal object…call or text Brian Carpenter at (814)244-2300 as soon as possible. I am a ring recovery/metal detecting specialist serving Pittsburgh, Indiana (PA), and most of Western PA. Why rent or buy a metal detector when you can get a trained operator with top of the line equipment at the same time…

I was contacted by Dylan who lost his ring outside his grandparents’ house in a small wooded area. It was a very special ring that was a family heirloom.

Arrangements were made and I met Dylan who showed me where he thought he had lost the ring. It was a pretty standard area, some trees and leaves, etc. I started searching and it was not very long before I heard that sweet sound of gold. Suddenly I uncovered Dylan’s ring that was hiding in the dirt and leaves.

Dylan was very grateful to have his keepsake back. It was a pleasure to meet another kind and generous client and reunite him with his lost ring!

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Lost Wedding Ring in West Newton, PA Found by Metal Detectorist Brian Carpenter

  • from Indiana (Pennsylvania, United States)
Contact:

Lost your ring, other valuable jewelry, cellphone, keys, or other metal object…call or text Brian Carpenter at (814)244-2300 as soon as possible. I am a ring recovery/metal detecting specialist serving Pittsburgh, Indiana (PA), and most of Western PA. Why rent or buy a metal detector when you can get a trained operator with top of the line equipment at the same time…

I was contacted by Keri when her husband lost his wedding band doing yard work in the backyard. Unfortunately I was on the other side of Pittsburgh finishing up an unsuccessful search and would not be able to make it out that day.

After the weather dealt us another setback I was finally able make it out to do the search. I truly appreciated the patience that was displayed. The backyard had some tall grass, branches, along with a brick firepit. I started to search and was not having much luck. I did have some good sounds by the firepit so I moved back over and started to cover that area again. I got another good sound but could not locate it. I started to root around a little bit more with my pin pointer and there was the ring tucked in between the bricks.

I was very pleased to recover the ring and return it. I also learned that they had only been married a short time. As always it was great to meet kind and generous clients and recover their lost wedding ring!

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Engagement Ring Recovered on the Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina

  • from Winston-Salem (North Carolina, United States)
Contact:

PSA: This search and recovery took place within the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS). Metal detecting is strictly illegal in all units of the National Park System, including national parks, national monuments, national historic sites, national battlefields, and national seashores.

The Ring Finders member obtained approval and authorization to perform this recovery before arriving on location..

  • Prohibition: Under federal regulation 36 CFR 2.1, possessing or using a metal detector, or even carrying an assembled or unassembled detector in your vehicle, is against the law in NPS areas.
  • Archaeological protection: The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) and the Antiquities Act prohibit digging, disturbing, or removing any historical or cultural resources from federal lands.
  • Penalties: Violations can result in steep fines, seizure of equipment, and potential criminal charges or imprisonment.

Request for Assistance

Wednesday

Early Wednesday morning I received this message:

“Good morning Brad, my parents sent me your link from Ringfinders after my fiancée lost her engagement ring while we were taking engagement photos on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday (10/31). I don’t know if you travel out that far; it was at the Black Mountains Overlook. I have a lat/long marker. We searched for two days with no luck, but the photographer caught the moment it flew off her finger, so we know the approximate place. Anyway, I just thought I would reach out. It was fully insured, but the sentimental value is something else, and my fiancée is having a difficult time. Look forward to hearing from you.”
— Matt

I replied, “Absolutely,” and asked my routine questions, most importantly whether the drop area was a pedestrian area or secluded. He said they were alongside the paved road, a couple hundred feet away, and that it was not a high-traffic area. That removed any urgency or fear that someone might happen across the ring.

I asked Matt to forward any photos so I could research the likely search area. I also told him that because the search area was under National Park Service jurisdiction, I would have to request a permit, since even possessing a metal detector is prohibited there. The more detail we could gather, the better the chance the authorities would allow our search.

Matt explained that they had searched the immediate area thoroughly, even putting the leaves into buckets so they could search the ground and then search through the leaves. They also acquired a metal detector from a national tool supplier and scanned the area, but did not find the ring.

The photos he sent were clear, but they were pictures of the originals displayed on a computer monitor. I asked Matt to get the original RAW photos from the photographer if he could. He said he would have them later that evening when he returned home.

I then contacted the Park Service’s administrative offices, explained who I was, and told the story from the beginning: we had photographic proof and 100% certainty of where the ring would be, and the only obstacle was the ground cover, many inches of fallen leaves. I said I understood the prohibition on metal detectors and that NPS has the ability to grant an exception. The representative was very kind. After I left a detailed message on the permits coordinator’s voicemail, he gave me the number for the Rangers’ communications center and transferred me. I repeated all of the details to the communications center, and she said a supervisor would return my call.

Thursday

Matt forwarded the photos Thursday morning, and they were amazing. I noticed right away that some were rapid-fire shots. Luckily, those shots all showed the ring in flight, which gave me the idea of stitching them together into an animated image.

By reviewing the animation, I could see the angle and height of the ring’s apex and work out its trajectory. I wrote Matt that I was highly confident: I had identified a small search area, and with that level of detail we had checked all the boxes to get approval for the search from NPS.

The Assistant Park Superintendent called and said she was impressed by the level of detail we had gathered. She thanked me for following NPS rules and gave me the direct number for the Captain who supervises the Park Rangers. She said she would contact him, explain the situation, and confirm that we had authorization to search and to use the metal detector. He would coordinate and communicate our activities to the other rangers. She also asked me to wait an hour before calling, to give her time to speak with him.

After telling Matt we had permission, I called the Captain. He had spoken with administration and said it would be no problem. We agreed that I would contact the communications center to let them know when I was on property and beginning the search, and again when I was finished. He instructed me that if I was approached by a Ranger or park staff, I should have them contact him directly.

Matt was happy with the update. He wrote that the insurance company had requested a copy of the police report of the loss to process the claim. A man of faith, he wrote, “Praying that you’re able to find it and I can cancel the claim process.”

I asked for the ring’s specifics, since all I knew was that it was gold. The reply was 14k, size 6. Because I have a ring of those exact dimensions, I could test with it and know exactly what I was looking for.

Friday

Throughout the process I understood that Matt’s fiancée did not know he had contacted me or that a ground search was in the works. Before starting my commute, I asked whether he had said anything to her and whether he planned to surprise her once we recovered the ring. I told him I was highly confident and felt like a kid on Christmas Eve. He had not said a word, as he didn’t want to get her hopes up.

The commute to the search location was 2.5 hours from Forsyth County, and the drive was beautiful: leaves changing, mild temperatures, and Carolina blue skies. When I arrived, I walked to the spot I believed was correct and sent Matt a photo, asking whether they had left two large piles of leaves. He had, and he explained that was where they had been searching the leaves.

Begin the Search

There were no landmarks along the side of the road to base my search area on, so I placed four orange cones to square off the area. Two went by the road, approximately 20 feet apart. The other two were squared with the first pair, as close to the edge of the embankment as I could place them without them falling, so I could still see them from below road level.

With everything set, I first searched to rule out the flat area. Then I moved to the hillside and scanned as far as I could reach while standing on level ground between my markers. Next I sat down and slid down the hill so I could scan farther downhill.

BEEP BEEP! It was exactly the VDI and sound I was looking for. The signal was at the far reach of my detector, so I had to slide down even farther to reach the spot. I used my pen pointer to locate it, then carefully lifted the leaves and scanned again to confirm the signal remained. With the leaves gone and the ground exposed, I still didn’t see a ring, but the soil was very soft. I pushed around with the pen pointer, which exposed the ring.  “Found it!”

Good News

Still sitting on the hillside, I sent Matt a message asking if he was sitting down, then sent a photo of the ring. The ring had been pushed into the ground. I can only assume that someone stepped on it during their initial search, pushing it below the surface. The hillside was very steep and slippery, and crawling on all fours was the only option.

The Scare

After sending my messages to Matt, I was still on the hillside when I heard something walking in the leaves behind me. Before I could turn around, I heard an exhale and then felt something cold and wet touch the back of my neck. As I was rising to launch myself downhill, I spotted a dog wagging its tail out of the corner of my eye. This could have been bad, but the Lord was watching over me, I am sure.

After I got to level ground, a pickup pulled up, and I realized the driver was a hunter and the dog was his. He told me it was bear season and the dog was out of his area. I explained how we had met, and he laughed a little.

Returning the Ring

I met Matt on my way home and returned the ring. His plan was to surprise his fiancée and call me afterward so I could tell her the story. She was so very nice and appreciative. I wish I could have seen the look on her face, because that is why we Ring Finders do what we do.

Thank you, Matt, for trusting me to find your treasure. Thank you to Matt’s mother, who found TheRingFinders.com and encouraged him to call. And thank you to the National Park Service for your part.

Another happy ending! If you have lost something, or you know someone who needs assistance, please reach out to TheRingFinders.com and locate a member in your area. Even if no one is in your immediate area, reach out to the closest one, as many members don’t mind traveling to help others.

 

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Heirloom Gold Ring Recovery: Moravian Falls, NC

  • from Winston-Salem (North Carolina, United States)
Contact:

Justin reached out at 7:15 this morning with a message that sounded just short of panic: “Fiancé lost her gold ring somewhere on our property. I have a general location but we’ve walked over it so many times I’m sure it’s buried.”

The Story

Justin and his fiancée were spreading straw in their chicken run because the ground was too moist. During the task, she realized her ring was missing. She was understandably distraught. The ring had belonged to her grandmother and was a gift from her grandfather, and it meant a great deal to the whole family.

Coaching Over the Phone

Justin had already bought a metal detector from a franchised tool company and searched without luck. The machine kept alerting, but it only turned up nails, bolts, and aluminum.

I walked him through a few techniques:

  • Swing the coil as close to the ground as possible.
  • Overlap each swing by half the coil width to cover 100% of the ground.
  • If the detector has a sensitivity setting, turn it down so it isn’t deep scanning. The ring would be on the surface.

A short time later, I could tell he was getting frustrated. I reassured him that it takes practice to understand what a machine is telling you. I offered to come out and help, though it might be later that day or the next because of prior commitments. He said that would be great and that he would keep searching in the meantime.

Heading Out

I checked in around 2:30 pm, let Justin know I was halfway through my other job, and asked him to send his address. I estimated I could arrive around 4:30, which would leave plenty of daylight. Worst case, I would bring lighting to keep going after dark.

The Recovery

I arrived right on time and was greeted by the whole family. They showed me the paths she had walked, which they had pulled from the property’s security cameras.

I wanted to start where she had spread the straw. I scanned the covered section, then moved on to the next. On the first pass, I got a promising signal under a large pile of straw. I moved the pile aside and the signal was still there. Using my pinpointer, I pushed the straw away like a broom. Two more inches, and I could see the prize.

I retrieved the ring and placed it back in her hand. She became emotional, and I was even happier to return her grandmother’s ring to where it belonged.

Wrapping Up

We took a few photos and wrapped up another successful recovery. From arrival to placing the ring in her hand, it took only 10 to 15 minutes.

Thank you both for placing your trust in me and giving me the chance to help.

 

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Wedding Ring Recovered! – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
Contact:

Wauwatosa resident, Deb Ruesch, was enjoying a fall evening outside her home. Her playful dog deposited a slimy ball at her feet and waited happily for the ritual it knew was coming. Deb reached down, picked up the ball, slime and all, and threw it across her driveway. The dog took off in hot pursuit. But as the gooey ball left Deb’s hand, so did her wedding ring! She heard the sound of it hitting something metal. Then silence.

A sickening feeling in the pit of Deb’s stomach ensued. Despite careful searching the ring could not be found. Her husband even searched his and the neighbor’s lawn with a metal detector. But the precious love-token eluded discovery. Had it bounced higher up? Was it lodged in a rain gutter?

I received a text message from Deb a few weeks later asking if I might help. We spoke on the phone a number of times. I tried to guide their search efforts from a distance since I wasn’t able to personally conduct a search due to my wife’s illness. Eventually, however, I arranged to meet Deb at her home and view the situation first hand.

The area was heavily populated with metallic targets. Being a recent loss, however, I was able to adjust the settings on my detector so as to only respond to shallow targets. When I searched the neighbor’s front lawn, I picked up a solid signal in the freshly mowed grass. It was Deb’s ring! And the smile on her face tells the rest of the story!

If you or someone you know has lost a ring, recently or long ago, don’t let its story end. Give me a call. Who knows, we might be able to add your smile to the growing list of people who are so glad they reached out for help.

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LOST PISTOL NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN, NC….FOUND!!!!

  • from Raleigh (North Carolina, United States)
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Received a call that a gentleman had lost his pistol after hunting, laying it on the hood of his truck and driving off.

After taking a curve, he heard it slide off and hit the road. He tried going back to find but was unsuccessful.

We agreed I’d meet up with him Saturday afternoon and try and find it for him.

I get there and walked about 400 yards on one side and almost 400 yards back on the opposite side when he found his lower. About 10 feet up I found the upper and part of his holster and he found a bullet.

I think when it hit it got damaged some,  I feel it got ran over too. Nether the less, it’s found and he doesn’t have to worry about someone else having it.

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Lost Ring Diamond Ring in Pineville,LA – Found

  • from Lafayette (Louisiana, United States)
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We received a call from Elizabeth about her engagement ring lost in her front yard. It was late in the day, so we planned to leave in the morning for the 2-hour drive to the search site. With threats of rain showers, we considered delaying but chose to go. We were lucky the rain didn’t come. Carrie and I chose our areas to search. About 15 minutes in, Carrie found the ring under about ½” of water. The competition of our finds continues with Carrie now leading by two.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for the very generous reward!

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Men’s Tungsten Band Lost, Recovered and Returned in Doylestown, PA!!!

  • from Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, United States)
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Matt was doing some tasks in the backyard of his townhome in Doylestown, PA when he felt(and sort of saw!) his tungsten wedding band fly off his finger. It happened to be his 5 year wedding anniversary so it was awesome to see how motivated he was to get it back on his finger! Unfortunately after hours of searching he just couldn’t locate it. He had a good sense of the area of where it likely flew…but the grass was deep and he wasn’t sure exactly how far it could have flown through the air. He found me in The Ring Finders directory and I met him the next day.  After Matt reenacted the action that caused his ring to fall off I went to work…confident it would be a short 5-10 minute search. Well after about 30 minutes of searching a pretty large area…we were both stumped. No ring. I told him I was going to give it one more pass and maybe head in the opposite direction of where he thought if flew through the air. 5 minutes later I finally got the signal on my metal detector I was hoping for…and BOOM…I bent down and pushed the deep grass to the side to reveal his beautiful wedding band. We both howled a victory scream and high fived! I was crazy happy to be able to find this ring for this nice couple!

 

 

 

 

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LOST DIAMOND RING INLET BEACH…FOUND!!!

  • from Panama City Beach (Florida, United States)
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David contacted me early Friday morning. Miss Lisa had lost a valuable solitaire diamond ring two nights earlier, and it meant so much to her that she was too upset to talk about it at first.

When I finally spoke with Lisa, we had three possible spots. It could’ve been at the grocery store, at her friend’s house where she’d been cutting fruit, or on the beach at the Beach Club where they’d had a bonfire. She noticed the ring was missing after the bonfire, so that’s where I started.

I sent Lisa a photo of the beach, and she circled the spot she remembered. I stepped just outside the area she’d marked and nailed it on my first swing!

Thirty minutes later,  mission accomplished!

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RECOVERED lost Wedding ring – Trent Hills Sep 2026

  • from Toronto (Ontario, Canada)
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Max jumped in the water with his family after a night of fun & lost his wedding ring. He was about to give up & found me online. Within 10 minutes, after asking my due diligence questions, the ring was found. Then he said, BTW, can you look for my fishing rod,  And I found that too!  Happy Husband & Wife. YAY!

 

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