Recovered & Returned

Kohimarama Beach · 19 December 2024

I was just working on some ring finder admin when the phone rang, it was a lady called Helen who had been sitting on Kohimarama Beach enjoying the sunshine and shade of a big Pohutukawa tree. It was a birthday party and a beautiful day for it. The problem was she had lost her yellow diamond white gold ring that her husband had given to her, everyone had been looking for it, but in desperation she had turned to the internet and reached out to New Zealand Ring Finder. It turned out to be the right decision. I arrived on the beach to see a small group standing around some big holes with desperate faces. Helen marked out an area and I started swinging, I came to a signal with a low hum from the metal detector which can mean a pull tab or gold. I ran my finger around in the sand and felt something solid hitting it…which is a good sign! I usually let the owner pick them up but I didn’t want her to be disappointed so grabbed at it and pulled a beautiful white gold diamond crusted ring out!

Recovered by Ian Scott

On the top of the sand · 12 March 2025

The Lost Ring Under the Boardwalk One evening, I received a text from a friend asking for help. He'd been contacted by a young lady who had lost a very sentimental gold ring. She'd reached out to him, but he was tied up with work and asked if I could assist her. I didn’t hesitate to agree. I gave her a call. She explained that she thought the ring might be somewhere under the boardwalk at her local beach. The boardwalk was about 40 cm above the sand and stretched roughly 15 to 20 meters long. From her description, it sounded like a tough task, but I was up for the challenge. That night, after dinner, I grabbed my gear and headed to the beach. It was getting dark by the time I arrived, and the air was crisp. I started at one end of the boardwalk, shovelling sand away to get enough space to reach underneath with my pinpointer. For nearly an hour, I sifted through the sand, but eventually I found it on the top of the sand..what a relief!

Recovered by Ian Scott

Beachlands, Auckland · 21 September 2025

Early morning ring return, Rebecca went for a dip in the sea yesterday losing her silver ring. In just 2 minutes it was found. #happydays❤️

Recovered by Ian Scott

Auckland · 10 October 2025

Got a text message from Sammy — she was hoping that I could help her find a gold bangle her 3-year-old had lost in the garden during a birthday party more than a year ago. She also lost a black pearl bracelet, but unfortunately, that one wasn't metal. I met her at the house and we headed to the backyard, where the party had been. She pointed out a small patch of grass where the bouncy castle had been set up. Honestly, I told her the chances were low. The area wasn’t huge, but still — a piece of jewelry like that could be anywhere. I fired up the detector, swept over the grass — and suddenly, a loud, booming tone rang out. Could it really be? I dug up a small patch, broke it apart gently, and there it was — the gold bangle! Sammy was over the moon. I was just as surprised. Moments like that remind me why I do this — not just for the finds, but for the stories and the smiles. Ian

Recovered by Ian Scott

Maraetai Beach · 4 November 2025

I was at home when I got a referral from another metal detecting page saying that Emerson had been swimming and had just lost her gold diamond ring — a ring she’d had since she was 13. I gave her a quick call and was able to meet her at the beach straight away since it was just down the road. The tide wasn’t in our favour, so I explained I’d need to come back once it dropped. A few hours later I returned to the same spot. Emerson had said they weren’t far out when the ring slipped off, and that they were close to the swimmers still in the water. I started the search just below the wet sand, picking up the usual junk… then a crisp, promising tone — but it turned out to be just a sinker. As the tide caught up to me, I grabbed my waders. About 20 minutes in, a friend arrived to help. While he was getting changed, I was feeling a bit frustrated because I’d already covered the main area. I decided to crisscross the section I’d just searched, and soon enough I hit another sinker-like signal.

Recovered by Ian Scott