I was heading up to the big smoke (Perth) a while ago (Big Smoke means City) and I decided I would just take my time and maybe stop off at a few places along the way to do a bit of metal detecting, bottle hunting and relic hunting.
I knew of an old place which I had been to a couple times before in search of old bottles, so I decided to stop and see what I could find!
Now that I am getting familar with YouTube.com I thought that I would make a video about my normal workplace at the Dumbleyung Post Office in Western Australia. My Business partner Natalie and I bought the Post Office around 12 months ago, done alot of renovations, painting, re-arranging (much to some peoples dislike!)
I also have all of my good antique bottles on display, as well as most of my good metal detecting finds.
Please allow me to give you a tour of my Post Office…
One of my Metal Detecting friends Tony Shere, who also helps find peoples lost rings and jewellery has some amazing youtube videos he has made from metal detecting underwater.
This camera looks amazing, the video quality is awesome… and the price is just as good … especially with the Australian Dollar being n even par with the US Dollar.
I am defininately saving my money for a go pro surf camera, this is going to be awesome for when I undertake lost jewellery searches in the water.
These cameras come in a variety of styles, so they can be used for Gold Nugget Metal Detecting and Prospecting also.
When I get one of these Go Pro Cams, I’ll put up a review… I don’t think I’ll be dissapointed!
Lost Beautiful Diamond and Gold Wedding Ring from Rockingham Beach
Last Wednesday night I received a desperate phonecall from Ken, who informed me that his family were celebrating Australia Day down at the beach near Rockingham Beach / Kwinana Beach, and that his daughter Allison had lost her Diamond Encrusted wedding ring whilst swimming in the water.
I asked Ken how had she lost her wedding ring, and he informed me that she had just applied sunscreen lotion to her body and that her ring had slipped off her wedding ring finger whilst in the water.
This is a very common occurence to people who go swimming, they apply the sunscreen lotion and their fingers become very slippery and the ring just slides off their fingers without even them noticing.
Ken also told me that this was the second time that she had lost a ring whilst swimming. So there is no way she will be wearing her rings whilst swimming again.
Allison was due to fly back to her home in Sydney on Sunday, so there was an urgent need for me to get to Rockingham to find Allisons ring.
Allison's Lost Wedding Ring from Rockingham Beach
I arranged with Ken, that I would come to Perth first thing Saturday morning, and it would be a 600km return trip for me.
But I am always dedicated to my job, and I was very excited to get to Rockingham Beach to find the lost ring.
I met Ken at the beach around noon Saturday, it was a stinking hot day, around 40° celcius. In my excitement to get to the beach from my car, I forgot to grab my wetsuit top, a mistake I’d regret the next day!
Ken pointed me in the right direction to wear he said that Allison had lost her ring, so I started doing a grid search of the area.
I told Ken that if he saw me dig for stuff or use my sand scoop, not for him to get too excited, as it may not be his ring, but could be just junk, like bottle tops, lead sinkers, trash, coins and so forth. It did not take me long to start getting some clear signals, but much to my frustration it was just trash, as mentioned above.
The water at Rockingham Beach was as clear as crystal, so clear you could see 10 plus metres in front of you when snorkling.
Time went quick and before I knew it, a couple of hours had gone, and I was getting pretty frustrated and I could see that Ken was also starting to lose hope. My arms were starting to get a bit sore, and I could feel a few light cramps starting to ache in my calves, the water was getting a bit cold and my hands looked like wrinked prunes. And worst of all, my back was as red as a lobster…. I should have worn my wetsuit top!
I found a few coins, around 6 bottle caps, some lead sinkers, and some rusty metal… my patience was running out.
I got out of the water, and said to Ken, “mate, looks like we ain’t gonna find this ring today”
I don’t normally give up hope when search for lost rings, especially in crystal clear and calm water…. but I knew I was getting severely sunburnt, and I needed to get covered up properly… even though it was beyond too late…. my back was already severely burnt.
But Ken was determined that I find his daughters lost ring, and he pointed me back to the exact area to where he originally told me to search… so I put my metal detector exactly where his feet were in waist high water, and within seconds I got another crispy clear tone.
I thought it may have been another bottle cap, so I dug my Stealth Metal Detecting Beach Sand Scoop in the soft sand, pulled it out of the water, and watched the sand drain away through the holes.
I saw that beautiful glimpse of gold and diamonds, and looked at Ken and asked “Was your daughters ring gold?” and he looked at my with a wry smile and said “yes!” then leaned over and looked into the scoop and his eyes lit up and he said “that’s it!”
Very Happy Father Ken, holding Daughter Allison's Lost Wedding Ring from Rockingham Beach
Wow both of us were so happy! Finally I found it with Kens pin pointing help! I congratulated Ken and he congratulated me, we were both as happy as Larry!
To top off the day, Ken told me that he had not told his daughter that he contacted me to find her lost ring, and that he was to present the ring back to Allison that night, prior to her leaving for home to Sydney!
Wow, how loving is that for a father to do for his daughter, that really is something beautiful and no doubt both Ken and his daughter Allison will remember for ever… that certainly is a fathers devotion to his daughter!
Allison had thought that she had lost her ring forever, but that night she was reunited with the ring by her father Ken!
I shook hands with Ken, and we wished eachother all the best for the future…. I left Rockingham for my next ring search, to find a couple of gold and diamond rings lost in a playground near Karrinyup… thats my next story!
Metal Detecting Tip
Make sure you do your grid searchs thoroughly…. I thought I had searched the area properly where Ken asked me to search again, then I found the lost ring…. I must have been a few centimetres out the first few times, just goes to show, that it is so easy to miss a lost ring … always double and triple check your griud searches! Mind you it is hard search in water, due to the tidal and current movement… my excuse!
YouTube Video of this story coming soon
How much do I charge?
I charge nothing at all to search for your lost item, but my services is based on a reward only if found basis that is, if I find your lost ring, jewellery etc, then it is up to you what you’d like to give me as a reward.
A small fuel surcharge may be required depending on the distance I need to travel.
If I don’t find your lost item, then I don’t expect anything.
I have snapped up a few bargains on the internet whilst in search of Metal Detecting tips, hints and resources, and one of the best places I have found to grab some really good bargains is on ebay.
A great Metal Detecting DVD I have recently watched is called The Complete Guide to Metal Detecting and was excellent, the thing that interest me the most about this DVD was its chapter on Researching Potential Sites and obviously Beach Detecting, because I am a huge fan of Beach Detecting. That DVD is not Australian it was made in the United Kindom, but please don’t let that deter you.
Some of the chapters is this DVD is as follows:
Introduction to detecting
Choosing a detector
Where to detect
What you might find
Researching sites
Beach detecting
Accessories
Legal responsibilities
Our heritage
Joining a club
Rallies
Storing and cleaning your finds
But please whatever you do, before you go and buy a metal detector from ebay, I urge you to read my blog on The Best Metal Detectors and The Worst Metal Detectors … don’t say I did not warn you if you buy a crappy metal detector off the internet.
No, I didn’t lose my ring in the snow, but have you? I have a good friend in Vancouver – Canada, his name is Chris Turner, owner of LostJewellery.com a Metal Detecting and Lost Jewellery Recovery Service he offers to people mainly in the Vancouver area in Canada.
At the moment it is a snowy Winter in Canada, and Chris tells me that is the first thing he hears on the phone “Can you help me find my ring? I lost my precious ring in the snow!
Chris has been busy helping people find their lost rings in the Snow and he has some great YouTube clips to prove it! Check them out! Watch the video, if your a bit soppy like me, grab a tissue… hehe!
I asked Chris to send me an email describing his Metal Detecting Services and the following describes his service:
I will search all Beaches, Parks, lakes, Yards, and Ski Resorts in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. I also offer my service to the people in Seattle Wa. That’s a 3 hour drive.
I have searched lakes in BC for people who have lost rings, 6 hours from the Vancouver area. This kind of search I require travel expenses… If someone would be in need of my service I’d go anywhere in the world… I love my job!!!!
But looking at Chris’s Lost Jewellery website, this is a more formal description of his service
Welcome to Finders,
My name is Chris Turner and I started this service in 1995 to help people recover their lost jewellery. Finders is relatively unknown to the public due to the high cost of advertising but with the help and support of the Lifeguards at the Vancouver beaches, I’ve been able to help a small percentage of people that reported their loss to the lifeguards and were referred to my flyer.
Read the Newspaper Articles about this unique one of a kind service, and see the Book of Smiles.
Tips for speedy recovery:
The sooner you call Finders the better your chances.
Lost Your Jewellery On The Beach?
Do not panic or search for your lost jewellery in the sand, by doing so you will bury it deeper and make it harder for us to find and also attract others to the location of your lost item. Call ASAP to avoid others from finding your jewellery, and/or from the beach-grooming machine destroying it.
Lost in a Lake:
Your chances of recovery are high due to the fact that not many people have underwater detectors.
If you lost something in the water no deeper then 25 feet down I use a diver to grid search the area with an underwater detector to recover it. If you make note of where you lost the item and put us in a close proximity, the chances of recovery are higher. If your not sure when the ring came off while you where swimming there is little chance of recovery.
Lost on your Property:
The chances are very good that it will be found but there is still a chance of the lawnmower hitting it and sending it flying.
Lost in a Park:
Must act fast due to the fact that usually the grass is groomed and maintained at a short height, this makes your lost item easer to spot by eye. There is also the chance of others finding it or a lawnmower damaging it.
Lost in Snow:
Depending on the conditions and if we can make it to you, we can find your jewellery in the snow.
Results:
We are equipped with the best detectors.
If you’re sure of the location where you lost your jewellery call right away, chances are very good for recovery. If your not 100% sure you lost it where you think you lost it, the chances are reduced and our success rate is lower.
How Much will it Cost?
The jewellery recovery service is based on “Reward Only”, the same as if you placed “reward if found” in the lost column of your local newspaper. It costs you nothing if we can’t find it!
However If a diver is required or the search is outside the Lower Mainland the cost of our operating expenses will apply.
Ending Note:
I’ve been treasure hunting since I was 14 years old, I love the search and the excitement of the discoveries I make.
I love what I do and I can do it all day every day!
What other job or hobby do you know of that can make so many people so very happy when you find what they lost.
If you or someone you know has lost something of sentimental value call Finders.
What you thought was lost forever can now be found!
Although Chris is located in Vancouver, he regularly travels across the Canada – US Border to help people find their lost Jewellery, areas such as Seattle is an example he has helped many people before.
Chris has been a great inspiration to me and he has offered me a lot of guidance in helping me to become successful in helping people in Western Australia locate their lost jewellery in the same “Spirit” as he does.
When I say “Spirit”, I say that because Chris helps people find their lost jewelery not based on charging people per hour to find their lost jewellery, but to help people in a good natured way, that is if he finds your lost ring, then it’s based on a “Reward Only” service, the same as if you placed “reward if found” in the lost column of your local newspaper. It costs you nothing if he can’t find it! And if he does find it, well it’s up to you to decide on how much of a reward you’ll give him.
People hide their money!
Since the beginning of time and still to this day people have hidden their valuables for safekeeping’s. If you ask yourself why… Here are a few reasons.
War Time War time has caused many people throughout history to rush and hide their most valuable possessions (Gold, Silver, Cash, Jewellery & Paintings) in their homes and on their property, for safe keeping. After the war some were able to recover their valuables, many were not as fortunate.
Banks or financial institutions
Many individuals who grew up during the depression are hiding their money. They fear they may experience what their family went through before them. So they hide money as a way to feel secure.
I must say I was fascinated when Chris told me of this service he operates from his hometown of Vancouver. Some of the examples he has told me about in regards to people hiding large stashes of money, jewellery and gold in their house and then suddenly dying without them telling their family members where their secret treasure location was located is just amazing.
It brings to mind how often it must be the case when people hide tens of thousands of dollars in money, jewellery, gold bullion in their house and then they either pass on or suffer from either a debilitating illness, Stroke, comatosed or have a disease and then not being able to communicate to close family members in regards to their hidden stash (yes just a scenario, but it happens all the time) … especially in these days of the current global financial catatrophe, with people taking their money out of their banks and buying Gold Bullion in their droves!
Then their home is sold, rented out or even in some case demolished if needs be and that hidden treasure either stays where it is forever, or goes secretly into the hands of the new owner, or if your lucky the treasure discoverers are honest, then they inform local police authorities, who then tell you of your parents or grandparents secret horde of one million dollars buried under their house along with their love letters they wrote to each other during World War Two! You wish! But I bet what I have just said has got you thinking about possible hidden treasure spots at your parents or grand parents house!
Anyhow, if your in Canada, and you are thinking, maybe I should get my house searched for hidden treasure, or lost some sentimental jewellery in the snow or at a park, or anywhere, then it may pay to get in contact with Chris Turners Treasure Team!
Chris has a great Motto … Search and We Will Find!
