Looking for my Grandfather's Ring

[BDicki]

Hey guys! I'm new to metal detecting. I bought a minelab vanquish 440 in efforts to find my great grandfather's gold ring that he lost back in the 1970s while planting a garden for my grandmother. I've heard my family talk about it for as long as I can remember. My grandmother says that it was a white gold ring with a several diamonds on it. I've gone over this yard dozens of times in the last couple of months, but have not found it yet. However, I have dug things like bullets, coins, lipstick tubes, a belt buckle, cans, copper pipe, wire, and a plethora of "what is this." At this point, I'm pretty good at identifying iron, and have quit digging iron tones for the time being. I'm digging numbers from 6-32 (32 was the highest I've hit, a gold Sacajawea dollar.) Is there anything I can do to narrow down what I'm digging? Or do I just dig everything in the yard up until I find it?

 

[Martin_V3i]

Hey guys! I'm new to metal detecting. I bought a minelab vanquish 440 in efforts to find my great grandfather's gold ring that he lost back in the 1970s while planting a garden for my grandmother. I've heard my family talk about it for as long as I can remember. My grandmother says that it was a white gold ring with a several diamonds on it. I've gone over this yard dozens of times in the last couple of months, but have not found it yet. However, I have dug things like bullets, coins, lipstick tubes, a belt buckle, cans, copper pipe, wire, and a plethora of "what is this." At this point, I'm pretty good at identifying iron, and have quit digging iron tones for the time being. I'm digging numbers from 6-32 (32 was the highest I've hit, a gold Sacajawea dollar.) Is there anything I can do to narrow down what I'm digging? Or do I just dig everything in the yard up until I find it?

"My grandmother says that it was a white gold ring with a several diamonds on it."

Was it thin in size, and was it solid with some heft like a mans ring?

 

[BDicki]

"My grandmother says that it was a white gold ring with a several diamonds on it."

Was it thin in size, and was it solid with some heft like a mans ring?

I'm thinking it was a hefty sized ring. I'd say bulkier than a man's typical wedding ring. It was a show off piece. He was a pretty tall/big man like 6'5"

 

[Fe Man]

Hey guys! I'm new to metal detecting. I bought a minelab vanquish 440 in efforts to find my great grandfather's gold ring that he lost back in the 1970s while planting a garden for my grandmother. I've heard my family talk about it for as long as I can remember. My grandmother says that it was a white gold ring with a several diamonds on it. I've gone over this yard dozens of times in the last couple of months, but have not found it yet. However, I have dug things like bullets, coins, lipstick tubes, a belt buckle, cans, copper pipe, wire, and a plethora of "what is this." At this point, I'm pretty good at identifying iron, and have quit digging iron tones for the time being. I'm digging numbers from 6-32 (32 was the highest I've hit, a gold Sacajawea dollar.) Is there anything I can do to narrow down what I'm digging? Or do I just dig everything in the yard up until I find it?

I'm glad you asked this as I am in a similar set of circumstances. I was contacted to see if I could locate their grandfather's wedding ring, that he lost thirty years ago, in the backyard of his old house. I'm new at this as well so will be looking forward to seeing any advice you get.

 

[hoser]

I'm sure the gold hunters will be chiming in on this. Only advice I can give is don't null out pull tabs. Good luck. Oh, BDicki I bid you welcome to the forum. Great place to hang out with a whole bunch of addicts.

 

[BDicki]

I'm hoping I can find the ring. I think it be so cool to knock on her door and hand her Dad's ring to her. But I'm also planning to start detecting for artifacts from the trade era, because I'm already an Indian artifact junkie. I love finding "arrowheads" and stuff like that

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Which mode or program have you used on Vanquish looking thus far??
I have never ran a Vanquish..Have looked at Manual though. Do have extensive EQuinox experience.

 

[BDicki]

Which mode or program have you used on Vanquish looking thus far??
I have never ran a Vanquish..Have looked at Manual though. Do have extensive EQuinox experience.

I've been running on jewelry mode mainly, then double check in the horseshoe mode. Sensitivity usually 2-3 notches from maximum. Not really any discrimination unless I'm certain it's just a big hunk of iron because I've dug up car parts and what looked to be a round valve handle. I've dug up plenty of nails, but usually find something in the hole with it. I use the pinpoint feature in conjunction with standard finding to get my "spot" and dig it up. Im using a minelab 35 pinpointer

 

[tnsharpshooter]

You might try coin mode. Why? Using jewelry mode I would expect more masking possibilities. Meaning you could see the ring ID lower using jewelry mode vs coin mode.

 

[BDicki]

You might try coin mode. Why? Using jewelry mode I would expect more masking possibilities. Meaning you could see the ring ID lower using jewelry mode vs coin mode.

I'll try that on my next go at it. It's a pretty big area, so I've been trying to grid it out and pick apart each section by scanning it from different directions. It's been so long ago that she doesn't remember exactly where the garden was at the time. But, she keeps saying that it was a really big garden

 

[tnsharpshooter]

I'll try that on my next go at it. It's a pretty big area, so I've been trying to grid it out and pick apart each section by scanning it from different directions. It's been so long ago that she doesn't remember exactly where the garden was at the time. But, she keeps saying that it was a really big garden

Good Luck. Depending on what is close to ring may make one mode do better than the other.

 

[aviationgale]

I'm glad you asked this as I am in a similar set of circumstances. I was contacted to see if I could locate their grandfather's wedding ring, that he lost thirty years ago, in the backyard of his old house. I'm new at this as well so will be looking forward to seeing any advice you get.

If you are from around the Tri Cities I may be able to help you. I love detecting and especially returning stuff....

 

[Fe Man]

Thank Aviationgale. I'm not in the Tri-Cities area (just learned what that was a few weeks ago), this would be below Knoxville. However, I've not heard anything back from the people who asked for my assistance. So, I guess they decided to do something else.

 

[rook]

If your grandmother can give you a time frame check historic ariels to see if you can make out the garden, it will at least narrow it down hopefully

I'll try that on my next go at it. It's a pretty big area, so I've been trying to grid it out and pick apart each section by scanning it from different directions. It's been so long ago that she doesn't remember exactly where the garden was at the time. But, she keeps saying that it was a really big garden

 

[BDicki]

If your grandmother can give you a time frame check historic ariels to see if you can make out the garden, it will at least narrow it down hopefully

That's actually a great idea. Haven't thought of that. I'll check into that tomorrow

 

[Michael ny]

Hey guys! I'm new to metal detecting. I bought a minelab vanquish 440 in efforts to find my great grandfather's gold ring that he lost back in the 1970s while planting a garden for my grandmother. I've heard my family talk about it for as long as I can remember. My grandmother says that it was a white gold ring with a several diamonds on it. I've gone over this yard dozens of times in the last couple of months, but have not found it yet. However, I have dug things like bullets, coins, lipstick tubes, a belt buckle, cans, copper pipe, wire, and a plethora of "what is this." At this point, I'm pretty good at identifying iron, and have quit digging iron tones for the time being. I'm digging numbers from 6-32 (32 was the highest I've hit, a gold Sacajawea dollar.) Is there anything I can do to narrow down what I'm digging? Or do I just dig everything in the yard up until I find it?

Well usually you find then lost item in a place that you didn’t think it was worth looking for it. Make a grid pattern and keep working at it carefully overlap each pass.
Best of luck hope you recover the lost item keep us posted

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

More than likely, it's gonna be a pretty solid tone when you go over it. I would try to concentrate on solid tones if you've got a lot of ground to cover.

 

[Boones]

Just my two cents....I looked for a lost ring last Summer...never found it. However, it got me thinking of many scenarios/possibilities. Makes you wonder when the person realized it was gone. Was it when they took a break for lunch? Did they walk in the house to use the bathroom or get water and notice it was gone? Was it at night when getting ready for bed? Guess what I'm getting at is that the entire property may need searching. I've heard about rings slipping off when removing gloves. Could have happened when walking to a shed or garage to grab another tool. Slipping off gloves to wipe sweat, take a break, have a drink, etc. Could be a few feet from any door before entering the house, garage or shed. Anyway, your Grandfather may have just thought, "must have lost it in the garden", but who knows?? How many other chores did he do that day? Keep all possibilities open and hope that it's just 3-4 inches down waiting for you to walk over it. Good Luck!!