A metal detectorist who uncovered a $40,000 lost wedding ring on a beach was able to finally reunite it with its rightful owner after searching for her for a month.
Joseph Michael Cook was out metal detecting, his favorite pastime, when he picked up a signal he initially thought was a nickel or a quarter.
He told Newsweek: "I was shocked when I saw a huge gemstone sticking out of the sand. I obviously screamed in excitement and instantly started thinking whose ring it could be."
Later that day Cook started looking through lost and found forums online and on Craigslist, seeing if he could find someone who had lost a ring that might be the one he had found.
Ad he didn't stop there. "I also emailed and called stores all over the U.S.," he said. "I had a jewelry store check out the ring to find out that it was a special type of diamond and very expensive."
Eventually, a month after finding the ring, Cook received several calls and a text from someone claiming it was theirs. The breakthrough came after Cook left his contact number with the store that had originally sold the ring, enabling the owners to get in touch.
Cook said: "I was so shocked that I actually found the owners. It was the best feeling in the world. I spoke to the husband, and we decided to meet in front of a hotel on the beach it was lost at."
There, he FaceTimed the ring's owner, who screamed with delight. A TikTok video that Cook (@joedigger) made of finding the ring and the FaceTime call has amassed 4.3 million views and 100,800 likes.
"Returning that ring made me feel so good and proud of what I do," Cook added. "The wife was crying and so happy she had her wedding ring back. She told me she didn't even go swimming—she had lost the ring tossing football with her son. The husband purchased a metal detector and never found it."
Metal detecting is governed by ethical principles and legal guidelines, as outlined by the Metal Detecting Code of Ethics.
Detecting enthusiasts are advised to "follow all local, state, and national laws" and to "always get permission before searching on private property." Responsible detectorists should also "fill in all holes and remove any trash found." These practices ensure the hobby remains environmentally friendly and respectful to others.
The discovery sparked debate in the TikTok comments section, with some viewers questioning Cook's selfless act.
"I sell it for 20k and buy groceries," joked one viewer.
"I lost my ring this summer at OBX. My wife got on the lost & found of OBX and a lady had posted she found it, two miles down. The black Tungsten is now grey," said another user.
"I don't agree with the comments abt not giving it back. I understand being poor rn and rich people have insurance on these things but that's THE ring. U can replace but that's the only one that he probably slid on her ring first. It means a lot more," commented a third user.
Since 2020, Cook has returned over $250,000 worth of lost items through metal detecting.
Cook concluded: "Metal detecting isn't about the money for me. It's about the history and helping others. I believe in karma and that if you do good things for others great things will happen to you."
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