A beep under a rock led to a New York ring that had been missing for 28 years
Two hobbyist metal detectorists found a class ring in a New York lake and tracked down the owner who lost it 28 years ago.
What started as an ordinary sweep with a metal detector turned into a 28-year reunion. A signal at Great Sacandaga Lake in New York led two hobbyists to a class ring that had been sitting out of sight since a day on the water decades earlier.
The find was almost absurdly simple
Michael Siegle and Dylan LaPort were treasure hunting at Great Sacandaga Lake when their detector gave them a tone worth checking. LaPort said they turned over a rock and found the ring sitting there.
The piece turned out to be a Red Creek High School class ring from 1988. Instead of keeping it as a lucky find, LaPort posted photos on Facebook and tried to work out who it belonged to.
When that did not bring any leads, the pair contacted Red Creek High School. A secretary there was able to quickly identify the owner as Kim Rasbeck, a former classmate.
Rasbeck said she had lost the ring during a day out on the lake with friends 28 years earlier. The small piece of jewellery had survived long enough for strangers with a metal detector to do what social media could not.
She said she offered to Venmo them whatever it cost to send the ring back, but they were not interested in taking money. According to Rasbeck, their response was simple: they just wanted to return it.
That, the two men said, is the best part of being out there. Siegle said getting rings back to the people who lost them is what they do, and anything else they happen to find is just a bonus.
How metal detectors find lost jewellery
Metal detectors work by sending a small electromagnetic field into the ground or through sand, grass, soil and shallow water. When that field hits metal, the machine reacts and gives a sound, vibration or visual signal. Different metals can trigger slightly different responses, which is why many detectors have settings for jewellery, coins or general searching.
A ring can stay hidden for years because metal sinks, shifts and gets covered surprisingly easily. Soil settles, roots grow, leaves build up and stones get moved around. In gardens and parks, a valuable item may only be a short distance from where it was dropped, but no longer be visible.
Handheld pinpointers are also useful. They are smaller tools that help narrow down the exact spot once a larger detector has found a general area.
What to do if you lose a ring outdoors
Start by slowing down and marking the last place you are sure you had it. Search in daylight if possible. Look for likely snag points first, such as gloves, pockets, bags, drains, car seats, door mats and the edges of paths.
If the ring was lost outside, search methodically rather than randomly. Move in a grid. Check under leaves, around rocks, in grass roots and along any route you walked. A torch held low to the ground can help metal or gemstones catch the light.
If you use a metal detector, remove other metal items from your hands and pockets first. Sweep slowly and overlap each pass. If the detector sounds off, scan from different angles before digging. Use a small hand tool and loosen soil carefully to avoid scratching jewellery.
If the item may be on private land, get permission before searching.
How to protect jewellery and improve the chances of recovery
Rings are often lost during gardening, exercise, swimming, cleaning and cold weather, when fingers can shrink slightly. Taking rings off before messy or vigorous tasks can help, but it also creates the risk of forgetting where they were placed. A simple habit helps: always put jewellery in the same small container, dish or zipped pocket.
Photograph sentimental jewellery and note any engravings or distinctive marks. If something goes missing, those details make it easier to identify later.
Once a ring is found, rinse off dirt gently and avoid harsh scrubbing until you know what the metal and stones are. Some settings loosen over time, especially after being underground or exposed to moisture. If the ring matters to you, a jeweller can check the claws, band and stones before regular wear resumes.
