Info on how to find diamond ring !

[wol63]

Hi there, i'm new to this site, and i have a question for you all out there.
This is a long story shortened for you all.

In 1996 i lost a family heirloom, a pure gold ring with a big diamond in it, it was my grandfathers which he left for me and it became my wedding ring, it was lost on a secluded beach on the island of Naxos in greece.

I felt the ring come off, and i know roughly where it fell in an area of around a couple of square metres, (i went back the next day to look for it but couldnt find it)it is an uninhabited beach that you can only get to by a long boat ride or by 4 wheel drive vehicle over a very bad road and so i assume it is still there.

It is a long way from the water and also alongside the bit where the beach turns into grass.

I'm sure it hasn't seen much foot traffic but my question to you all is how practical is it to find this ring, will it have worked its way too far down to be found, what kind of detector will find it etc etc etc, any advice would be hugely welcome. I am planning a trip there next year to see if i can find it again.

Many thanks in advance

Warren

[Peasgood]

Check if metal detectors are even allowed in Greece. I am pretty sure they're not.

[pete@boston]

Hi Warren
If you can find the police chief in that area and write too him and ask for permission explain the story

He might say yes or no but worth a try then go along with a copy of the letter if you get permission.
Good luck
Pete

[hammyman]

Hi Warren
If you can find the police chief in that area and write too him and ask for permission explain the story

He might say yes or no but worth a try then go along with a copy of the letter if you get permission.
Good luck
Pete

Hi Warren, Google throws up a load of contradictory reports concerning metal detector use in Greece, as a general concensus, its forbidden, and to flout the law could result in a prison sentence, harsh, but this is because artifact theft is a big issue, also have seen reports of police turning a blind eye to locals using a metal detector on a beach,(tourists this is a big NO NO!) as long its nowhere near an historical site.

So if you ask the police for permission,you could find the locals nip in before you.MD'ing is a big no in Greece(you probably wouldn't even get a machine through the airport)Personally I would take a Garrett Probe out. http://regton.com/news/2010/09/15/garre ... int-probe/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[human]

any half decent detector should locate your lost ring if you know its rough location.Take heed of the warnings about restrictions on using one in greece as others have pointed out. spk to the local police chief as suggested and customs.Maybe locate a resident with a detector prior to your visit to arrange a meeting and a look.It is likely you will find it if you are right about where you lost it.Good luck

[ossie]

I`m thinking Hammyman got the right idea,a Garrett Probe and something to shift the sand with,a bit of ply would do it,but only if you can be sure of the exact position when it was lost.

[the barnacle]

i know what i would do but it wouldnt be allowed, the lawfull way is to take a roll of mesh and a spade to sieve the sand,

[liamnolan]

As soon as I saw your post, i thought the same as hammyman. The Garratt probe would be ideal for this job. It is small and very easy to use, yet it can find something like a gold ring quite easily if moved through the sand enough times.
So - beg or borrow a Garratt probe, PM me if you have problems, read the user instructions, have a good practice run with a similar ring in the garden (better not risk the beach yet!), pack it in the hold luggage, switched off or batteries removed, explain if questioned what it is intended for, best to be honest at all times.
Go straight to the police station and with bags of charm explain your problem, show them the probe and how you would use it, do a quick demo on someones ring.
If they are ok about that then buy a good bottle of wine, choose a time of the day when nobody is about to ask the usual inquisitive questions and then start probing around.
Try a quick trial run all over the area following your instincts.
If unsuccessful, try to sort out the area into a type of grid and work slowly and surely so that each small area is covered in tight straight lines and to a good depth, hopefully reaching the deeper hard packed sand that will stop the ring sinking further.
If still unsuccessful, get a fork or similar and agitate the sand as much as possible and start all over again.
If still unsuccessful - drink the wine.
Good luck, Liam B-)

[the barnacle]

always thought these were a joke -

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/metal-detecting-sandals/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

but now see they may have a use.

[liamnolan]

If you get caught with one of those things on an aircraft, you would need a good lawyer to get you out of jail, looks VERY like a discreet bomb! Liam

[aa-clean]

Dont forget about the "taping a metal object" to the mid section of the garret probe to MORE than double its useful depth (REALLY does work!)- only a couple of extra inches mind - but they all help....!! (the tart said to the bishop)

Personally I wouldnt need a detector if it were my loss and I knew pretty close to where it was lost - just take a freind, 2 shovels and plenty of beverages, a crusty baguette or 3 and sunscreen along with some sort of seiving device and dig dig dig - sensible legal method?!?

Stu