Caribbean Sea of Weeeee

Some finds from a trip during May 2016. Happy hunting!

Recent Ag and Au Finds

I've been busy with "real life." I'm sure we all know how that goes. Here are noteworthy finds from three separate hunts since June 7th. Happy hunting!

Pair of .925 Silver Earrings

Two Hunts' Total at the Beach. Woman's 14K White Gold Wedding Band

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I did it. I finally offloaded some of my finds. Up until this point I had only let go of a handful of items in the past to recoup initial costs of the hobby.

While on vacation recently, when I brought my waterproof Minelab Excalibur II, I met a Scottish woman with whom I chatted at length about my collection of finds. She and her husband had seen me snorkeling in the water with my detector and they were genuinely curious about the hobby. She was adamant I should sell my finds because they weren't doing me any good sitting in a safe.

I've been holding onto 99.5% of located items looking at them as a long-term investment. Plus, I'll admit, they're fun to show off. Throughout my time in the hobby, however, I've gone through my extensive five years' worth of finds and have felt... cluttered.

I am interested in hearing what your thoughts are on selling our finds.

Offloaded 10K jewelry. No gemstones.

Offloaded 14K jewelry. No gemstones.

Two Hunts, Two Broken Chains

Hit dry sand volleyball courts on Sunday evening, April 12, 2015. Found the shorter piece of a broken 18K chain then about three feet away I found the longer piece.

Last night, Monday, April 13th, I detected a wet sand slope that yielded a 1941 S wheat penny, and a thin silver chain that I believe I broke with my sand scoop during recovery. The bent 1947 plain Roosevelt dime was dug up on March 10th at a local, vacant lot I've pulled up some oldies at in the past.

April 12, 2015 - Dry Sand Volleyball Courts

April 13, 2015 - Wet Sand Slope

Wedding Ring Set Return

On March 4, 2015 I wrote about an exceptional early morning metal detecting hunt.

Upon returning home I inspected the finds and saw a serial number inscribed on the interior of the Tiffany & Co engagement ring. My intent was to visit a local Tiffany's store to report the serial number on the following Monday, March 9th, when I had some errands to run in that area. However, on Sunday I felt what I can only describe as an irresistible urge to visit the store a day early.

Roughly 30 minutes after leaving Tiffany's I received an email from the husband of the woman who lost the rings at the beach six months prior. Sunday was her birthday and they had just finished their celebratory dinner when word arrived about the found ring. I spoke with the husband that evening and he, quite grateful yet curious, asked if I had found a second ring; the wedding band set with 21 small diamonds. I had a suspicion the rings were a set, albeit of differing precious metals, and I could not deny the elation I felt at having found both rings before the ocean claimed them.

We met last night and they were reunited with the lost rings. This marks my seventh lost jewelry return in just over four and a half years in the hobby.

PT950 Engagement Ring and 14K White Gold Wedding Band - RETURNED!

The Happy Couple : )

Quick, List Three Precious Metals

Did you go with silver, gold and platinum?

I scoped out a sidewalk tear-out this morning while heading to the beach for an early morning jaunt under the full moon. There wasn't much exposed area though I did manage to scrape up one silver Mercury dime. A friend I mentioned it to later in the morning asked if it was done being torn-out. I replied it would likely be covered back up by this evening. His simple response was, "Ah well good save." Indeed.

That could have been enough to make it a satisfying hunt yet as it turned out it was only the beginning. All it took was a little patience, about an hour after I had begun scanning the beach, to find that sweet spot right beneath a fresh cut. You know what I mean?

Gold Ring #3 FTY

Yesterday I headed out to the beach for a casual evening hunt.  About an hour in I came across a newly eroded section of beach on the upper slope with targets at every swing.

14K with Cubic Zirconia

Uncleaned Finds

Rings Galore

My 2015 detecting season is off to an incredible start!  I've hit the beaches four times and managed to find at least one ring during three of the trips.  Here are ring totals so far: one titanium, two tungsten carbide, one silver and two gold.  One tungsten ring is not pictured.

Titanium (left) and Tungsten Carbide

Silver

.925 Italy Necklace Piece

14K White and Yellow Gold

18K White Gold with Purple Sapphire and 8 Diamonds

Two Slope Gold

I finally managed to get out to the beach for a hunt.  It wasn't the optimal time to go as the tide was high and was only starting to head out.  It didn't matter though because I just had to do some hunting.  I sure am glad I did!

14K White Gold with 14 Diamonds and Intact Chain

14K "Plum" Wedding Band

Two Hunts: Silver then Gold!

Found two pieces of silver last week at an eroded beach affected by the larger swells caused by Hurricane Norbert. Then, last night I brought my Minelab Sovereign GT down to the beach to casually walk the slopes during low tide.

Deep Silver

14K Yellow Gold Pendant with 16 Diamonds (1.28ct)

Recent Keepers

I've been unable to detect much lately though I have managed to locate a few keepers. The 10K and tungsten carbide rings were found in the water.  Everything else came from two early 1900's house lots; an old clock winder, dateless Buffalo nickel, square holed Chinese coin and a few wheat cents.

Ocean and House Lot Hunt Results

Surprise! Gold!

I found this pendant on August 7, 2014 in waist deep water during the negative low tide.  There is no stamp, and it had some questionable tarnish, so I doubted it was the real deal.  Well, I just ran it through the gamut of acid tests and it held at 14K!

14K Anchor Pendant