Much that was once lost are being found by lords of the lost rings

David Milsted, pictured here in Cooper River Park in New Jersey, is a ringfinder. He uses his metal-detecting equipment to help people find lost rings. Photo: TNS

Decades spent braving the intense heat and danger of a burning building. A lifelong romance. A once-in-forever victory culminating a hard-fought athletic career. For those who wear it, a ring can represent much more than a simple piece of jewellery. It can embody the story of a lifetime – and it can disappear in an instant.

Enter the Ring Finders. The online directory connects people who’ve lost rings (or other metal items) with a metal detectorist in their area. They’re ubiquitous at this time of year – those solitary figures pacing the beach, waving their metal doodads back and forth above the sand.