This week I received a call from an arborist from Bainbridge Island. He and his tree maintenance crew were doing some work at a customer’s property, climbing trees, when he noticed he was missing his prized ring.
It was a custom ring made of silver with two diamonds and a large sapphire, designed for him by a friend with the purpose of harnessing the spiritual powers of the gemstones. It is called Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish Astrology.
The belief is that certain stones, worn by the right person, under the correct circumstances, can increase that person’s success in life and business, etc.
Naturally it was a hard loss for him, and he rushed to buy a metal detector and searched for days on the property, to no avail.
When I arrived I saw a huge pile of wood chips that the tree crew had made when disposing of the limbs, and I had a bad feeling that it could have gone through the chipper. After he and the home owner and I spread the piles throughout the property, my suspicion was confirmed by my CTX 3030 and 17" coil.
I found the ring, in 2 pieces! It was missing one diamond and the sapphire, but fortunately there was one diamond still remaining!
Since my detectors can’t find loose gemstones, we sifted the chips for some time, and he and the homeowner will be going through the chips as time allows. Who knows, maybe they will find them someday!
If not, he can rest assured knowing the full magic of his ring wasn’t lost, and the lost gems were reclaimed by the earth that provides him his livelihood.
Today, I’d say it was a draw, in this case of Ringfinder vs. woodchipper… But the arborist was glad to be reunited with it and he may have the mangled silver ring made into a new ring, to hold the diamond that was recovered.
Jason – WA, USA.
