A LOCAL metal detectorist has been praised for finding a signet ring thought to be lost forever at sea for many months in a mere matter of minutes.
Reinaldo Melim contacted detectorist Steven Andrews of Jersey Lost Ring Metal Detecting after losing his silver signet ring when he fell from his boat last September.
With permission from Ports of Jersey, the pair searched the area where the ring had been lost.
Reporting the successful search on social media this week, Mr Melim explained that Mr Andrews returned with the ring “like he’s just picking coins off the pavement”.
Having spent the last six months thinking the ring was gone forever, he added before Mr Andrews found it “faster than it takes to make a cup of tea”, describing him as “an absolute legend”.
Mr Andrews has previously helped Islanders recover lost jewellery and sentimental items – one of his key successes came last year when he returned a gold wedding ring to a family after it was lost in the water at Grouville Bay 27 years earlier.
Mr Andrews told the JEP at the time that find was “just by chance” as he searched out as far as the harbour wall.
“Everything lined up nicely, because I wasn’t going to go detecting that day,” he said.
“I crossed the ring just by chance and put it on Facebook, hoping that I might be able to find its owner. But I didn’t really have much hope, because it’s from such a long time ago.”
