Any tips on how to return a found wedding ring?

[GKMOM]

Hi, I am new here. Years ago - around 1982, my parents found a wedding band while snorkling in Hawaii. Back then they had no idea how to go about finding the owner. We found the ring recently and realized it might be possible with the internet today. Anyway, the ring has an inscription with a husband's name and the wedding date. I found one website that lists lost and found items, but do any of you have any other ideas? It would be pretty amazing if we could return it after all these years.

Thanks!
Amy

 

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[diggummup]

Since you have a name and date,start there.I believe marraige licenses are public information.Of course you would have to do a state by state search.If he's not an american then you will have a problem.GOOD LUCK P.S.-they're probably divorced by know,the odds are in favor of it

 

[lab rat]

The odds of finding the original owner(s) is pretty slim.? Chances are the loser was on vacation, and could be from anywhere.? Marriage records would be the way to go, but you'd have to look at every county through the US, and like Diggumup said, they might have been from some other country.

I have a few inscribed wedding bands-- one I found only 2-3 months after the inscribed wedding date!? They probably lost it on their honeymoon, which is pretty sad...? but chasing down one name with a date would be a serious undertaking.? Even if you find a match, it could be coincidental, and you'd need to get a description from them to verify its really theirs.

Once I found a ring inscribed with both first names and a 1938 wedding date!? That was before I even had a metal detector, and what got me into it.? That ring was close to 60 years old, and no telling if the couple were even still alive.? Still, I called a few TV stations and asked if they would do a 'special interest' story, since they might have the resources to do a thorough search, and it would have been so neat to return the ring on their 60th anniversary.? I was so sad for them when I found it, but the stations all declined.? I am still in awe when I look at that ring with the history of the marriage and the loss, and my finding it was as close to a magical experience as I've ever had.? Here's a picture of it...

 

[GKMOM]

Ohhh - marriage license records are a good idea - but what a massive job! Since the ring was found in Hawaii I bet the couple was on vacation - also it only has the husbands name. Still, with the exact wedding date maybe... Can you find marriage records online? I have two little girls with another on the way, this may be too much work. But my dad recently passed away and I thought it was so cool he had saved that ring all these years, so maybe I will give it a shot, he would have loved to return it. The couple was married in 1972, 32 years this year, maybe they are still together! I'll let you know if I find anyting.

Amy

 

[Lowbatts]

Here's a link to a neat site with a lost and found listing for rings and links to other lost and found sites. http://ringkeeper.com/FoundRings.htm
Does seem like a gargantuan task finding the ring in the big vacation hotspot. It could be from almost anywhere. Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

Just tell him you've found somebody new. Worked well for my ex. LOL. Seriously if the name is at all unusual you can go to switchboard.com and do a search. If there are only a few listed then send them each a postcard and ask them to describe anything they lost in Hawaii in whatever year. Probably cost you less than a buck to track down the owner if still alive. exanimo, ss

 

[lab rat]

An alternative route might be to find out which island the ring was found on. Get a listing of all hotels there, and a listing of everyone who stayed there for the year or so prior to the ring being found. You might get lucky.

 

[coinshooter]

Just Google the name. I did this recently with just a first name of each one of a couple that was printed in a ring.
Found them instantly because the names were weird enough.
www.Google.com has a ton of info. Try googling your name.
I bet if labrat tried this he might even get some new leads on that wedding ring!!
8)

 

[GKMOM]

Thanks everyone,

I tried the Google thing, but I only have the husband's first name and the wedding date. I couldn't find anything. I am going to check that other ring link right now. My mom doesn't remember which hotel they were at, but she thinks if she looks back at her pictures she can figure it out. We'll see!

 

[LarosnMullalyTresureHunte]

have you tried contacting a reporter?

 

[romeo-1]

have you tried contacting a reporter?

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