New to this... BUT, I "Seem" to be doing well? Pics Inside

[AusTexDude]

OK... I started metal detecting a few months ago. I live by a lake that is currently VERY low and decided to start with a swimming hole that is all dried up.

Well, in my first 5 hours of detecting I found this. . Ended up getting $135 for it at the jewler. Was 14K with a 3Carat white sapphire stone.

I had not metal detected much since then, maybe about 10 hours worth. Pulled out close to 1,000 pull tabs, about 2 lbs of fishing sinkers, some lures, and about $5 in clad.

I went today for the first time in months. Within 15 minutes I found this. 975 Sterling

Within about an hour I found this. It must have been down there for many years because it's falling apart.

So, my question is to all you PROS. Am I off to a good start?

BTW here is the cheap detector I am using. Bounty Hunter Tracker IV Metal Detector-Tracker Bounty Hunter - Star Marine Depot

 

[creskol]

NICE .. Indeed your are doing well! By the way .. Welcome to a great hobby and welcome to a great forum.

 

[AusTexDude]

Thanks! I appreciate that. Now I just need to score a fat Rolex or something that will pay for a better detector.

 

[Tired Rooster]

Doing a bit better than a good start......Very good I'd say. Good luck.

 

[AusTexDude]

Doing a bit better than a good start......Very good I'd say. Good luck.

Well that's it, I'm hooked.

 

[AusTexDude]

This is why I think I am scoring so well.

SUNTAN LOTION = SLIPPERY FINGERS + TREADING WATER = RINGS GO FLYING AND SINK TO THE BOTTOM.

I come back around a decade later and bam...

 

[manorman]

Good luck, looks like your doing ok.

 

[AusTexDude]

Thanks everyone

 

[relicmeister]

You're off to a fine start-

 

[bobby5]

You are hunting the right place, no doubt.

 

[wkrp43]

Welcome to tnet . You are doing very well.

 

[wingmaster]

Seems a little low for a 3 carat stone and I don't see many solitaire sapphire settings like that. I would have taken it somewhere that doesn't buy jewelry to check and make sure it wasn't a diamond, I know kohl's department store has diamond testers but won't buy so that would be a place that wouldn't profit from lying to you. If you could wait and sell it yourself you'll probably always get a better price. Congrats on the nice ring and HH

 

[DocBeav]

Off to a great start I'd say! Congrats! I agree with wingmaster, get any future finds checked out (or research a bit on the .net) before you sell them!

 

[AusTexDude]

Welcome to tnet . You are doing very well.

I actually only sold the gold weight. He was not interested in the stone so I popped it out and gave it to a friend to make a necklace out of it. I took it to 3 different places before I actually sold it.

 

[vpnavy]

Thanks for sharing...

 

[AusTexDude]

Thanks for sharing...

Thanks I appreciate that. Hopefully many more to come.

 

[park pirate]

You have done vary well...

 

[terpfan]

I enjoyed your post. You are off to a great start!

 

[g-olden years]

Welcome to t-net! Congrats on excellent finds, especially considering the short hunting hours spent. Lovely gold ring shows you have the Midas touch! My son now has a Teknetics for greater depth & precision, but for the first 2 years of our 3 year hobby, we both shared the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV that I still use. Our combined best finds with Bounty Hunter IV aren't shabby: four heavy gold rings, several gold chains, an 1848 silver dime in perfect condition, as well as many other old silver coins, old silver rosary, and more. Bounty Hunter does well on beach, parks, dirt embankments, old lots with remains of concrete foundations, and Bounty Hunter detects tiny items well at big depth. Sounds like your lake will continue to yield good stuff among the junk! If you haven't already done so, check web & library for old fairground sites, homesteads, etc. And as you wander town & countryside, be alert to any old fences as some of our best finds have been near these old fences! HAVE FUN! Andi

 

[g-olden years]

Regarding best price for gold items where stones aren't involved, I recommend one of the several refineries listed here on t-net. My son & I have had excellent results selling to Midwestern Refiners which pays you about 95 percent of the value of the gold, plus their payments come very quickly. Andi