Foilman, I have found very small gold ladies rings and gold stud earrings with mine, a gold lobster clasp from a gold necklace or bracelet as well. I have pulled tiny rings from well over 8 inches with both my Excal and my Sovereign GT's in the surf.
It is well known that chains and bracelets are one of the hardest targets to locate as they are seen as individual links unless they are grouped all together in a pile.
To each his own, I personally have no concerns what so ever about my Minelabs finding gold or missing gold. The only detector I would consider trading up to for the water is the Aquasound......I have no desire to dig holes to china for bobby pins, so until they come up with a PI that has good discrimination for iron, I am very continent with my Minelabs. Every time one of my Minelab nulls, I know that is one less target I would have had to dig with a PI. On the beaches here are lots of small pieces of iron.....
If a person isn't happy with their detector I believe they should trade it or sell it and get one they like. I got tired of my Whites Beach Hunter ID leaking, and although I like the unit itself, I traded it in on my first Sovereign GT with a WOT coil....
I do enjoy buying, and playing with different land detectors, after playing with them I sell them, but when I head to the beach to hunt I take 3 detectors with me, my waterproofed Sov GT with WOT coil, another Sov GT with a WOT and my Excal.