2 Photos
Metal detector enthusiast Peter Zegler
The found wedding ring.
Last Saturday afternoon, May 16, Tommy Wolfe lost his wedding ring at Wyandanch Beach in Southampton. He feared he would never see it again, but with a little help, he was able to reconnect with his ring the very next day.
When Mr. Wolfe, who lives in Southampton, went into the ocean earlier that day, he said that he took his ring off and placed it on top of a Tupperware container. After spending time with his wife, Jena, on the beach, they decided to pack up their belongings, when he realized that his ring was missing from atop the container.
They looked for it for about 90 minutes before finally giving up.
After they left, Mr. Wolfe said he attempted to purchase a metal detector on Google, figuring that was the best way to find his ring. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the metal detector would not have shipped as quickly as he wanted it to.
He then looked for somebody that could possibly help him by searching ‘metal detector Southampton’ on Google.
After viewing an article on 27 East, detailing metal detector enthusiast Peter Zegler, Mr. Wolfe decided to reach out to him.
Mr. Zegler owns Hamptons Power Wash, a power washing company, and Mr. Wolfe reached out to the company.
During his free time, Mr. Zegler is an avid metal detector enthusiast. He has been for 10 years.
“I would see others metal detecting, and advertising for it. I wondered what it was all about and went to the store in Patchogue,” Mr. Zegler said. “I forked out $1,200 on a metal detector … after 15 minutes of looking in the store.”
His enjoyment for metal detecting flourished after that.
Mr. Zegler said he has found thousands of colonial items, including coinage, over the years. He tries to find historical areas to inspect.
He has continued his hobby during the COVID-19 crisis, as he has been able to maintain social distancing regulations.
Mr. Zegler returned the voicemail from Mr. Wolfe on Sunday, and by later that day they were on the beach searching for the ring.
When they arrived at the beach, they went to the area where Mr. Wolfe believed he lost his wedding ring.
Mr. Zegler brought bright orange cones to section off the area where they would search. He said he sectioned off a 15-foot-by-15-foot square area to begin.
They started in one of the corners, and without walking more than 5 feet, the metal detector emitted a beeping noise — meaning they had found something.
Mr. Zegler scooped out the sand to the side. He then waved the metal detector over that area and it emitted a beeping noise again. Mr. Wolfe then searched through the sand and was able to grab his wedding ring out of the sand.
“It didn’t take more than 60 seconds to find it,” Mr. Zegler said. “It was almost too easy … but we found it.”
Mr. Wolfe offered to pay Mr. Zegler for his time, but he declined. Mr. Wolfe said he thinks that this was a good view of humanity.
“It was shocking at first [finding my ring],” Mr. Wolfe said. “It was a little Cinderella story.”
For help finding lost items, Mr. Zegler can be reached at (631) 905-4809.
