What's Better Than Half Of A Cartier Bracelet?

[Compass]

I think you know where this is going. Back in early October I posted about finding half of an 18k, rose gold, Cartier Love Bracelet deep in the wet sand on one of my local beaches. Here is another picture of that find:

I convinced myself that the other half of the bracelet was still in the same area waiting to be found and looked for it on every hunt since then- maybe a dozen times or so when the conditions seemed right, day or night. Some of my friends thought it was a bit foolish to do so because someone may have already found it-  if it was even lost in the first place. In the meantime I would be missing out on other more productive sites they said. However, I reasoned that while looking for the other bracelet half, I would find collateral finds and, sure enough, the spot produced a few gold rings and assorted silver rings, chains and earrings. 

Earlier this week, conditions looked promising for another recovery attempt with extreme tides and impressive swells in the forecast. However, I was having one of my worst hunts in recent memory with only a couple of lightweight pieces of trash in over an hour of detecting. When I got a faint whisper of a signal, the kind that makes you question if it is just your imagination, I scooped out several mounds of wet sand and the detector was now screaming loud over the pile of excavated sand to the side of the hole. I looked down and saw a half-oval impression on top of the mound. 

I reached down and felt the object and at the same time saw a familiar rose gold colored half-bracelet in my hand. I have had a few surreal moments while detecting before but I don't think that anything will ever top this one when I truly questioned if what I was experiencing was real. I turned the bracelet around to see the "Cartier" logo that I knew would be there since it wasn't on the other half that I had already found. Funny but at that instant I had one of those "deja vu" moments of having been there before. I went and sat on the beach "cut" to collect my thoughts, offer a prayer of gratitude and enjoy the moment. I didn't have my cell phone on me for fear of it getting wet but when I got to the car I took a quick picture:

And, of course, a couple more when I got home:

The two pieces fit together perfectly! There are minor scratches on the bracelet that I think were already on it when it was lost. Hard to say how long ago the bracelet had been lost but my guess would be fairly recently because the 2 halves were found very close to one another.

Some of my friends suggested that I not post about this find and I know that they have good intentions but I felt that this experience had to be shared. I have learned a lot from this experience. I have little concern if this story leads to a reunion of the bracelet with the person who lost it. In fact, I am already taking steps to try to return it. I, and many other hunters, know that the real thrill in detecting is in the finding- not in the owning. Thanks for reading- GL&HH!

[kac]

Knew you would go back hehe, way to go congrats!

[mn90403]

What a story!  Minelab will love it and give you find of the month ... hope the loser doesn't see it!  haha

Mitchel

[Compass]

5 minutes ago, kac said:

Knew you would go back hehe, way to go congrats!

Thanks Kac, It was already a favorite location of mine but not one that I would go to on every single hunt as I have now done for over 2 months. Maybe now I can start hunting other beaches again. 😉

[Compass]

1 minute ago, mn90403 said:

What a story!  Minelab will love it and give you find of the month ... hope the loser doesn't see it!  haha

Mitchel

Thanks Mitchel, I do have a couple of Minelabs but I should have mentioned that both bracelet halves were found with my White's TDI Beachhunter. If someone can prove that it was theirs I wouldn't have a problem with returning it (depending on who they voted for, of course.....haha).

[cuniagau]

OUTSTANDING!!!

[Compass]

29 minutes ago, cuniagau said:

OUTSTANDING!!!

Thanks cuniagau, I know that 2020 has been a dreadful year for so many but I and my family have been fortunate. Metal detecting wise it's been my most memorable year out of 50 and this latest find seems a perfect way to close it out.

[Hardtimehermit]

Way to not give up! scored!🤩  ht 

[mn90403]

11 minutes ago, Compass said:

Thanks cuniagau, I know that 2020 has been a dreadful year for so many but I and my family have been fortunate. Metal detecting wise it's been my most memorable year out of 50 and this latest find seems a perfect way to close it out.

The year is not over yet!

[GB_Amateur]

Quite the finish to a story that didn't really need one since the first half was a treasure find all on its own.  But it's quite the bonus.  I notice some commonalities of your perseverant search with famous treasure caches:

1) Was it ever lost in the first place?

2) If lost, has it already been found?

3) If not yet found, is it even findable?

4) If findable, is it worth the effort?

Yes, yes, yes, (and apparently) yes!

1 hour ago, Compass said:

Both bracelet halves were found with my White's TDI Beachhunter.

I don't know if Garrett Searcher would consider this for their monthly publication as (AFAIK) Garrett hasn't revealed their plans for their acquisition of White's assets.  Who knows, it might even inspire them to re-issue the TDI Series....  "Cats already out of the bag" so maybe dropping them a note could lead to something positive.