A man enjoyed walking around his hometown looking for hidden treasures with his metal detector. He was stunned when he stumbled upon a massive diamond ring in St. Augustine, Florida. It was valuable, but he didn’t keep it.Joseph Cook was an avid metal detectorist and spent lots of time combing beaches.
On his missions, he often found precious items—surprisingly, he never held onto the treasures. Cook loved locating the owners and returned their lost possessions whenever possible.He documented his adventures online, and a clip went viral because of a shocking discovery he made.
He found an engagement ring and knew it was worth thousands of dollars.Cook was no stranger to finding valuable items, but when his metal-detecting machine picked up something in 2022, he never knew what he was in for. He thought it was a nickel, but he was wrong.
Joseph Cook found a diamond ring on a beach in Florida. | Source: youtube.com/The Independent
Cook couldn’t believe his eyes. He shouted:
“Woah! Woah! Look at that bad boy! That’s real. That’s the biggest diamond I’ve ever found on the beach.”
Joseph Cook found a diamond ring on a beach in Florida. | Source: youtube.com/The Independent
It Was Worth More than He Had Imagined
An ordinary day of metal detecting on Hammock Beach quickly turned into something bigger. Cook took the diamond and platinum ring to a jeweler who informed him the item was worth more than $40,000.
He had returned stuff to the value of $60,000 in the past, but he had never found one item worth as much as the diamond ring. Cook was speechless and did something that stunned many people.
True enough, Cook shared an unbelievable twist to the already fantastic story. A few minutes after he verified the ring’s owner, he found something else.
The diamond ring found on the beach by Joseph Cook. | Source: tiktok.com/@joedigger
He Started Getting Calls from an Unknown Number
Instead of selling the ring and keeping the money for himself, Cook was determined to find the owner. He posted about it online, and after two weeks, he started receiving phone calls from an unknown number.
He initially ignored the calls but eventually answered and learned the ring’s alleged owner was trying to get ahold of him. A man from Jacksonville claimed the ring belonged to his wife.
Joseph Cook | Source: tiktok.com/@joedigger
The Owner Was Emotional and Thankful
After verifying the ring’s unique number and checking the purchase receipts, Cook was thrilled to confirm he had found the rightful owners. He met up with the unknown man and handed over the expensive item.
They called the man’s wife together, and she started crying. Her relief was palpable, and she thanked Cook for his kindness and honesty. The metal detectorist shared:
“They were pretty happy. The wife was on a FaceTime call, and she just said, ‘I can’t believe it,’ and then she just started crying.”
His Reason for Returning the Treasures
Cook wasn’t disappointed that he had to return the exciting discovery. It was a pleasure and an honor to reunite people with what was rightfully theirs. He also believed in karma and stated:
“Karma’s always good, every time I return an item, I find something better, so I’m happy I could give it back. Karma is real.”
True enough, Cook shared an unbelievable twist to the already fantastic story. A few minutes after he verified the ring’s owner, he found something else. It was another valuable diamond ring!
The online community was in awe of Cook’s actions. Many users called him a good person and thanked him for doing the right thing. Others said the world needed more people like him:
“There [are] still a lot of good people in this world!”
– (Julie Wessel) November 25, 2022
“He is a good guy. Thank you for being honest.”
– (Brenda Mote) November 25, 2022
“I love this story! My wedding ring was stolen years ago, and I’m still hoping it shows up one day. I cried when I called my husband to tell him because I knew he had worked hard to buy it for me and would be devastated. So thankful for honest people in this world!”
– (Amy Crockett) November 25, 2022
“This is Joe digger on TikTok. He is awesome! He genuinely has a good heart and is always so sweet to curious kids when he is detecting. Love the attention he is getting!”
– (Melissa Vey) November 23, 2022
“Thanks for returning it to the rightful owner. Not everyone would do that. You are a good person for doing that.”
– (Patti Lynn Northrup) November 25, 2022
Cook set an excellent example for others, and his honesty did not go unnoticed.