Diamond ring worth $40,000 found on beach in St. Augustine, returned to owner just miles away

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — As reported by Fox News, a man searching the beach in St. Augustine discovered a diamond ring buried beneath the sand.

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Joseph Cook was searching Hammock Beach with a metal detector in October when he made the discovery. Cook posted videos to his social media, saying he was shocked to find the diamond set in platinum.

“Look at that bad boy,” he said. “This is the biggest diamond I [have] ever found on the beach.”

Instead of taking it to a pawn shop or reseller, the 37-year-old called around at local jewelry stores to see if anyone might have lost a ring.

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He then went to a jeweler — who informed him that the ring was worth $40,000.

“I just said, ‘That’s been sitting in my scooter for almost a week’ — I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Just two weeks after that, Cook began receiving phone calls from a number he didn’t recognize.

After ignoring them for some time, he finally decided to answer.

It was the ring owner from Jacksonville.

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Cook said the wife — upon seeing the ring — was elated.

“They were pretty happy,” said Cook. “The wife was on a Facetime call, and she just said. ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it,’ and then she just started crying,” he said.

Cook met the couple a few weeks after he found the ring. He returned the beloved item to them.

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Cook said this is not the first time he has found someone’s missing, and hugely coveted, item.

He has returned $60,000 worth of items, he said, this year alone.

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“Karma’s always good. Every time I return an item, I find something better — so I’m happy I could give it back,” Cook said.