Back in 1998 I had ordered a box of stuff off of Ebay. When I received my items, there was also a gold band in the box. I contacted him and asked him if he was missing anything of value. He replied, “Yes! I am missing my wedding band! I have been going through cancer treatment, so my ring was really loose. When I realized that my ring was missing, I knew it was in one of the boxes that I had shipped... but they were already shipped out. All I could do was hope that someone decent would find it.” I asked him how he wanted me to get it back to him, and shipped it with his preferences in mind. That ring could have gotten thrown away easily, because it was wrapped in newspaper (like he had grabbed some sheets to use as packing material and stuffed them into the box)
You did well Klemper.
I found an Emory University class ring after a Mardi Gras parade, on the ground mixed in with dropped beads. Fortunately the owner had an unusual last name, so I was able to track him down. He was a Bacchus float rider. The ring flew off his finger while he was throwing beads. He didn’t think he’d ever see his ring again, losing it in New Orleans.