Love symbol and luck of the draw: how a detail of tantalum saved a wedding ring

One of the worst everyday misfortunes for a couple in love? Losing one's wedding ring. The story of Tantalum Wedding Rings and a Swiss couple on their honeymoon demonstrates how the loss of such a precious symbol of love can still have a happy ending. The Magdeburg-based manufacturer personalizes its rings with a serial number, which led to the return of a ring thought to be lost to its owner.

The rings of a Swiss couple, the man's ring of which was lost on their honeymoon. © ShadowLight Photography

Emotion, craftsmanship and a special detail

On August 7, a wedding ring was found at Lac de Saint-Croix, a lake and popular vacation destination in France. What might have been going through the finder's mind? Surely, there were a lot of mixed feelings and questions: Who does the ring belong to? The person will surely miss their personal symbol of love very much. How sad! But how will the ring ever return to its owner? 

One answer to this question is a wonderful summer fairy tale involving a newly married couple from Switzerland and a wedding ring manufacturer who marks his handmade rings with a unique serial number.

The story of Sarah and Mike

The happy couple, who exchanged vows with Tantalum rings, were actually just newlyweds on their honeymoon in July. Sarah and Mike explored Provence in a camper van, stopping at Lac de Saint-Croix to enjoy the picturesque scenery and take a dip in the Verdon Gorge. Unfortunately, wedding rings are especially prone to getting lost while swimming. This is also the initial excerpt from Sarah's email, which recounts the loss – on the very first day of their honeymoon:

...when we were about to return, Mike noticed that the ring was no longer on his finger. We were so sure he must have lost it in the water. Mike even tried to find it with his snorkel and goggles—knowing full well that it's almost impossible to find a ring in the water. 

But luck was on the newlyweds' side in several ways: Sarah regrets that no souvenir photos with her partner's ring could be taken during their vacation in Provence, but Mike didn't lose his wedding ring in the water, but on dry land before going swimming!

This is how the ring in question was finally found a few days later, on August 7th. Also in the chain of messages that would reunite the couple with the lost ring were an anonymous finder and the jeweler from Rapperswil in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen, where Sarah and Mike had purchased their rings. She put the finder in touch with the couple, who were still on their honeymoon at the time and could hardly believe their luck.

The icing on the cake is that Tantalum Wedding Rings underscores the uniqueness and emotional appeal of a wedding ring with a unique serial number, which ultimately led to the owner of the wedding ring being located and his treasured possession being returned to him. Without the clear identification, this would hardly have been possible. This small detail from the Magdeburg-based manufacturer not only makes the ring special but also gives couples who choose rings from the brand a special level of security.

“In any case, we are simply overjoyed,” say Sarah and Mike.

Francisco Marchant, founder and managing director of Tantalum Trauringe in Magdeburg, is also very happy and is pleased with the couple, explaining:

"A serial number is more commonly known with watches, but because we value our customers so much, we decided that their unique pieces should also have a special identity in the form of a serial number. Not just to later know who bought the ring or to return it to the customer, as happened now. What the serial number expresses is like a name or the soul of the ring. Although it requires more effort for us, we've learned that this way of showing the love for our pieces is always worth it."

Finally, a special mention to the honest finder who made this wonderful story begin in the first place: She recognized the ring's emotional value and prioritized it over its material value. She honored Sarah and Mike's love by selflessly returning the ring.