One woman’s bathroom stop, some prayer and work by jewelers in Vernon and Red Deer all played a role in helping a Vernon woman retrieve her dream engagement ring.
The woman (who, along with her groom-to-be did not wish to be identified) accompanied her fiancé to Alberta in June, where he was heading for work.
The pair stopped for gas in Rocky Mountain House, where the bride-to-be went into the washroom while he filled up the vehicle.
About a half-hour outside Rocky Mountain House, the woman noticed her ring was gone.
The ring is an exquisite Canadian polarized diamond, mine cut and polished in Canada, certified by N.W.T. Garment with a serial number inscribed on the diamond, designed by her fiancé and Vernon’s Fareed Lor Gold ‘N Time Jewellery. It is worth an estimated $11,000.
“I felt nauseous,” said the woman. “I didn’t know where it was. I didn’t think I had taken it off.” She figures the ring must have slid off her finger when she was wetting down her hair in the washroom.
They raced back to the Rocky but were unable to find it.
Roughly five weeks after the couple placed their ads, Lor got a call from Red Deer jeweller Mitchell and Jewell. A woman had brought in an engagement ring that she found in a washroom at a gas station in Rocky.
The Mitchell and Jewell employee noticed the laser inscribed serial number on the girdle of the diamond. The Red Deer jeweller was able to trace the ring back to Lor and Gold ‘N Time in Vernon.
“He called me and left a message saying the ring had been found,” said the man. “I was shocked. I thought it was gone, written off. I’d almost finished the insurance claim.”
“He was searching for another diamond,” said Lor.
The couple wouldn’t believe it was their ring until they saw it and Lor double-checked the serial number.
The unidentified woman who found the ring is also getting a gift card from Mitchell and Jewell.
The Vernon woman has since kept a close eye on her engagement ring.
“I won’t be taking it off a lot between now and the wedding,” she smiled.