I've returned 4 wedding rings. You know the best way to get your ring back? Engrave it with something I can use to identify you and make contact!
Second best way is to make an add on craigslist or something saying where you lost it and when. A reward helps with this.
I have kept all my rings except for two. Those two I used to pay for the engagement and wedding ring for my wife and my own ring.
The best thing I ever found was actually something I didn't find. There was an add saying $2,000 reward for a lost ring with the area it was lost in. Apparently, the wife lost it during a surfing lesson. So the possible area was very large.
Me and a buddy split the search area and he ended up finding it. We had said we would split the reward evenly if we did find it, so I took home $1,000.
That's a good tip for people who are getting expensive rings, put your name on it.
That's a crazy story... and cool that you were able to partner with someone who was such a good sport about splitting the reward with you. Made it a lot simpler for him to have someone covering the other part of the beach though. And you both got to help someone out!