When people receive diamond engagement rings they often hope to keep them for the rest of their lives. After all, the precious items represent the love and commitment between themselves and their partners and they can look stunning too. However, sometimes people suffer misfortune and lose such possessions.
One individual who fell victim to this fate was Jo McEvoy, the Harborough Mail reports. The 28-year-old, who works at Harborough District Council as a land charges officer, was moving equipment around in the local authority’s headquarters in Adam and Eve Street when her ring got caught in the door of a lift.

Because of the pressure exerted on the item, the diamond that forms the focal point of the jewellery fell out and tumbled downwards.

Commenting on the incident, Ms McEvoy remarked: “The diamond came out and went straight down the lift shaft. I was left blubbering in a heap on the floor. We called the lift engineers out but I thought there wasn’t a chance they would find it with all the dust and dirt down there.”

When the engineers arrived, they too were not hopeful of finding the gem. Diamonds are not large items and they can be tricky to spot, particularly when they have become detached from their settings.

The men explained that there was little chance of receiving the stone if it had become lodged in any part of the lift mechanism.

However, after a full two hours’ searching at the bottom of the shaft, the torchlight being used by the workers picked up a sparkle.

Ms McEvoy stated: “They came up and told me they’d searched but hadn’t found anything. Then one of them pulled it out of his pocket – they’d been having me on! They were as surprised as I was. I was so happy.”

Because she was so overjoyed and grateful, she ensured she thanked the engineers properly by sending them cards afterwards.

Meanwhile, to get her jewellery back to its original appearance, she took it to the store she purchased it from and the firm reset the gem in its rightful place.

The Harborough Mail noted this was not the first time a search had been launched for the engagement ring. When her now-husband proposed in 2007, he organised a treasure hunt, with the ring forming the prize.

Because of the value of diamond rings, many of those who wear them get insurance so that if they were to go missing and could not be found, their owners would get financial compensation for their loss.