Man from Split searches for gold ring lost at Žnjan in 1992: 'Hope dies last'

A heartfelt story of a man from Split spread on social media; he lost a gold ring with engraved initials at Žnjan beach back in 1992. Although 34 summers have passed, he has not given up the search for the memento of his late father. His Facebook post was shared by Dnevno.hr and Slobodna Dalmacija on July 30, 2026.

Ring slipped off in shallow water

The man recalled the moment of loss in his social media message:

"At Žnjan beach in Split, in the shallow water, long, long ago, maybe back in 1992, I lost a men's gold ring with engraved initials. A family heirloom, extremely precious to me... Now, if anyone has found that ring in these 30-something years, please contact me. I know the chances are nil, a lot of time has passed, but again, hope dies last. Back then there were those small beaches, a few of them, and I remember I was not far from the shore when the ring slipped into the sea; there were waves and I searched but nothing... Maybe someone found it in a shorter time since then, so... The ring is from my late father, a memory..."

Žnjan looked completely different back then

According to Slobodna Dalmacija, this was a time when that part of Split was drastically different, without today's beaches, promenade and cafes, just gravel, concrete and the sea. The owner has returned to the same spot for years, hoping to spot the ring among the stones, but in vain.

Commentators offer support, but also jokes

The post sparked numerous reactions. Some encouraged him, while others, with a touch of humor, suggested that 'Žnjan should have a lost-and-found department'. There were also those who warned that the ring was probably sold long ago, and some recalled how Žnjan looked back then, commenting that the ring is now likely 'under three layers of reconstruction, landfill and new beaches'.

Although the chances are minimal, the sea is always full of surprises, so the owner says hope dies last.