There is one detail we seem to be forgetting. If we already had it, then failed, we would have needed to somehow get it at some point.
In which case, at the imminent loss, we would probably have sent it to ourselves, or somewhere we could find it, to give us another shot - likely before we "first" acquired it to avoid headasplodeydom.
Then again, if it has a will of its own and can hide itself - we won't find it until it WANTS to be found, since it can move through time. And outpace us to boot while it's doing that.