Grandfather Finds 2.29-Carat Diamond: ‘I Never Expected to Find One Here’

A Tennessee grandfather who visited Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park with his granddaughters made an extraordinary find after about 30 minutes of searching: a 2.29-carat yellow diamond.

The man initially thought the glinting stone was mica, a shiny and common mineral. He put it in his shirt pocket and continued walking before taking it to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center for examination.

Park officials said the family had rented a cart and basic equipment, expecting little more than a fun outing. After a detailed inspection, staff confirmed that the stone was a “beautiful yellow diamond” weighing 2.29 carats. The discovery also surprised park employees. “I was completely stunned when I first saw the diamond,” facility manager Ralph Hall said.

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There was a possibility, but you never come here expecting to find one.

The finder said he had never expected to uncover a diamond there. “There was a possibility, but you never come here expecting to find one,” he said. He named the stone the Sage Juniper Diamond after his granddaughters.

The park has produced several notable diamonds in the past, but officials have not released an estimated value for this one. They said anyone seeking an appraisal or quality assessment should contact a certified gemologist trained to evaluate precious stones.

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I was completely stunned when I first saw the diamond.