Navy Reservist Finds 6-Carat Diamond at Arkansas Park

Jack Pearadin was eight feet away from a pile of gravel when something made him turn around. There, glowing in the center, was the discovery of a lifetime.

The Navy reservist found a massive 6.03-carat yellow diamond at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park during a January TikTok livestream. He named the gem the "American Dream" for its striking golden color and unusual square shape.

"I had to go almost to the bottom of the pile to pull it out, it was so big," Pearadin said. "I was shaking!"

His viewers watched the excitement unfold in real time. "Oh my God! Oh my God!" he shouted during the stream. "We got a big one!"

The find came after a winter storm coated the area with more than an inch of ice, making it especially challenging to sift through gravel. Pearadin and his friend Michael Schumacher had collected the bucket of gravel in late December, then Pearadin processed it while Schumacher traveled.

Pearadin has been hunting diamonds at the park since 2013 and loves it so much he moved to nearby Murfreesboro to pursue the hobby. He's sold most of his previous finds through online sales, but this one is different.

Laura Stanley, a certified gem appraiser in Little Rock, told the Associated Press that a high-quality six-carat yellow diamond from the park could sell for about $250,000. Some collectors estimated it could fetch up to $1 million, though park officials note they don't grade or appraise diamonds.

Why This Inspires

Pearadin's story proves that patience and passion can lead to extraordinary rewards. He spent over a decade searching for diamonds, moving his entire life closer to the park because he believed in the possibility.

Now he's planning to split any profits with Schumacher, the friend who helped collect the gravel containing the stone. Pearadin hopes to use his share to open his own crystal mine, turning one dream into the foundation for another.

The Crater of Diamonds State Park remains the only place in America where the public can search for diamonds and keep what they find. "They are their own entity," Stanley said. "You can't compare that to a diamond from anywhere else."

Pearadin's discovery joins several other notable finds at the park this year, including a 3.09-carat diamond found by a grieving Pennsylvania woman and a 2.29-carat yellow diamond discovered by a Tennessee grandfather.

Sometimes the best things come to those who keep searching.