Tennessee Grandpa Finds 2.29-Carat Diamond With Granddaughters

Barry G. Smith thought he'd found nothing more than a glittery piece of mica during a family outing at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. The Tennessee grandfather almost tossed the stone aside before slipping it into his shirt pocket and continuing his search with granddaughters Sage and Juniper.

Thirty minutes into their diamond hunt on August 16, Smith spotted something shimmering in the East Drain section of the park. He and his family had rented a basic search kit and wagon, not expecting to find anything more valuable than a fun memory together.

Everything changed when Smith brought his find to the park's Diamond Discovery Center for inspection. Staff confirmed he'd discovered a gorgeous 2.29-carat yellow diamond, one of the rarest varieties found at the park.

"I was dumbfounded when I first saw the diamond," said facility supervisor Ralph Hall. The stone's overall shape and color reminded him of another significant discovery made earlier this year.

Yellow diamonds get their distinctive hue when nitrogen is absorbed into the crystal structure during formation. These nitrogen impurities absorb blue light and reflect yellow wavelengths, creating the golden color that makes them so rare and valuable.

Smith's reaction captured the wonder of unexpected discovery. "I never expected to find a diamond here," he said. "The potential was there, but you never come here expecting to find one."

Sunny's Take

The best part? Smith named his discovery the Sage Juniper Diamond after his two granddaughters who shared the adventure with him. The diamond, about the size of a black-eyed pea, became the third-largest found at the park this year among 351 diamonds registered by visitors.

Crater of Diamonds State Park remains one of the few places in the world where anyone can search for diamonds and keep what they find. An average of one to two diamonds is discovered there each day, turning ordinary family outings into extraordinary treasure hunts.

Smith's find joins other remarkable recent discoveries, including a 3.09-carat diamond found by a grieving Pennsylvania woman and a 2.09-carat brown diamond unearthed by a family inspired by a seven-year-old's curiosity about mining. Sometimes the most precious treasures are the moments we share while searching for them.