A couple scavenging at the Crater of Diamonds State Park recently found a diamond worth $21,000—believed to be the most noteworthy find at the park in more than three years.
The Crater of Diamonds, based in Murfreesboro, Ark., is the only park in the world that lets the general public look for diamonds. The park recently announced it is on the verge of its 30,000th diamond find.
The stone, dubbed the “Silver Moon,” was 2.44 carats when discovered in the rough by Melissa and Kenny Oliver of Rosston, Ark. It has since been cut to a 1.067 ct. F VVS2 stone, with a cut grade of 1. Bill Underwood, owner of Underwood Jewelers in Fayetteville, Ark., appraised it for $21,000.
“It was beautiful in the rough, and even more beautiful after it was cut,” says Underwood. “I could tell when I looked at it, it had really high color and internally I couldn't see anything through the skin.”
Park interpreter Waymon Cox says that it is not always possible to say how much diamonds found at the park are worth, since not all of them are cut. However, the “Silver Moon” is believed the most valuable find since 2008, when a stone also worth about $22,000 was discovered.
In 1998, local digger Shirley Strawn made headlines when she found a 1.09 ct. D Flawless stone at the park. That gem has since been purchased by the state of Arkansas and is now on the display at the park.