Well, sometimes you get a gem of a tale to tell. In a surprising turn of events, an Arkansas man, Jerry Evans, recently discovered what he initially thought was a piece of clear glass found at Crater of Diamonds State Park. However, after a bit of investigating, he had in fact found a near-colorless 4.87-carat diamond.
During a spring visit to the park with his girlfriend, Jerry collected various items they seemed interesting, hoping some might be diamonds. Within the first 10 minutes, he spotted what seemed to be a very shiny piece of glass on the ground of the 37-acre field. It was in a spot where visitors frequently find diamonds from an eroded surface of a volcanic crater. Jerry casually pocketed it, unsure of its true nature.
After getting home, Jerry decided to have the clear stone identified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Weeks later, the institute confirmed that the seemingly ordinary piece of glass was, in fact, a substantial 4.87-carat diamond.
Visitors to Crater of Diamonds State Park scour the crater in search of diamonds. Photo courtesy of the state park
Jerry said he was shocked.
I thought it might be a piece of glass, it was so clear. I really didn’t know.”
Delighted with the confirmation, he contacted the state park to share his discovery, leading to the official registration of his diamond. Waymon Cox, the assistant park superintendent, said that it’s rare that someone will reach out after independently identifying a diamond. “While I get many emails from people wanting me to identify something they’ve found here, to my recollection, this is the first time someone has contacted me after they’ve had a diamond identified by the GIA,” Cox said.
I’m glad that Mr. Evans was able to bring his historic diamond back to the park to have it officially registered.”
Jerry’s diamond now holds the title of the largest registered at the park since 2020. The Crater of Diamonds State Park, renowned for being a source of diamonds from a volcanic crater, sees an average of one to two diamonds found daily. In 2023, 798 diamonds totaling over 125 carats were registered.
The diamond Jerry Evans found. Photo by Arkansas.gov
Since the park’s establishment in 1972, more than 75,000 diamonds have been discovered, making it a significant destination for enthusiasts like Jerry Evans. His advice for those interested in visiting the park echoes his own unexpected success: “Come and search because there’s a chance. They’re out there!” As to the price his diamond could fetch? According to the Diamond Registry, a diamond of that size can bring in between $9,350 to $147,400. Watch below for a look at the shiny diamond!
