Couple Celebrating Anniversary Finds 1.90-Carat Brown Diamond. But How Much Is It Actually Worth? Jessica and Seth Erickson of Chatfield, Minnesota learned how to properly sift for treasure that morning — then discovered the gem an hour later.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
A couple taking a road trip for their 10th anniversary unearthed some sparkle at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.
Jessica and Seth Erickson of Chatfield, Minnesota found a brown diamond at the park on Friday, November 4, according to a news release from Arkansas State Parks.
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Per the report, the Ericksons spent the morning digging in the dirt, even learning how to properly wet sift from the park's regular visitors. When Seth glimpsed a glinting gem in the bottom of his screen after roughly an hour of sifting, he knew it was a diamond immediately. The brown stone clocked in at 1.90 carats.
Craters of Diamonds is a 37-acre field on the eroded surface of a volcanic crater. It's one of the only places in the world where the public can hunt for genuine diamonds in their original source — and keep them and any other rocks, minerals or gemstones they happen to find.
But how much is the couple's iced-tea-colored gem actually worth? It depends on the gem's exact specifications. But this 1.91-carat brown oval from Blue Nile (SI2 clarity) comes in at just under $5,000, while a white rock with comparable stats is nearly $17,000.
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In 2022 alone, 581 diamonds have been registered at Crater of Diamonds State Park. And many of the lucky finders name their treasure: The Ericksons dubbed theirs "HIMO," the initials of each of their children.
