Woman strikes gold? No, she finds a 2.3-carat diamond after 3-week hunt in US park
engagement diamond
has come true after she discovered a dazzling 2.3-carat gem herself during a trip to Arkansas.
31-year-old
Micherre Fox
, had been telling friends for years about her wish for something unique for her engagement especially, a diamond she could discover herself. While most of the couples opt for jewelry store displays, she imagined traveling to a natural diamond site, digging the stone herself, and having it crafted into her ring.
Her partner embraced the wish, agreeing to put any proposal on hold until she could complete her mission. After completing graduate school this summer, Fox finally set aside the time to pursue it.
The Journey to Arkansas
Fox traveled to
Crater of Diamonds State Park
in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, a 37-acre volcanic field, where visitors are allowed to hunt for
natural diamonds
and keep whatever they find. The park, famous for its 'finders keepers' policy, has produced thousands of gems since it opened to the public in 1972.
Fox dedicated nearly three weeks to the search, coming each morning and combing the dusty, sunbaked ground for anything that caught the light. She worked methodically, scanning plowed rows and shallow gullies where rain often exposes hidden diamonds.
Live Events
The Moment of Discovery
On her final day in the park, Fox was walking near an area known as the West Drain when a sudden glimmer flashed in the corner of her vision. At first, she thought it was a glint of dew on a spiderweb. But as she stooped down, the 'web' turned out to be a rough, uncut diamond, its edges sparkling in the morning sun.
Park officials later confirmed it was a 2.3-carat white diamond, one of the largest diamonds found there in 2025. The find left Fox overwhelmed, laughing, crying, and amazement all at once.
More Than Just a Gem
She decided to call the stone the 'Fox-Ballou Diamond,' combining her last name with her partner's. The plan is to cut and polish it before setting it into her engagement ring.
For Fox, the diamond's significance is less about market price and more about the journey it represents. 'You can't buy the experience of finding it,' she told her friends afterward, describing that the process of searching for weeks and not giving up felt symbolic of the work needed to build a strong marriage.
The Park's Diamond-Hunting Culture
Crater of Diamonds attracts treasure seekers globally. Some bring elaborate sifting equipment; others simply walk and hope for a flash of sunlight on stone by scanning the ground. Weather plays a big role diamonds are often easiest to spot after rain clears away the surface dirt.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the Crater of Diamonds State Park?
A1. A public park in Arkansas where visitors can search for natural diamonds and keep what they discovered.
Q2. Is there an entry fee for the park?
A2. Yes, but it's generally modest compared to the experience provided.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Woman strikes gold? No, she finds a 2.3-carat diamond after 3-week hunt in US park
A Manhattan woman's lifetime dream of wearing a self-found engagement diamond has come true after she discovered a dazzling 2.3-carat gem herself during a trip to Arkansas. 31-year-old Micherre Fox , had been telling friends for years about her wish for something unique for her engagement especially, a diamond she could discover herself. While most of the couples opt for jewelry store displays, she imagined traveling to a natural diamond site, digging the stone herself, and having it crafted into her ring. Her partner embraced the wish, agreeing to put any proposal on hold until she could complete her mission. After completing graduate school this summer, Fox finally set aside the time to pursue it. The Journey to Arkansas Fox traveled to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, a 37-acre volcanic field, where visitors are allowed to hunt for natural diamonds and keep whatever they find. The park, famous for its 'finders keepers' policy, has produced thousands of gems since it opened to the public in 1972. Fox dedicated nearly three weeks to the search, coming each morning and combing the dusty, sunbaked ground for anything that caught the light. She worked methodically, scanning plowed rows and shallow gullies where rain often exposes hidden diamonds. Live Events The Moment of Discovery On her final day in the park, Fox was walking near an area known as the West Drain when a sudden glimmer flashed in the corner of her vision. At first, she thought it was a glint of dew on a spiderweb. But as she stooped down, the 'web' turned out to be a rough, uncut diamond, its edges sparkling in the morning sun. Park officials later confirmed it was a 2.3-carat white diamond, one of the largest diamonds found there in 2025. The find left Fox overwhelmed, laughing, crying, and amazement all at once. More Than Just a Gem She decided to call the stone the 'Fox-Ballou Diamond,' combining her last name with her partner's. The plan is to cut and polish it before setting it into her engagement ring. For Fox, the diamond's significance is less about market price and more about the journey it represents. 'You can't buy the experience of finding it,' she told her friends afterward, describing that the process of searching for weeks and not giving up felt symbolic of the work needed to build a strong marriage. The Park's Diamond-Hunting Culture Crater of Diamonds attracts treasure seekers globally. Some bring elaborate sifting equipment; others simply walk and hope for a flash of sunlight on stone by scanning the ground. Weather plays a big role diamonds are often easiest to spot after rain clears away the surface dirt. FAQs: Q1. What is the Crater of Diamonds State Park? A1. A public park in Arkansas where visitors can search for natural diamonds and keep what they discovered. Q2. Is there an entry fee for the park? A2. Yes, but it's generally modest compared to the experience provided.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
‘Most diamond-y diamond': NY woman finds 2.3 carat diamond at Arkansas park; says will use it as engagement ring
Image: Arkansas State Parks A New York woman discovered a 2.3-carat diamond at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park, which she plans to use in her engagement ring. Micherre Fox, 31, reportedly traveled from New York to Arkansas for her engagement ring, according to the Arkansas State Parks. She spent roughly a month at the Park, one of the few public diamond sites where visitors can hunt for gems themselves. "Having never seen an actual diamond in my hands, I didn't know for sure, but it was the most 'diamond-y diamond' I had seen,' Fox was quoted as saying by the park service, reported NBC News. The diamond is said to be of 2.30 carats and is colourless with a round shape. It is reportedly the third-largest diamond found in the park this year. "I was willing to go anywhere in the world to make that happen," Fox said as quoted by the state park. "I researched, and it turned out that the only place in the world to do it was right in our backyard, in Arkansas!" he added. Fox arrived at the park on July 8 and spent almost every day of her three-week visit searching for diamonds. On her last day of search, July 29, she noticed a sparkle in the park's 37.5-acre search area. Initially mistaking it for a dew-covered spiderweb, she realized the shine persisted and picked up the gem. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3BHK Transformation Possible for ₹4.5 Lakh? HomeLane Get Quote The staff at the Diamond Discovery Center then confirmed it was a diamond. "After all the research, there's luck and there's hard work," Fox said, as per ABC News. "When you are literally picking up the dirt in your hands, no amount of research can do that for you; no amount of education can take you all the way. It was daunting!" Over 350 diamonds have been discovered at the park so far this year, including Fox's gem, which she named the Fox-Ballou Diamond after her and her partner's surname. Crater of Diamonds State Park sits atop the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, giving visitors the chance to find rocks, minerals, and gemstones, the park said, as quoted by USA Today. The largest ever diamond found at the property was in 1924, called the 'Uncle Sam,' which is part of the Smithsonian's mineral and gem collection at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Disney World's trip should never be unplanned: Here's what Florida man's $1000 expenses for 1-day tour teaches us
Your bank won't be happy with your last-minute Disney World plans! A Florida dad learnt this the hard way. Craig Stowell , a YouTuber from West Palm Beach in Florida, took his family to Disney World during Easter weekend—costing him $1391.91 for a single day. Despite being a resident of Florida and eligible for discounts, the father-of-three said the expense felt more like the price of a first car than that of a fun-day out. The majority of the cost—$974—went towards a single-day ticket for him, his wife, and the three kids, which includes a child under 10. The additional expenses included nearly $350 for food and drinks and $30 for parking. As per a USA Today report, the prices were higher because of the holiday weekend surcharge, which added to the shock of the family. Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her heart is not functioning properly; please help her! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Florida man felt like cash cow at Disney World In a viral TikTok video and later during an appearance on Fox & Friends , Craig expressed his frustration over the value of experience. The attractions were crowded and had longer wait times, he noted. The YouTuber added that the cost of optional upgrades like Lightning Lane passes (which cost approximately $400) made him question the return on investment. He remarked that if one derives average cost per ride, the excursion was not worth it. As per him, Disney is targeting vacationers who plan multi-day visits over local families seeking shorter trips. Live Events Also Read : Max gets rebranded as HBO Max: Does Warner Bros. Discovery's latest decision affect subscribers? Disney World's holiday pricing hikes confirmed for Memorial Day weekend Reportedly, Disney has also confirmed that the ticket prices will again surge during the Memorial Day weekend. The ticket prices for May 24 will likely range from $159 to $184, depending on the park. Families like Stowell's will likely have to pay around $947.87 just for entry, excluding the food, parking, or upgrade costs. How to save on Disney World trips Craig advised others to avoid holiday weekends and plan their Disney World trips in advance instead. Meanwhile, Florida residents can benefit from deals like Summer Magic Ticket, which brings down the cost to $60. The non-residents, too, can access discounts through limited-time offers like the Three-day, Three-park Ticket, excluding Magic Kingdom. However, Stowell expressed that Disney's pricing is shifting away from affordability. He said that the park wants tourists to visit for multiple days and spend big. His viral video resonated with families that are facing similar struggles. This sparked discussion over accessibility and pricing fairness of major parks like Disney World. Also Read : Lorde presale, tickets: Ultrasound World Tour schedule, pre-sale begins today; here's how to secure tickets at lowest rates FAQs Why are Disney ticket prices more expensive on holidays such as Memorial Day or Easter? Disney raises prices on tickets during holidays through dynamic pricing based on demand, resulting in higher fees for entry into the parks. What are some ways families can save money on a Disney World trip? Early planning and steering clear of peak weekend days can really save money. Residents of Florida are able to get discounted multi-day tickets, and non-residents can take advantage of one-time offers such as the 3-Day, 3-Park ticket. Forgoing additions such as alcoholic beverages and Lightning Lane passes further saves money.
