Remarkable Yellow Diamond Discovery by Gem Hunter
A gem enthusiast, Jack Pearadin, recently shared details about his extraordinary find—a rare yellow diamond he discovered earlier this year. Pearadin, who serves in the Navy reserves, found the gem at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.
The striking 6.03-carat diamond, which Pearadin affectionately named the “American Dream,” boasts a vivid golden-yellow hue and an unusual almost square shape. Although news of his discovery broke a few months ago, Pearadin has now elaborated on the experience in an interview with The Associated Press.
According to Arkansas state officials, Pearadin stumbled upon the diamond during a TikTok livestream on January 25 while sifting through a bucket of gravel he had collected with his friend, Michael Schumacher, in December. Interestingly, Schumacher was not present during the livestream.
The search took place shortly after a winter storm coated the park area with an inch of ice, which made washing and sorting through the gravel quite challenging. “I was about eight feet away when, for some reason, I turned back and saw [the gem] glowing from the center of the pile,” Pearadin recounted. “It was so large that I had to go almost to the bottom of the pile to extract it. I was shaking!”
This thrilling moment was captured live on TikTok. “Oh my God! Oh my God!” Pearadin exclaimed during the stream, clearly ecstatic. “We got a big one!”
Collecting opinions from experts, Pearadin mentioned that some collectors suggested the diamond’s worth could reach up to $1 million. Nevertheless, park officials previously indicated that they aren’t trained to evaluate or appraise diamonds, focusing instead on assisting visitors in identifying and registering their finds.
Anyone interested in assessing diamonds is advised to consult a certified gemologist, who has the necessary expertise. Laura Stanley, a certified appraiser based in Little Rock, expressed that a high-quality 6-carat yellow diamond from the park might sell for approximately $250,000. “They are their own entity,” she remarked, emphasizing the unique nature of gems found there.
Pearadin, who has been hunting for diamonds at the park since 2013 and even relocated to Murfreesboro to pursue his passion, said he loves this particular find immensely. He has typically sold other diamonds he found online but plans to share the profits from the “American Dream” with Schumacher. His intentions are to use the earnings to open a crystal mine.
Pearadin’s discovery is among several noteworthy finds at Crater of Diamonds State Park this year. Just recently, a woman from Pennsylvania found a 3.09-carat diamond shortly after enduring personal loss.
On August 29, it was reported that a Tennessee grandfather uncovered a 2.29-carat yellow diamond during his visit to the park. Pearadin’s remarkable find is yet another testament to the unique treasures waiting to be discovered at this one-of-a-kind location.
