Frenchman Discovers Giant 7.46-Carat Diamond in 'Magical' Arkansas State Park, Names Stone After His Fiancée

During his first visit to Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park, a Frenchman unearthed a remarkable find.

While exploring the park's 37.5-acre search area recently, Julien Navas, of Paris, discovered a 7.46-carat diamond lying on the surface.

Navas, who was originally in the United States to witness the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur Rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida, embarked on a sightseeing trip to New Orleans with a friend. Along the way, he learned about the renowned Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, prompting him to include it in his U.S. itinerary, according to the Arkansas State Parks.

Armed with a ticket and a basic diamond hunting kit rented from the park on a wet and muddy day, Navas arrived at the park around 9 a.m.

Engaging in both digging and surface searching, he described the laborious process, stating, "That is back-breaking work, so by the afternoon, I was mainly looking on top of the ground for anything that stood out."

After several hours of persistent searching, Navas unearthed the 7.46-carat diamond, which he promptly took to the Diamond Discovery Center. Overjoyed by his special find, he expressed, "I am so happy! All I can think about is telling my fiancée what I found."

Characterized by a deep chocolate brown color, round shape resembling a marble, and a size akin to a gumdrop, the specimen stood out. Park Interpreter Sarah Reap shared her excitement, saying, "It is always so exciting to see first-time visitors find diamonds, especially large diamonds like this one!"

In adherence to the park's tradition, Navas named the diamond "Carine," after his fiancée.

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Reflecting on the experience, he described the Crater of Diamonds State Park as a "magical place" where the dream of finding a diamond can come true, labeling it a "real great adventure."

"Carine" holds significance as the largest diamond registered at the park since 2020. Notably, in 2024 alone, 11 diamonds have been recorded at the park. Knewz.com reported that another visitor discovered a nearly 5-carat gem within 10 minutes, potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, back in December 2023.

Crater of Diamonds State Park, situated in Murfreesboro near the southwest corner of Arkansas, allows visitors to explore the eroded surface of a volcanic crater for rocks, minerals and gemstones. With the unique privilege of keeping their findings, visitors regularly discover diamonds, with an average of one to two diamonds found each day.