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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
