> At a Glance
> – James Ward found a 2.09-carat brown diamond at Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park on Dec. 30
> – The family trip started after 7-year-old Austin asked Siri where to mine crystals
> – The gem is about the size of a corn kernel with a dark yellowish-brown hue
> – Why it matters: Visitors have uncovered 35,000+ diamonds since 1972, proving treasure hunts still strike gold
A chilly December morning turned life-changing for James Ward when he plucked a 2.09-carat brown diamond from an Arkansas search field-right where Siri told his family to look.
The Siri-Sparked Quest
While at home in Texas, Austin Ward, 7, begged to hunt crystals. His parents asked Siri for nearby mines and landed on Crater of Diamonds State Park, six hours away in Murfreesboro.
The Wards arrived Dec. 29, braved four freezing hours, and nearly quit. Only their 9-year-old Adrian insisted on returning the next day.
A Freezing Find
On Dec. 30, after two more hours of digging, James finger-sifted dirt and spotted a metallic glint.
> “I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was different,” he said.
The park’s Diamond Discovery Center confirmed the stone is a genuine 2.09-carat diamond-one of five surface finds that December.
| 2025 Crater Stats | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Diamonds registered | 540 |
| Visitor finds since 1972 | 35,000+ |
Naming the Prize
James christened the stone the “Ward Diamond” and hasn’t decided whether to sell or keep it.
> “You can stumble upon a diamond in any place or time. Don’t give up on the first day!” he advised future visitors.
Elizabeth Ward added, “Listen to your kids about their dreams!”
Key Takeaways
- Ask Siri-you might strike 2.09 carats of luck
- Persistence pays: the family almost left empty-handed
- Crater of Diamonds State Park remains one of the world’s only public diamond sites
One boy’s crystal wish turned into a family heirloom and a sparkling reminder that fortune favors the cold but determined.
