Don’t Give Up! Texas Family Decides to Stay One More Day, Finds Arkansas Gem

A normal family trip after Christmas turned into something much bigger for a Texas family when they found a big diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

James Ward, a 41-year-old high school teacher from Cypress, Texas, uncovered a 2.09-carat brown diamond while he and his family were visiting the park.

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The sweet thing is that the whole idea for the trip came from his kids. In mid-December, they came up to their mom, wondering where they could mine for crystals. She asked Suri where the closest place to mine crystals was located, and that is when they came across information about Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds.

James Ward realized it was only about 6 hours from their home in Texas, so he decided to pack up the family, his wife, Elizabeth, and their two sons, Adrian (9), and Austin (7), and try their luck at finding a diamond.

Weathering the Cold Temperatures Pays Off

They arrived on Monday, December 29, and spent several hours searching in the cold temperatures. They considered heading home but ultimately chose to stay one more day.

READ MORE: Governor Abbott Recognizes Texarkana as Tourism-Friendly City

That decision paid off. While searching near the West Drain area, James spotted something shiny in the dirt.

I knew it was different than everything else I’d found.

The Ward Diamond

Park staff at the Diamond Discovery Center confirmed the find. It was a 2.09-carat diamond, roughly the size of a kernel of corn. Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox described the gem as a dark yellowish-brown diamond with a metallic luster typical of Crater of Diamonds finds.

The family named the gem the Ward Diamond. As for what comes next, Ward says they’re keeping their options open and will wait to see how much it's worth.

A Memory Worth More Than a Gem

Beyond the diamond itself, the family was left with a story of persistence. Ward said not to give up on the first day. Elizabeth advised,

Listen to your kids about their dreams and what they want to do! 

The Ward Diamond was one of five diamonds registered at the park in December.