Dog finds diamond worth over $18,000


Last summer, London diamond retailer 77 Diamonds launched a high-profile advertising campaign that involved attaching a box containing a 1.14 carat diamond worth over $18,000 to a weather balloon. The balloon was supposed to pop when it reached 100,000 feet and descend back to earth, where the company was planning on leading a treasure hunt via social media. The GPS unit attached to the package containing the diamond stopped working on the descent, and after an initial search, the diamond was believed to be lost forever.

But an unexpected happy ending couldn’t have had better timing.

Just before Christmas, Rosie the springer spaniel sniffed out the prized package underneath some hedges while on a walk with owner Allan Bell, 75, and Bell’s other dog, Dylan. The diamond was found along a country road in the village of Brattleby, Lincolnshire, about 10 miles from the original search site.

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The retired trucker and his wife, Pat Bell, are celebrating their silver anniversary. They plan on selling the diamond and going on a Mediterranean cruise, according to The Daily Mail.

Allan said both dogs would get steaks for leading him to the special package.

The company is thrilled someone finally found the diamond.