A 555.5-Carat Black Diamond From Space is Going On Sale
An ultra-rare 555.55-carat black diamond will go on sale in February for US$6.8 million.
Sotheby’s Dubai has unveiled an extremely unique diamond, a 555.5-carat black diamond. This rare gemstone has been dubbed, “The Enigma” and is believed to have been from outer space and created either from a meteoric impact, or a “diamond-bearing” asteroid that collided with Earth.
According to Sotheby’s a natural black diamond of this size is an extremely rare occurrence and is expected to sell for at least US$6.8 million. It will be showcased in Dubai and Los Angeles before going under the hammer in February.
Black diamonds are also known as Carbonado diamonds, and can be dated to between 2.6 to 3.8 billion years ago and have small amounts of nitrogen and hydrogen — elements found in outer space. They also contain osbornite, a mineral present in meteorites.
Nikita Binani, a jewellery specialist at Sotheby’s in London, called the diamond a natural phenomenon.
“Its sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the rarest, billion-year-old cosmic wonders known to humankind,” she said in a press release.
The shape of the diamond is inspired by the Middle Eastern palm symbol of the Hamsa, a sign of protection and also means five in Arabic. The theme of five runs throughout the stone, according to Sotheby’s. In addition to its 555.55 carats, it also contains exactly 55 facets.
The diamond will be open for bidding online from February 3 to 9 and accepts cryptocurrency as payment.
Other rare gemstones unearthed include the “Queen of Asia” in Sri Lanka, a 683-pound blue sapphire. It is one of the rarest gems in the world and the Gemological Institute of Ratnapura plans to recruit a gem valuer soon to determine the price of the rock.
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