Robert Besser
21 Jan 2022, 02:37 GMT+10
DUBAI, UAE: Auction house Sotheby's Dubai will sell a black 555.55-carat diamond believed to be from outer space, known as "The Enigma," in London in February.
In an interview with FOX Business, Nikita Binani, jewelry specialist for Sotheby's and the head of sale for "The Enigma," said the diamond is expected to sell for between $4 million and $6.8 million, and the auction house will also be accepting cryptocurrency as a means of payment.
Black diamonds, also known as carbonado, are believed to be from outer space, because they are found closer to the Earth's surface than other diamonds and their chemical makeup, most notably the presence of a mineral called osbornite, which is "uniquely found in meteors," Binani said, as reported by Fox Business.
Black diamonds are only found in Brazil and Central Africa, but "The Enigma" is not just rare because of its origin, its journey has also been "exceptionally rare," Binani added, noting its current owner acquired it while it was still in its rough form, but it has been cut to 555.55 carats with exactly 55 sides, inspired by a Middle Eastern palm-shaped symbol called the Hamsa.
The diamond's size and cut also make it "extremely rare and unique," because most black diamonds this large are "almost always" in their rough form, she said, noting its has a high luster and brilliance, which is also rare for a black diamond, as they usually "feel opaque and sort of dull."
Before arriving in London in February for the auction, the diamond is touring Dubai and Los Angeles.
Get a daily dose of San Jose Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Jose Sun.
More InformationThe Oakland Athletics are coming off their first series win in two weeks as they return to the East Bay ...
The only person capable of slowing down Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts at the moment might be his ...
Chicago White Sox designated hitter Jake Burger has split the season between the major leagues and minor leagues, but he ...
Shohei Ohtani will be on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays ...
Two hot hitters, the Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper and the Braves' Dansby Swanson, will be in the spotlight when the ...
The Tampa Bay Rays, coming off a two-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, are set for a showdown with the ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Shares across Asia fell on Thursday, with the exception of the Chinese mainland market where modest ...
SANTIAGO, Chile: Easter Island, one of Chile's most important tourist attractions, will reopen to visitors on August 1, the government ...
NEW DEHLI, India: In a move expected to end the country's exports of the raw materials needed to manufacture steel, ...
NEW YORK, New York - The release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's monetary meeting earlier this month surprisingly ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: A leading U.S. official has said that even if Taiwan is excluded from President Joe Biden's Asian economic ...
MOSCOW, Russia: In the latest escalation of an energy payment dispute with Western nations, Russia's Gazprom has halted gas exports ...