<p>'The Enigma', world largest cut black diamond fetched GBP 3.16 million ($4.3 million, 3.8 million euros) in an auction held in London on Wednesday. The diamond is 555 carats.</p>

<p>It is believed that the rare black diamond, or carbanado was formed when a meteorite or an asteroid hit Earth more than billion years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 555.55 carat, 55-faced diamond reached £3.16 million, excluding the buyer's premium, at an online sale held by London's renowned Sotheby's auction house.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Carbonados are usually found close to the Earth's surface, suggesting extraterrestrial origins.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is thought that this specific type of black diamond was created either from meteoric impacts producing natural chemical vapour deposition or an extraterrestrial origin -- from supernovae explosions that formed diamond-bearing asteroids which ultimately collided with the Earth," said the auction house.</p>

<p>One of the most difficult substances to cut, the diamond had never previously been shown by its unnamed owner of the past 20 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Experts took three years turning the rough diamond into a 55-face jewel and it recently went on show in Dubai, Los Angeles and London.</p>

<p>Its shape was inspired by the Middle East palm-shaped symbol of power and protection, the Hamsa, which is also associated with the number five.</p>

<p>"The Enigma's price did not quite reach intergalactic levels. But what cannot be denied is that the Enigma is a diamond with unparallelled bragging rights," said Tobias Kormind, managing director of Europe's largest online jeweller, the Mayfair.</p>

<p>"The size, shape and source of the Enigma diamond make it groundbreaking and amazing," he added. "Most diamonds are cut into one of 10 popular shapes but the Enigma's form resembles a hand."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Enigma is not a gem quality diamond, and carbonados are not normally used in jewellery or sold at auction, but have grown in popularity recently.</p>

<p>They are normally used in industrial drilling due to their extraordinary hardness.</p>

<p>Sotheby's called the diamond a "cosmic wonder" ahead of the sale, which also accepted crypto-currency bids.</p>

<p>Last year in Hong Kong, the Key 10138 diamond sold for 12.3 million dollars, which was paid in crypto-currency.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


'The Enigma', world largest cut black diamond fetched GBP 3.16 million ($4.3 million, 3.8 million euros) in an auction held in London on Wednesday. The diamond is 555 carats.

'The Enigma', world largest cut black diamond fetched GBP 3.16 million ($4.3 million, 3.8 million euros) in an auction held in London on Wednesday. The diamond is 555 carats. It is believed that the rare black diamond, or carbanado was formed when a meteorite or an asteroid hit Earth more than billion years ago. The 555.55 carat, 55-faced diamond reached £3.16 million, excluding the buyer's premium, at an online sale held by London's renowned Sotheby's auction house. Carbonados are usually found close to the Earth's surface, suggesting extraterrestrial origins. "It is thought that this specific type of black diamond was created either from meteoric impacts producing natural chemical vapour deposition or an extraterrestrial origin -- from supernovae explosions that formed diamond-bearing asteroids which ultimately collided with the Earth," said the auction house. One of the most difficult substances to cut, the diamond had never previously been shown by its unnamed owner of the past 20 years. Experts took three years turning the rough diamond into a 55-face jewel and it recently went on show in Dubai, Los Angeles and London. Its shape was inspired by the Middle East palm-shaped symbol of power and protection, the Hamsa, which is also associated with the number five. "The Enigma's price did not quite reach intergalactic levels. But what cannot be denied is that the Enigma is a diamond with unparallelled bragging rights," said Tobias Kormind, managing director of Europe's largest online jeweller, the Mayfair. "The size, shape and source of the Enigma diamond make it groundbreaking and amazing," he added. "Most diamonds are cut into one of 10 popular shapes but the Enigma's form resembles a hand." The Enigma is not a gem quality diamond, and carbonados are not normally used in jewellery or sold at auction, but have grown in popularity recently. They are normally used in industrial drilling due to their extraordinary hardness. Sotheby's called the diamond a "cosmic wonder" ahead of the sale, which also accepted crypto-currency bids. Last year in Hong Kong, the Key 10138 diamond sold for 12.3 million dollars, which was paid in crypto-currency. (With inputs from agencies)

Largest ever black diamond fetches 4.3 million in Sotheby auction

A black diamond weighing a staggering 555.55 carats is going up for auction at Sotheby's and living up to its name 'The Enigma'.

Mystery diamond: black diamond, possibly from space, goes up for auction

<p>Believed to have come from outer space, a 555.55-carat black diamond called ‘The Enigma’ has been unveiled in Dubai by auction house Sotheby's. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, the rare gem was shown off to scribes. It was done as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles before it goes under the hammer in February in London. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-uk-condemn-yemeni-drone-attack-on-abu-dhabi-that-killed-3-including-indians-445573" hreflang="en">US and UK condemn Yemeni drone attack on Abu Dhabi that killed 3, including Indians</a></strong></p>

<p>The diamond is expected to get sold for at least 5 million British pounds (USD 6.8 million). Sotheby's also plans to accept cryptocurrency as a possible way of payment as well. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">'The Enigma' - a treasure from interstellar space and the largest faceted diamond to ever come to auction is unveiled today in Sotheby's Dubai <a href="https://t.co/1nyUAsTe8j">https://t.co/1nyUAsTe8j</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SothebysDiamonds?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SothebysDiamonds</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blackdiamond?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blackdiamond</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SothebysJewels?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SothebysJewels</a> <a href="https://t.co/s713AVo14c">pic.twitter.com/s713AVo14c</a></p>
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<p>Sophie Stevens, jewellery specialist, Sotheby's Dubai, told The Associated Press that the number five bears an importance significance to the diamond as it also has 55 facets. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;From outer space? 555.55-carat black diamond ‘The Enigma’ set for auction</strong></p>

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<p>"The shape of the diamond is based on the Middle-Eastern palm symbol of the Khamsa, which stands for strength and it stands for protection," Stevens said. In Arabic, Khamsa means five. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/4500-year-old-highway-network-lined-with-ancient-tombs-found-in-saudi-arabia-445420" hreflang="en">4,500-year-old highway network lined with ancient tombs found in Saudi Arabia</a></strong></p>

<p>"So, there's a nice theme of the number five running throughout the diamond," Stevens added. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This black diamond is likely from outer space, she said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"With the carbonado diamonds, we believe that they were formed through extraterrestrial origins, with meteorites colliding with the Earth and either forming chemical vapor disposition or indeed coming from the meteorites themselves," she added. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Believed to have come from outer space, a 555.55-carat black diamond called ‘The Enigma’ has been unveiled in Dubai by auction house Sotheby's. On Monday, the rare gem was shown off to scribes.

Believed to have come from outer space, a 555.55-carat black diamond called ‘The Enigma’ has been unveiled in Dubai by auction house Sotheby's. On Monday, the rare gem was shown off to scribes. It was done as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles before it goes under the hammer in February in London. Also Read: US and UK condemn Yemeni drone attack on Abu Dhabi that killed 3, including Indians The diamond is expected to get sold for at least 5 million British pounds (USD 6.8 million). Sotheby's also plans to accept cryptocurrency as a possible way of payment as well. 'The Enigma' - a treasure from interstellar space and the largest faceted diamond to ever come to auction is unveiled today in Sotheby's Dubai https://t.co/1nyUAsTe8j #SothebysDiamonds #blackdiamond #SothebysJewels pic.twitter.com/s713AVo14c — Sotheby's (@Sothebys) January 17, 2022 × Sophie Stevens, jewellery specialist, Sotheby's Dubai, told The Associated Press that the number five bears an importance significance to the diamond as it also has 55 facets. Watch: From outer space? 555.55-carat black diamond ‘The Enigma’ set for auction × "The shape of the diamond is based on the Middle-Eastern palm symbol of the Khamsa, which stands for strength and it stands for protection," Stevens said. In Arabic, Khamsa means five. Also Read: 4,500-year-old highway network lined with ancient tombs found in Saudi Arabia "So, there's a nice theme of the number five running throughout the diamond," Stevens added. This black diamond is likely from outer space, she said. "With the carbonado diamonds, we believe that they were formed through extraterrestrial origins, with meteorites colliding with the Earth and either forming chemical vapor disposition or indeed coming from the meteorites themselves," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

555.55-carat black diamond ‘The Enigma’ unveiled in Dubai. Is it from outer space?

A 555.55-carat black diamond called ‘The Enigma’ has been unveiled in Dubai. Auction house Sotheby's displayed the rare gem to scribes as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles. The diamond, which is believed to have come from outer space, will be put up for auction in February in London.

From outer space? 555.55-carat black diamond ‘The Enigma’ set for auction

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