Auction house Sotheby’s Dubai has revealed one-of-a-kind rare black diamond ‘The Enigma’ to the public. The 555.55-carat black diamond — believed to have come from outer space was shown off as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles.
The Guinness World Record-breaking rare black diamond will be on view at the Dubai Diamond Exchange, before making its way to Los Angeles and London, where it will be opened to bidding online from February 3 to 9.
Dating back to 2.6 to 3.8 billion years ago, Black diamonds, also known as ‘Carbonado diamonds’ is an extremely rare natural occurrence. They are said to have been formed from a meteoric impact or from a diamond-bearing asteroid that collided with Earth. It contains traces of nitrogen and hydrogen abundant in space, as well as osbornite, a mineral uniquely present in meteors.
“To have a natural faceted black diamond of this size is an extremely rare occurrence and its origins are shrouded in mystery – thought to have been created either from a meteoric impact or having emerged from a diamond-bearing asteroid that collided with Earth,” the auction house wrote.
The shape of the diamond is inspired by the Middle Eastern palm symbol of the Hamsa, a sign of protection, which means five in Arabic. In addition to its 555.55 carats, it also contains exactly 55 facets, or faces, shared Sotheby’s Dubai.
As the rare diamond goes for auction next month, Sotheby’s expects the diamond to be sold for at least 5 million British pounds (USD 6.8 million). The auction house also said that cryptocurrency will also be accepted as a mode of payment.