Newly unveiled 555-carat black diamond could have "interstellar origins"
An extremely rare black diamond was unveiled in Dubai on Monday, and it weighs a shocking 555.55 carats.
Sotheby’s, one of the world’s largest art, jewelry, and collectible auctioneers, announced on January 17 that the one-of-a-kind diamond — named “The Enigma” — will be up for sale next month.
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The black diamond, also known as a carbonado, was unveiled at their auction event in Dubai, where they claimed it has interstellar origins.
What is a black diamond?
A 2007 report by the National Science Foundation says scientists have strong evidence to suggest black diamonds have outer-space origins.
“The presence of hydrogen in the carbonado diamonds indicates an origin in a hydrogen-rich interstellar space,” said Professor Stephen Haggerty of Florida International University in his paper about the unearthly gems.
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Haggerty’s research suggests that the diamonds may have formed during supernova explosions and could have been as enormous as a kilometre in diameter when they first arrived on the planet.
The Enigma
Available for viewings in Dubai until January 20, The Enigma will make its way to Los Angeles for a showing before flying to the UK to dazzle London.
The mysterious gem will be up for sale online via its own dedicated auction from February 3-9 and will be “offered without reserve with the option to purchase with cryptocurrency,” Sotheby’s says.
“The average cost of a black diamond depends on whether it is a heat-treated natural diamond or an untreated natural diamond,” reports jewelry company diamondstuds.com. “Treated black diamonds have an average cost of US$300 per carat, while untreated black diamonds have an average cost of US$3,000 per carat.”
With that estimate in mind, The Enigma could cost at least US$1.67 million.