Monday, 17 Jan 2022
A picture taken on January 17, 2022 shows ‘The Enigma’, a 555.55 carat black diamond, at Sotheby’s in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. — AFP pic
DUBAI, Jan 17 — The world’s largest known cut diamond went on public display for the first time today ahead of its sale, when it is expected to reach US$5 million (RM20 million).
The Enigma, the name of the rare black carbanado diamond, was put on display in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
The diamond is believed to have been created when a meteorite or an asteroid hit the Earth more than 2.6 billion years ago, according to Sotheby’s auction house jewellery specialist Sophie Stevens.
One of the most difficult substances to cut, the 555.55-carat diamond has never been shown by its unnamed owner of the past 20 years, but experts turned it into a 55-face jewel.
DUBAI, Jan 17 — The world’s largest known cut diamond went on public display for the first time today ahead of its sale, when it is expected to reach US$5 million (RM20 million).
The Enigma, the name of the rare black carbanado diamond, was put on display in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
The diamond is believed to have been created when a meteorite or an asteroid hit the Earth more than 2.6 billion years ago, according to Sotheby’s auction house jewellery specialist Sophie Stevens.
One of the most difficult substances to cut, the 555.55-carat diamond has never been shown by its unnamed owner of the past 20 years, but experts turned it into a 55-face jewel.
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.
“It is very different,” said Stevens of the jewel, which holds a Guinness World Record as the largest cut diamond.
After being on show in Dubai the Enigma will also be taken to Los Angeles and London, before a seven day online auction starts on February 3.
What Sotheby’s called a “cosmic wonder” could very well go to a bitcoin bidder, Stevens said.
“We are accepting cryptocurrency for the diamond, which we have done for other important stones,” she said.
Last year in Hong Kong, the Key 10138 diamond sold for US$12.3 million which was paid in cryptocurrency. — AFP
Carbonado
- Crystal system: Isometric-hexoctahedral (cubic )
- Formula mass: 12.01u
- Color: Typically black, can be grey, various shades of green and brown sometimes mottled.
- Crystal habit: Polycrystalline
- Fracture: Irregular torn surfaces
- Mohs scale hardness: 10
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