The world’s largest cut diamond is going to be auctioned off. The enigmatic gem, dubbed “The Enigma,” is a billion-year-old Fancy Black diamond thought to have come from space. The stone is a carbonado black diamond, according to the auction house, which are highly rare, occur naturally, and typically date from 2.6 to 3.8 billion years old. It contains nitrogen and hydrogen, as well as osbornite, a mineral commonly found in meteorites, implying an extraterrestrial connection.
However, the nature of that relationship is unknown. Meteorite diamonds are typically nano-sized extraterrestrial diamonds. This diamond is far from being nano. It’s about the size of a bar of soap, weighing 555.55 carats (111.11 grams). Because diamonds are comprised of carbon, they form as carbon atoms when subjected to extreme heat and pressure. They form a link and begin to create crystals.
The Enigma could have developed as a result of an asteroid colliding with our planet, or meteoritic particles could have made it through the intense heat and pressure of natural diamond production. Perhaps whoever purchases it will be curious enough to find out.
The natural faceted diamond has exactly 55 facets polished into it. Cutting one of the world’s hardest stones took several years, and it was completed in 2004. It was awarded the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest cut diamond in 2006. There hasn’t been any news regarding this gem since then.
It has never been on the market or shown to the general public. Sotheby’s is now auctioning it, and it will be on display in Dubai, Los Angeles, and London. The diamond will be auctioned “without reserve” — the highest bidder will win, regardless of the bid amount or the diamond’s value — although the gem is estimated to fetch more than $6 million, according to BBC News.
Surprisingly, Sotheby’s has stated that cryptocurrencies will be accepted as payment, signaling a shift in the way tangible high-value things are purchased. The unusual design is based on the Hamsa, a palm-shaped symbol found in Middle Eastern and North African countries that is frequently employed as a symbol of protection from evil as well as power and strength.
