On Monday, the world’s largest known cut diamond was put on display for the first time in preparation for its sale. As per NDTV reports, the diamond is set to fetch at least $5 million during the auction. Dubbed as ‘Enigma’, the rare black carbonado diamond went on display in Dubai, UAE.
The diamond is said to have formed more than 2.6 billion years ago when an asteroid or meteoroid hit Earth. Sotheby’s (the firm which is hosting the auction) stated that the natural black colour of the diamond is extremely rare and its origins are still a mystery. Sotheby’s went on to say that the diamond could have come from a meteoric impact or a collision between Earth and a diamond-bearing asteroid.
'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
The diamond is said to have been the most difficult diamond to cut. The ‘Enigma’ has never been shown by its mysterious owner in the past 20 years. However, experts could cut and convert the raw diamond into a beautiful 55-face gemstone.
The shape of the diamond is inspired by the Middle Eastern palm-shaped symbol of protection and power called the Hamsa. The symbol is also associated with the sacred number 5 in Islam.
The diamond will be travelling to two more cities before it opens for auction on February 3. The gemstone is set to travel to Los Angeles and London after being on display in Dubai. According to reports of CoinDesk, Sotheby’s will also be accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum or USDC as a form of payment for the Enigma.
References: The Free Press Journal and CoinDesk
