A 555.5-Carat Black Diamond of Extraterrestrial Origin is Set to be Auctioned

A highly uncommon 555.55-carat black diamond will be available for purchase in February for a price of US$6.8 million.

Image: Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s Dubai has revealed a remarkably rare 555.5-carat black diamond. This uncommon gemstone is referred to as "The Enigma" and is said to originate from deep space, formed either by a meteoric impact or from a collision with a diamond-bearing asteroid.

Sotheby’s asserts that a natural black diamond of this magnitude is exceedingly rare and is anticipated to fetch a minimum of US$6.8 million. It will be exhibited in Dubai and Los Angeles prior to being auctioned in February.

Black diamonds, or Carbonado diamonds, are dated to approximately 2.6 to 3.8 billion years ago and contain trace amounts of nitrogen and hydrogen, components present in outer space. They also comprise osbornite, a mineral found in meteorites.

Nikita Binani, a jewellery expert at Sotheby’s in London, described the diamond as a natural phenomena.

“Its sale signifies a unique opportunity to obtain one of the rarest cosmic marvels, estimated to be a billion years old, known to humanity,” she stated in a news release.

Image: Sotheby’s

The diamond's shape is derived from the Middle Eastern palm symbol known as the Hamsa, which signifies protection and represents the number five in Arabic. Sotheby’s asserts that the motif of five is pervasive throughout the stone. In addition to its 555.55 carats, it possesses precisely 55 facets.

The diamond will be available for online auction from February 3 to 9 and will accept cryptocurrencies as payment.

Other remarkable gemstones discovered include the “Queen of Asia,” a 683-pound blue sapphire from Sri Lanka. It is among the rarest gemstones globally, and the Gemological Institute of Ratnapura intends to hire a gem evaluator shortly to assess the rock's value.