An outer space diamond lands in Dubai

DUBAI: The auction house Sotheby’s Dubai has revealed a diamond that’s literally not from this world. The auction house called the 555.55-carat black diamond — believed to have come from outer space — “The Enigma.” The black diamond was shown off recently as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles before it is due to be auctioned off in February in London.

Sotheby’s expects the diamond to be sold for at least 5 million British pounds (AED 25 million). The auction house plans to accept cryptocurrency as a possible payment as well.

Sophie Stevens, a jewellery specialist at Sotheby’s Dubai said that the number five bears an important significance to the diamond, which has 55 facets as well.

“The shape of the diamond is based on the Middle-Eastern palm symbol of the Khamsa, which stands for strength and it stands for protection,” she said. Khamsa in Arabic means five.

“So there’s a nice theme of the number five running throughout the diamond,” she added.

Stevens also said the black diamond is likely from outer space.

“With the carbonado diamonds, we believe that they were formed through extraterrestrial origins, with meteorites colliding with the Earth and either forming chemical vapour disposition or indeed coming from the meteorites themselves,” she said.

Black diamonds, also known as carbonado, are extremely rare and are found naturally only in Brazil and Central Africa. The cosmic origin theory is based on their carbon isotopes and high hydrogen content.

Source: Agencies