Auction house Sotheby’s Dubai has unveiled a diamond that’s literally from out of this world.

Sotheby’s calls the 555.55-carat black diamond — believed to have come from outer space — “The Enigma.” The rare gem was shown off on Monday to journalists 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 ($6.8 million). The auction house plans to accept cryptocurrency as a possible payment as well.

Sophie Stevens, a jewelry specialist at Sotheby’s Dubai, told The Associated Press that the number five bears an importance 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 vapor 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.

Share:
More In Culture
Understanding Workplace Burnout
Jessi Gold, director of wellness, engagement, and outreach in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, joins Cheddar News to discuss workplace burnout and what signs to look out for.
John Mulaney Inducted Into SNL’s 'Five-Timers Club'
Former Saturday Night Live writer John Mulaney hosted the show for the fifth time, joining the club of “five-timers” that includes Steve Martin, Paul Rudd, Candice Bergin, and Tina Fey. The exclusive members joined together in a sketch to celebrate.
Watch Tom Holland, Jamie Foxx Check Out Crazy Rides on 'Million Dollar Wheels'
The new show "Million Dollar Wheels" takes Discovery+ viewers behind the scenes of what it takes to be a luxury car dealer to the stars. The star, CEO, and founder of Wires Only, a full-service luxury automotive, aviation, and entertainment company, joined Cheddar News to talk about what to expect from the series. "The thing about this show is we've got crazy deals with the craziest clients. I'm talking Kim Kardashian, Tom Holland, Jamie Foxx, the list goes on. And they're the craziest requests you could ever imagine," he said. "And me and my team are trying to make the impossible possible, running all over the place, doing whatever it takes to close these deals."
Tom Holland Continues His Box Office Win Streak
Actor Tom Holland has been dominating the movie scene lately with two of the top three films in the box office this past month. The star drew in the ticket sales with his roles in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "Uncharted."
African American History Museum Celebrates Black History In-House and Online
The National Museum of African American History and Culture marked its fifth anniversary in Washington, DC, and it celebrated Black History Month with a contemporary exhibit on social justice called "Reckoning" as well as unveiling a digital option for online visitors. "When we launched the searchable museum, which is a digital humanities platform, it's an opportunity for our audience to experience the museum itself and not just through the exhibitions, but through different experiences that kind of illuminate the exhibitions' stories," said curator Mary Elliot. Cheddar's Arielle Hixson reports.
Load More