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.
Candace Parker grew up playing video games and now she’ll be the first female basketball player on the cover of one.
Cheddar's Michelle Castillo spoke with Rink Havoc, a 19-person roller squad that meets several times a week in New Jersey to learn more about how the activity connected the Black community.
Amazon founder and soon-to-be-space traveler Jeff Bezos is donating $200 million to the Smithsonian Institution to boost its National Air and Space Museum.
Wildfires, climate change, drug ODs and Delta. The news is not all depressing, though: Britney Spears got a big win in her conservatorship saga!
Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, and Ron Wyden unveiled the draft of a historic cannabis decriminalization bill on Wednesday, more than five months after originally announcing it.
After 24 years of heartache and searching, a Chinese couple was reunited with their son who was abducted as a toddler outside their front gate.
France calls on citizens to get vaccinated to save the economy, Biden blasts Republicans on voting restrictions and why used cars are so expensive right now.
“The Crown” tied with “The Mandalorian” for the most Emmy nominations Tuesday, 24 each, but the Marvel universe also got bragging rights with runner-up “WandaVision.”
Officials in Minnesota say they’re finding more giant goldfish in waterways, prompting a plea to citizens to stop illegally dumping their unwanted fish into ponds and lakes.
Jill and Carlo discuss the latest setback for the Johnson & Johnson shot as Pfizer asks for booster approval. What's behind the turmoil in Cuba and the role of the U.S. embargo. Plus, it's Shohei Ohtani night at the MLB All-Star Game.
