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.
Officials say 24 people were killed when an elevated section of Mexico City's metro collapsed as a train was traveling along it.
The reopenings are coming in fast and furious now, and the FDA is prepping to greenlight the vaccine for adolescents (Good!). Vaccine hesitancy is still a problem (Bad!). Plus, why everything is so expensive right now, and a fine-dining powerhouse goes vegan.
Cheddar's Michelle Castillo delves into her Filipino cultural roots exploring the ways foodstuffs connect generations of immigrants in the U.S.
Bill and Melinda Gates say they're divorcing. The Microsoft co-founder and his wife, who launched the world’s largest charitable foundation, said they would continue to work together at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Jon M. Chu, director of 'Crazy Rich Asians,' discussed the issues of diversity and AAPI representation in Hollywood with Cheddar.
Air travel continues to recover from the pandemic, although it's still not close to normal.
Jill and Carlo talk about the good (100 million Americans vaccinated!) and the bad (India) in the pandemic. Plus, the question of how to get workers back to the office, Elon Musk prepping for a controversial SNL gig, and the best celebrity couple of the 2000s seen hanging out again.
Cheddar correspondent Chloe Aiello went library-hopping to check out the latest programming, including whispering libraries and outdoor reading rooms.
Cheddar’s Michelle Castillo stopped by a Convene location in New York, which provides flexible offices, events and meeting spaces, to see what the future of work may hold.
Catherine Carlson, a senior vice president with the Eagles, discussed the NFL team's partnership with LifeBrand, a brand protection firm specializing in social media health checks.
