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.
The storm's power is raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters say would be “unsurvivable” and capable of sinking entire communities on the Texas and Louisiana coast.
Bud Light is gearing up to promote its hard seltzer as the drink becomes more popular. Conor Mason, senior director of digital for Bud Light, and Todd Anderman, president of Doing Things Media, joined Cheddar to talk new marketing approach.
The first lady tries to strike an empathetic and personal tone at the RNC; Hurricane Laura landfall tonight; who's to blame as college COVID cases spike and more.
An Associated Press reporter and photographer hiked the renowned Redwood Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Monday and confirmed most of the ancient redwoods had withstood the blaze.
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 45% of Americans say they are setting aside more money than usual during the coronavirus pandemic.
RNC kicks off with some revisionist history; latest on the tropics and California fires; Covid-19 reinfection confirmed; Jerry Falwell out & is NYC "dead"?
Bee researcher Elaine Evans of the University of Minnesota cautions would-be beekeepers that the fast-growing hobby may be a lot more work than people think they're signing on for.
Two Bronx women are on a mission to reduce food waste and insecurity in New York City and have set up a community fridge where people can donate fresh foods, free for anyone to take. The movement of providing community fridges is not a concept limited to just NYC. Cheddar's Chloe Aiello reports.
Jonathan Fithian, president and CEO of the national association of theater owners, talks new cinema safety guidelines as movie theaters across the U.S. reopen.
Kenosha, Wisconsin, became the nation’s latest flashpoint city in a summer of racial unrest after a Black man was shot and wounded by police, apparently in the back, as he leaned into his SUV.
