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
Climate Change Is Now Part of Medical Education
Dr. Mona Sarfaty, the director of the Medical Society's consortium on climate and health, details how the changing climate requires a change in the way future doctors are taught about public health.
Exclusive: Designer Korto Momolu and Women Grow Partner to Bring Cannabis Fashion to NYFW
Cannabis industry networking group Women Grow is teaming up with fashion designer Korto Momolu, of Project Runway fame, on a new line of cannabis lifestyle clothing, set to debut during New York Fashion Week next month. Momolu will unveil her line, inspired by Women Grow and its leaders, on the second night of one of the most important weeks for the global fashion industry.
Load More