Enigma, the world’s largest natural black diamond weighing 555.55 carats (111.11 grams), sold for 3.16 million pounds (3.75 million euros) at Sotheby’s online auction in London, according to AFP.
The diamond was registered as the largest natural black diamond in the world in 2004, and in 2006 as the largest cut in the world.
Unlike classic diamonds, which are mined from underground, black diamonds are found on the surface, so some experts believe that their origin is extraterrestrial, explains Sotheby’s.
This type of diamond is 2.6 to 3.2 billion years old, predating the dinosaurs.
“It is believed that this type of black diamond could either be from meteorite impacts that released chemical vapors, or from extraterrestrial origin resulting from supernova explosions that formed diamond asteroids that will eventually hit the Earth,” the tender said.
Such diamonds are found only in Brazil and the Central African Republic. Due to their structure, they are among the hardest and almost impossible to grind.
The Enigma diamond was purchased in the late 1990s. Then it weighs 800 carats. It has been polished for over three years to its current 55 facet shape.
The record price for a diamond sold at auction belongs to the Pink Star, $71.2 million since 2017.