“THE Enigma”, the world’s largest known cut diamond at 555 carats, went under the hammer in London on Wednesday for ￡3.16 million (US$4.3 million) having recently gone on display for the first time. The rare black, or carbanado, diamond is believed to have been created when a meteorite or an asteroid hit Earth more than 2.6 billion years ago. Carbonados are usually found close to the Earth’s surface, suggesting extraterrestrial origins. “It is thought that this specific type of black diamond was created either from meteoric impacts producing natural chemical vapour deposition or an extraterrestrial origin — from supernovae explosions that formed diamond-bearing asteroids which ultimately collided with the Earth,” said Sotheby’s auction house. One of the most difficult substances to cut, the diamond had never previously been shown by its unnamed owner of the past 20 years. Experts took three years turning the rough diamond into a 55-face jewel and it recently went on show in Dubai, Los Angeles and London. Its shape was inspired by the Middle East palm-shaped symbol of power and protection, the Hamsa, which is also associated with the number five. “The Enigma’s price did not quite reach intergalactic levels. But what cannot be denied is that the Enigma is a diamond with unparalleled bragging rights,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of Europe’s largest online jeweler, the Mayfair. “The size, shape and source of the Enigma diamond make it groundbreaking and amazing,” he added. “Most diamonds are cut into one of ten popular shapes but the Enigma’s form resembles a hand.” The Enigma is not a gem quality diamond, and carbonados are not normally used in jewelery or sold at auction, but have grown in popularity recently. They are normally used in industrial drilling due to their extraordinary hardness. Sotheby’s called the diamond a “cosmic wonder” ahead of the sale, which also accepted crypto-currency bids. Last year in Hong Kong, the Key 10138 diamond sold for US$12.3 million, which was paid in crypto-currency. (SD-Agencies) | 