Editor’s Note
This article describes the upcoming auction of the 555.55-carat Enigma Diamond, a rare carbonado black diamond believed to contain ancient interstellar material.
A diamond containing material from interstellar space, which arrived on Earth via a supernova explosion or meteorite, is going up for auction. The 555.55-carat Enigma Diamond, a size that fills the palm of a hand, is too large to wear but makes for a fantastic conversation piece.
According to a report from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), this is a carbonado black diamond formed 2.6 to 3.8 billion years ago. It contains trace amounts of nitrogen, hydrogen abundant in interstellar space, and osbornite (titanium nitride), a mineral found only in meteorites. This is evidence that the stone is of extraterrestrial origin.
The Enigma Diamond has an estimated hammer price of $4 to $7 million, but its record-breaking size and history could drive the final price even higher. The auction is scheduled for February 3-9 in a Sotheby’s online sale, which will also accept cryptocurrency payments.
The details of how this stone was discovered and its precise history remain shrouded in mystery.
Its existence has been known for about 20 years since the current owner acquired it as a natural diamond. However, the owner chose not to cut it into several smaller stones, opting instead to create something symbolic from this historic piece.
Over four years, it was cut into a 555.55-carat stone with 55 facets, inspired by the Middle Eastern amulet known as the “Hand of Fatima” or “Hamsa.” The Hamsa resonates across cultures worldwide as a symbol of protection, strength, and power.
The original natural diamond was likely discovered in either Brazil or the Central African Republic, the two primary sources of carbonado. These two lands were connected over a billion years ago as part of the supercontinent Rodinia. It is theorized that the diamond was formed when this region was struck by a meteorite.
Carbonado diamonds are found in alluvial or sedimentary deposits near or on the Earth’s surface. In contrast, most other diamonds are discovered in igneous kimberlite rocks formed deep within the Earth.
Historically, black diamonds have not been valued as highly as colorless white diamonds or other fancy-colored diamonds. However, they entered the realm of high jewelry in 1966 when Fawaz Gruosi, founder of Swiss jeweler de Grisogono, presented an impressive black and white high jewelry collection. Today, they are often chemically treated to enhance their color intensity and are frequently used as accent stones.
Nevertheless, the Enigma Diamond is exceptionally unique.