black diamond from space

555.55-carat black diamond that is truly from out of this world was sold for £3.16 million (US$4.28M) after fees at Sotheby's.

The rare gem, which Sotheby's has dubbed "The Enigma," is believed to have come from outer space -- either created from a meteoric impact or from a "diamond-bearing" asteroid that collided with Earth.

A natural faceted black diamond of this size is an "extremely rare occurrence," according to Sotheby's, which expected it to sell for as much as £5 million (US$6.8 million) when it went under the hammer in February in London, after being exhibited in Dubai and Los Angeles.

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