World’s Largest Black Diamond Sells for Over $4 Million

A picture taken on January 17, 2022 shows The Enigma, a 555.55 carat black diamond, at Sotheby's in Dubai, UAE. (AFP)
A picture taken on January 17, 2022 shows The Enigma, a 555.55 carat black diamond, at Sotheby's in Dubai, UAE. (AFP)
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World’s Largest Black Diamond Sells for Over $4 Million

A picture taken on January 17, 2022 shows The Enigma, a 555.55 carat black diamond, at Sotheby's in Dubai, UAE. (AFP)
A picture taken on January 17, 2022 shows The Enigma, a 555.55 carat black diamond, at Sotheby's in Dubai, UAE. (AFP)

The rare black diamond known as ‘Enigma’ went under the hammer in London for £3.16 million ($4.3 million). According to Agence France Press (AFP), it’s believed to be the world's largest cut diamond.

The 555.55 carat, 55-faced diamond was sold at an online auction that concluded on Wednesday. The stone is registered as the largest natural diamond in the world as of 2004 by diamond experts GIA and Gubelin, and the largest cut diamond in the world as of 2006 by the Guinness World Record book.

Unlike classic diamonds that are usually unearthed from deep undergrounds, black diamonds are often close to or on the Earth’s surface, which may possibly suggest extraterrestrial origins, stated Sotheby’s auction house.

“It is thought that this specific type of black diamond was created either from meteoric impacts producing natural chemical vapor deposition or an extraterrestrial origin - from supernovae explosions that formed diamond-bearing asteroids which ultimately collided with the Earth,” added Sotheby’s statement.

Today, these diamonds are found exclusively in Brazil or the Central African Republic. Their aggregated structure is the toughest in existence, making them nearly impossible to cut and polish. Enigma was bought in the late 1990s and would have weighed over 800 carats in the rough form. It took over three years to produce this uniquely shaped faceted specimen.

Its shape is inspired by the Middle Eastern palm symbol, a sign of protection and a tool of deflection against the evil eye. However, the highest price of an auctioned diamond remains with the Pink Star diamond, which was sold for $ 71.2 million at a 2017 auction also organized by Sotheby’s, in Hong Kong.



Milan’s Historic La Scala Cracks Down on Tourist Dress Code

Milan’s La Scala opera house is an important Italian music institution dating back to the 16th century (Getty Images)
Milan’s La Scala opera house is an important Italian music institution dating back to the 16th century (Getty Images)
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Milan’s Historic La Scala Cracks Down on Tourist Dress Code

Milan’s La Scala opera house is an important Italian music institution dating back to the 16th century (Getty Images)
Milan’s La Scala opera house is an important Italian music institution dating back to the 16th century (Getty Images)

A historic opera house in Milan has cracked down on patrons and tourists entering the prestigious venue wearing summer attire such as shorts, tank tops and flip flops, warning they will be turned away if not dressed appropriately.

The opera was seen as a symbol of wealth and exclusivity in 19th-century high society, and the bourgeois elite of this time period would have been expected to turn up in tailcoats, cravats and long evening dresses, The Independent newspaper wrote on Monday.

While this opulent attire is not expected of patrons nowadays, it said Milan’s Teatro alla Scala opera house, commonly known as La Scala, has recently reinforced its smart dress code in the wake of opera-goers turning up in casual summer fashion.

“The public is kindly requested to dress in keeping with the decorum of the theater, out of respect for the theater and for other viewers,” La Scala’s policy said.

“People wearing shorts or sleeveless T-shirts will not be allowed inside the auditorium; in this case, tickets will not be reimbursed.”

The venue also has signs around the foyer and on tickets stating the same message, warning patrons that they will not get a refund if they turn up wearing clothes not in keeping with the “decorum.”

The rules over informal clothing were first introduced in 2015 when the summer season coincided with the World Expo in Milan, as a way to deter the influx of tourists turning up in summer wear.

“There are no special dress code requirements at La Scala,” a spokesperson at the theater told The Independent. “We are delighted that some of our audience members consider an evening at La Scala to be a special occasion and dress accordingly, but our priority is to welcome everyone and make sure they feel comfortable.

“This is precisely why, in 2015, we introduced restrictions on clothing that could cause discomfort to other audience members who have to share the often limited space of an 18th-century theater.

“With the return of summer (an especially hot one), we reminded the audience of these rules, which have remained unchanged for ten years.

“It would not be right to tell spectators how to dress, but it is necessary that they do dress, as not to cause discomfort to other people,” the spokesperson added.

La Scala’s spokesman added that there had been a “change in behavior led by visitors who do not follow opera but see La Scala as a landmark.”