Sotheby’s Auction house sold a 101.38-carat rare diamond for HK$95.1 million($12.3 million) in cryptocurrency on Friday. According to a report by Bloomberg, an anonymous private collector bought this massive diamond in Hong Kong
The pear-shaped rare diamond named “The key 10138” is the second-largest pear-shaped diamond ever to be sold publicly. The gem came from Diacore, the world-leading diamond company, said Sotheby’s.
Previously Sotheby’s said it would accept Bitcoin and Ether as payment for the diamond. However, the cryptocurrency used to purchase the diamond is not clear. Reportedly, not more than a dozen bids joined the live stream of the auction. Sotheby’s had estimated the diamond would sell for up to $15 million.
However, the diamond did become the most expensive piece of jewellery sold through crypto payments. Earlier in the week, Sotheby’s said it was the most expensive physical object ever to have a public offering with cryptocurrencies as a mode of payment.
In May, Sotheby’s sold Banksy’s “Love is in the Air” for $12.9 million in the first instance of physical artwork. In March 2021, Christie’s sold work by digital artist Beeple called “Everyday: The first 5000 Days” for a record $69 million.
