Bitcoin Reaches Yet Another Milestone at Sotheby's Diamond Auction

Sotheby's said it would be first time a diamond of a considerable size has been offered for public purchase with cryptocurrency.

By Reuters | Updated: 22 June 2021 14:03 IST

Bitcoin Reaches Yet Another Milestone at Sotheby's Diamond Auction

Photo Credit: Reuters

The Key 10138 diamond is expected to fetch up to $15 million (roughly Rs. 111.17 crores) at auction

Highlights

Pear-shaped diamonds are among the most sought after in the world
Sotheby’s sold a Banksy art for $12.9 million by accepting cryptocurrency
Pear-shaped diamonds are among the most sought after in the world

A rare pear-shaped diamond that is expected to fetch up to $15 million (roughly Rs. 111.17 crores) can be bought at auction next month using cryptocurrencies, Sotheby's announced on Monday.

Sotheby's said it would be first time a diamond of such size has been offered for public purchase with cryptocurrency. No other physical object of such high value has previously been available for sale with cryptocurrency, the auction house added.

The 101.38-carat pear shaped flawless diamond, dubbed The Key 10138, is one of just ten diamonds of more than 100 carats ever to come to auction, only two of which were pear-shaped.

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It carries a pre-sale estimate of $10 million (roughly Rs. 74.19 crores) - $15 million (roughly Rs. 111.17 crores) and will be sold on July 9 in Hong Kong. Bitcoin or Ether, along with traditional money, will be accepted as payment. As of June 22 (11:16am IST), Bitcoin price in India stood at Rs. 24.44 lakhs and Ether price in India stood at Rs. 1.46 lakhs.

“This is a truly symbolic moment. The most ancient and emblematic denominator of value can now, for the first time, be purchased using humanity's newest universal currency," Patti Wong, chairman of Sotheby's Asia, said in a statement.

Cryptocurrencies have had a volatile year, with explosive growth and major tumbles. In the United States, the National Republican Congressional Committee last week said it will accept donations in cryptocurrency; El Salvador this month became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

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Sotheby's in May sold a Banksy for $12.9 million (roughly Rs. 95.71 crores) in the first instance of a work of physical art sold by a major auction house that was bought with cryptocurrency.

Sotheby's said that the past year has seen strong demand for white diamonds, jewels, and other luxury items, particularly from younger people, including those in Asia.

The name of the colourless diamond — Key 10138 — is intended to reflect the integral role that keys occupy in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Pear-shaped diamonds are among the most sought after. The 530 carat Cullinan 1 diamond, which forms part of Britain's Crown Jewels, is the most famous example.

The top price paid for a colourless diamond at auction was a 118.28 carat oval that went for $30.8 million (roughly Rs. 228.52 crores) at Sotheby's in Hong Kong in 2013, with a record price per carat of $260,252 (roughly Rs. 1.94 crores).

Interested in cryptocurrency? We discuss all things crypto with WazirX CEO Nischal Shetty and WeekendInvesting founder Alok Jain on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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