July 15, 2021

A pear-shaped diamond weighing 101.38 carats has achieved a rare feat, becoming the most expensive piece of jewellery ever sold in cryptocurrency.

The exceptional D-colour, flawless diamond achieved $15.4 million (US$12.3 million) as part of Sotheby’s inaugural ‘Luxury Edit’ sale series in Asia. The stone, dubbed ‘The Key 10138,’ was purchased by an anonymous private collector in a single-lot auction.

“We are thrilled to witness a historical moment, when one of the Earth’s oldest and rarest treasures was purchased using humanity’s newest universal currency,” says Wenhao Yu, deputy chair of Sotheby’s Jewellery in Asia. “Today, we saw active participation from collectors across the globe, as well as interest from new clients well beyond the traditional pool of collectors. By introducing this innovative payment option to our luxury sale, we open up new possibilities and expand our reach into a whole new clientele, many of whom are from the digitally savvy generation.”

The gem, which is from Diacore, is the second-largest pear-shaped diamond to ever be sold publicly, Sotheby’s reports.

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