Sotheby's, a British-founded American multinational auction house, sold 101.38-carat pear-shaped D Flawless diamond for $12.3 million in a cryptocurrency. This was the second largest pear-shaped diamond ever to appear on the public market, Sotheby's noted.
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Wenhao Yu, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s in Asia, says the house is thrilled to witness a "historical moment," when one of the earth’s oldest treasures was purchased with cryptocurrency. However, it remains unclear whether the diamond was purchased with bitcoin (EXANTE: Bitcoin) or ether (ETH).
"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," Yu added.
The diamond was sold in Hong Kong to an anonymous private collector in a landmark single-lot auction. As iHodl earlier reported, Sotheby's planned to sell the diamond for $15 million. Dubbed The Key 10138, the diamond is one of ten precious metals of more than 100 carats ever to come to auction.
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