The second largest diamond of its kind sold for $ 12 million. The buyer is unknown

Sotheby’s sold a 101.38-carat diamond for $ 12.3 million, paid for in cryptocurrency, becoming the most expensive piece of jewelry sold that way, the auction house said.

Sotheby’s said in a statement that a pear-shaped diamond called “The Key 10138” was sold to an anonymous private collector on Friday, adding that the Diacor gem was the second largest pear-shaped diamond ever sold to the public.

Prior to the sale, the International Auction House said it would accept Bitcoin and Ethereum to purchase the offered diamonds, and estimated the sale price to reach around $ 15 million per coin in Hong Kong, according to Bloomberg, and Al Arabiya. .net reviewed it. .

Earlier last week, Sotheby’s said the diamonds on offer would be the most expensive physical asset ever offered for sale for purchase in cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency is increasingly accepted as a form of payment by auction houses, with Phillips last month offering a piece of street artist Banksy in exchange for Ethereum or Bitcoin. Christie’s also accepted Ethereum payments in the March movie.