AuctionsMay 26, 2021
The 15-Carat ‘Sakura’ Purple-Pink Diamond Sells for $29MAuctionsJun 23, 2021
Sotheby’s Will Take Cryptocurrency for This 101-Carat Diamond
It will accept payment with Ether or Bitcoin for a D-color, flawless, pear-shaped diamond hitting the block next month.
Sotheby’s is bringing cryptocurrency into the luxury jewelry auction world next month with the announcement it will accept Ether or Bitcoin as payment for this 101.38-carat pear-shaped diamond.
New York—A flawless, D-color diamond weighing more than 100 carats would be enough to raise eyebrows on its own, but Sotheby’s is upping the ante by adding cryptocurrency to the mix.
The auction house has announced it will accept cryptocurrency as payment for the 101.38-carat pear-shaped diamond it will put up on the block next month.
Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that can be exchanged online for goods and services. It’s secured by cryptography, the practice of encrypting data to keep it safe, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend, according to Investopedia.
While fiat will be accepted as payment, of course, those who would choose to pay through cryptocurrency to own the big diamond will be able to do so with either Ether or Bitcoin through the Coinbase Commerce exchange.
Sotheby’s estimates the 101.38-carat diamond could sell for between $10 million to $15 million, which is also significant because no other physical object with an estimated value approaching those numbers has been offered publicly for purchase using cryptocurrency, it claims.
Related stories will be right here …
The auction house has announced it will accept cryptocurrency as payment for the 101.38-carat pear-shaped diamond it will put up on the block next month.
Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that can be exchanged online for goods and services. It’s secured by cryptography, the practice of encrypting data to keep it safe, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend, according to Investopedia.
While fiat will be accepted as payment, of course, those who would choose to pay through cryptocurrency to own the big diamond will be able to do so with either Ether or Bitcoin through the Coinbase Commerce exchange.
Sotheby’s estimates the 101.38-carat diamond could sell for between $10 million to $15 million, which is also significant because no other physical object with an estimated value approaching those numbers has been offered publicly for purchase using cryptocurrency, it claims.
The auction house has dubbed the diamond “The Key 10138,” saying in a release: “Historically, keys, like diamonds, have been a symbol of power and of the freedom that comes with it. Now, keys of a digital kind are critical to the functioning of cryptocurrency.”
A private key is a type of cryptography that allows a user to access their cryptocurrency and protects their funds from unauthorized access or theft.
The gem will be offered in a single-lot live sale at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on July 9, with online bidding beginning June 25.
The Key 10138 is currently available to view by appointment at Sotheby’s New York, and then will be on display at the auction house’s Hong Kong Gallery from July 3-8.
It will be the highlight of Sotheby’s inaugural “Luxury Edit” sale series in Asia, offering luxury goods across various categories.
“This is a truly symbolic moment,” said Wenhao Yu, deputy chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery in Asia. “The most ancient and emblematic denominator of value can now, for the first time, be purchased using humanity’s newest universal currency. Never was there a better moment to bring a world-class diamond such as this to the market.”
Its sale comes at a time when demand for high-quality white diamonds is particularly strong.
This 50.03-carat round diamond sold for $2.7 million at Sotheby’s, setting a new record for a jewel sold in an online auction.
Last week, a new record was set for a jewel sold in an online auction when the 50.03-carat round diamond pictured above, offered without reserve, sold for $2.7 million at Sotheby’s.
The G color stone received 30 bids from 11 bidders in seven countries, falling within its estimate of between $2.5 million and $5 million.
There was also an Andrew Clunn necklace, set with 28 graduated oval-shaped diamonds totaling more than 168 carats, that went for above its $2-$3 million pre-sale estimate when it garnered $4 million at Sotheby’s earlier this month, beating out the fancy vivid yellow 73-carat “Sienna Star” for the title of top lot.
Just prior to that, Christie’s sold the pear-shaped, D-color, internally flawless 54.03-carat “Chrysler Diamond” for nearly $5.1 million—upstaging the 204.36-carat, VVS2 fancy intense yellow “Dancing Sun” diamond—and, in mid-May, the 100.94-carat, D-color, internally flawless Type IIa “Spectacle Diamond” sold for $14.1 million.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
