Toluca is a IAB iron, an unusual group that did not form in an asteroidal core, but rather in the near-surface region after an impact caused silicate and metal to melt Billions of years later, Toluca irons impacted Earth around 8000 B.C. near what is now Mexico City and were used by indigenous peoples as tools and weapons. The Spanish Conquistadors arrived in 1776 and made the “official” discovery.

Toluca boasts a scintillating etch pattern, which is among the reasons why the Swiss watchmaker Corum has used wafer thin slices of Toluca for the face of its acclaimed “Meteorite Watch”.

This complete slice features a large graphite inclusion encompassed by troilite. And if the light illuminating this slice moves — or the meteorite is rocked side-to-side — the etch will appear to animate (as pictured). While many iron meteorites respond similarly, rarely is the effect more pronounced than in specimens of Toluca, and this is a superior complete slice.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.
126 x 83 x 3mm (5 x 3.25 x 0.1 in.) and 233 grams (0.5 lbs)