(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOTHEBY'S AUCTIONEER, DAVID BENNETT, SAYING:
"Sixty-eight million? Very good choice."
The huge "Pink Star" pink diamond sold for just over $83 million U.S. dollars in Geneva Wednesday -- a world record price for a gemstone auction, according to Sotheby's.
That price included commission costs.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SOTHEBY'S AUCTIONEER, DAVID BENNETT, SAYING:
"Sixty-eight million francs is then the world record bid ever for a diamond or precious stone and it's right here. Congratulations."
It was purchased by a man bidding in the room, who represented a person not present. The man did not give his own identity to reporters.
The star jewel was sold at Sotheby's semi-annual jewelry sale in Geneva, held in a heavily-guarded hotel showroom, which followed strong Hong Kong auctions last month.
