1.
GV INT PARKE BERNET AUCTION ROOM
0.03

2.
MV AUCTIONEER
0.06

3.
CU NASSAK DIAMOND
0.11

4.
GV PAN BIDDERS
0.19

5.
SV&GV DITTO (3 SHOTS)
0.29

6.
CU AUCTIONEER
0.40

7.
LV AUCTIONEER PAN TO BIDDERS
0.48

8.
MV AUCTIONEER CONCLUDES BIDDING AT FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
1.08

9.
BIDDERS LEAVING SEATS
1.12

10.
MV BUYER, MR. EDWARD HAND BEING INTERVIEWED
1.36


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 2: AUCTIONEER: "THE NASSAK DIAMOND, NUMBER 1 IN 63 AND WHAT SHALL WE SAY TO THIS NOW. 200,000 DOLLARS TO START WITH. 200,000. THANK YOU SIR. 200,000 DOLLARS. 225,000, 225,000, 250,000, 275,000, 300,000, 325,000 NOW, 350,000, 375,000 ON THE RIGHT, AT 400,000 HERE, 425,000 ON THE RIGHT NOW, 425,000, 425,000 FOR IT, 450,000, 475,000 FOR IT, AT 500,000 FOR IT, 500,000 ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROOM, 500,000 AND DOWN IT GOES FOR 500,000 ON THE RIGHT NOW FOR 500,000".



SEQ. 10: QUESTION: "WHY DID YOU BUY THE DIAMOND? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS THING?"



ANSWER: "I'LL JUST KEEP IT FOR MY COLLECTION".



QUESTION: "IS IT FOR ELIZABETH BURTON?"



ANSWER: "NO. NO".



QUESTION: "I SAW A WOMAN COME UP AND GIVE YOU A KISS AFTER YOU BID FOR IT . SHE SAID SHE WAS YOUR FIANCEE. IS IT FOR HER?"



ANSWER: "NO, BUT IF SHE WANTS IT I'M SURE SHE CAN WEAR IT".



QUESTION: "DO YOU FEEL AT 500,000 IT WAS A STEAL".



ANSWER: "I THINK IT WAS A BARGAIN".



QUESTION: "HOW HIGH WERE YOU PREPARED TO GO?".



ANSWER: "750".




Initials PF/VS/BOB/MH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE NASSAK DIAMOND, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST FAMOUS GEMS, FETCHED HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS AT AN AUCTION HELD IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK. (THURSDAY APRIL 16).

IT TOOK THREE MINUTES AT THE PARK BERNET GALLERIES FOR THE OWNERSHIP OF THE 43 CARAT DIAMOND TO PASS FROM AN ANONYMOUS SELLER TO ITS NEW PROPRIETOR, MR. EDWARD HAD, A CONNECTICUT BUSINESSMAN WHO OPERATES A FLEET OF LORRIES.

BIDDING BEGAN AT 200,000 DOLLARS AND MOVED BRISKLY UP TO THE HALF-MILLION MARK.

THE NEW OWNER SAID HE BOUGHT THE GEM FOR HIS PRIVATE COLLECTION. "I'LL KEEP IT IN A BANK VAULT AND LOOK AT IT AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER", HE SAID.

THE NASSAK WAS ORIGINALLY SET IN THE EYE OF A HINDU STATUE IN A CAVE TEMPLE AT NASSAK, NEAR BOMBAY. THE STONE WAS STOLEN IN THE 18TH CENTURY, BUT CAME INTO THE HANDS OF THE RULING BRITISH IN 1818. IT WAS SOLD TO THE MARQUESS OF WESTMINSTER IN 1837 FOR $20,000 AND REMAINED IN THE HANDS OF THE WESTMINSTER FAMILY FOR 100 YEARS.