GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — A new world record for any jewelry auction was set on May 17 when Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels realized $175,097,419, eclipsing the previous record of $160.9 million also set by Sotheby’s in the equivalent sale last year.

“The Unique Pink,” pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond ring, 15.38 carats, VVS2 clarity, Type IIa, was the top lot, selling for $31,561,200 ($2,052,094 per carat) to an Asian private buyer.

The sale was led by the spectacular “Unique Pink,” a supremely rare fancy vivid pink diamond weighing 15.38 carats that sold for $31,561,200 (price per carat: $2,052,094).

The sale was 83 percent sold by lot, with three lots selling for more than $10 million. Six lots sold for more than $5 million.

There was also a new record for an online purchase in a live auction at Sotheby’s involving a pair of pear-shaped fancy blue and fancy orangy pink diamond earrings that brought $6 million. There was a 41 percent increase in the number of lots sold online compared to the equivalent sale last year, which posted one of the highest levels of participation for any jewelry sale at Sotheby’s.

Coming to auction from a noble collection, a brooch featuring a 6.64-carat fancy intense blue diamond achieved $13,672,493, surpassing the previous auction record set by Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2010.

Watch for a full report on this sale later.