Lily Safra

Art Patrons Lily and Edmond Safra devoted themselves to collecting the finest art and jewels through decades of connoisseurship. On May 14, 2012, Mrs. Safra offered a superb collection of her jewellery for the benefit of a wide variety of arts, education, science and humanitarian relief efforts across the globe.

The sale prices at Christies Geneva, surpassed expectations to such an extent that Safra appeared at the closes of the auction and announced that she was expanding the original list of 20 charities by an additional 12, each of which was to receive $ 1 million from the sale.

The headline of this “Jewels of Hope” sale was the Hope ruby, a 32.08 carat Burmese Ruby and diamond ring by Chaumet, shown here, that sold for $6, 743, 440. The price was a world record for any ruby sold at auction and had been in the collection of the Countess du Boisrouvray.

The sale featured 18 Jewels by Paris-based American designer JAR, his group brought $11, 473, 920.

Though studded with classic brand names, the 69 lot collection revealed Safra’s own taste and style and included pieces by Suzanne Belperron and Fred Leighton, as well as antique, unsigned Jewels.