Burmese Ruby, JAR Jewels Set Records at Lily Safra’s “Jewels for Hope” Auction

By Erika W.

“Jewels for Hope,” the collection of Mrs. Lily Safra fetched $37.9 million and set two auction records at Christie’s Geneva on May 14. The renowned collection exceeded its pre-sale estimate of approximately $20 million with 100 percent sold by lot and by value. The evening’s top lot was a 32.08 carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Chaumet, which sold for $6.7 million, a new world record price for any ruby sold at auction. A group of 18 jewels by JAR sold for $11.4 million, setting a record as the most valuable single-owner collection of JAR’s work sold at auction.

The Lily Safra Foundation will donate the entire sale’s proceeds to 32 charitable institutions. Christie’s had previously announced 20 organizations, but the foundation added 12 additional charities.

“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who participated in this evening’s success. I am overjoyed, knowing that so many people in need around the world will benefit. Like the jewels sold tonight, these extraordinary organizations make the world a more beautiful place, and it is a great privilege to be able to support them. I am also delighted to announce that due to the success of the auction, 12 additional organizations will each receive $1 million in support of their work,” said Mrs. Lily Safra after receiving a standing ovation.

Jewels for Hope: Lily Safra Jewelry Auction at Christie's, The Hope Ruby Ring by Chaumet
Photo: Christie’s

A 32.08 carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Chaumet was the top lot sold at Mrs. Lily Safra’s “Jewels for Hope” auction. The ring named “The Hope Ruby” fetched $6.7 million.

JAR diamond charm ring from Jewels for Hope: Lily Safra's jewelry auction
Photo: Christie’s

A diamond charm ring by JAR sold for $974,417 at the “Jewels for Hope” auction. A group of 18 jewels by JAR set a record as the most valuable private-owner collection of JAR’s work ever sold at auction.

All proceeds from the sale of Mrs. Lily Safra’s jewelry collection
will benefit the following 32 charitable institutions:

• Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, Rwanda
• ALEH: Caring for Israel’s Disabled
• Alfredo J. Monteverde School, Natal, Brazil
• A Window to Tomorrow – A Computer for Every Child, Israel
• Children Action, Geneva, Switzerland
• Claude Pompidou Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease, Nice, France
• Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel
• Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
• Elton John AIDS Foundation (worldwide)
• Fight AIDS Monaco
• Henry Street Settlement, New York
• Hope and Homes for Children, Romania
• Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
• Imperial College, London: Edmond J. Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology & Edmond J. Safra Chair in Radiochemistry
• Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord Disorders, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris
• Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
• Jordan River Village Camp for seriously ill children
• Keren Shemesh, Israel
• King’s College, London: Edmond and Lily Safra Parkinson’s Research Fellowships
• Le ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris
• Les Restaurants du Cœur, France
• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, USA
• Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York
• New York University, Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center
• Royal Opera House, London
• UNICEF, USA
• Université Joseph Fourier, Institut des Neurosciences, Bâtiment Edmond J. Safra & Institut Clinatec, Centre de Recherche Edmond J. Safra, Grenoble, France
• University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital, Canada: Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease (Dr. Anthony Lang & Dr. Andres Lozano)
• Water Treatment Program, Amélia Rodrigues (Bahia), Brazil
• Yad Vashem International School, Israel
• Yahad-In Unum, France