NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s announced that it will offer jewels from the collections of Mrs. Estée Lauder and Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder as part of its Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on 9 December 2014. Thirty-three pieces from the collection of Evelyn H. Lauder will be sold to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, an organization that she founded and championed, while 11 pieces from the collection of Estée Lauder will be sold to benefit the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation®. Sotheby’s previously auctioned jewels from the Collections in December 2012 and 2013 to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The jewels on offer this December include designs by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, David Webb, Buccellati, and Oscar Heyman & Brothers – one of Evelyn H. Lauder’s favorite New York jewelers – and are led by one of Cartier’s rare and iconic Tutti Frutti bracelets, made circa 1928 (est. $750,000 / 1 million). A lovely group of wearable evening and daytime jewels estimated under $20,000 complements the impressive selection of more formal pieces. Highlights from the collection will be on view at Sotheby’s Geneva from 8–11 November, before returning for exhibition in Sotheby’s New York headquarters beginning 5 December.

Mr. Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., said: “My family and I are excited to partner with Sotheby’s on this special auction. Each piece of jewelry is unique and was designed to be timeless. My mother, Estée, and my dear wife, Evelyn, would be thrilled and honored that these much-loved items of theirs are being sold to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Our family’s goal has been, and continues to be, to help make those diseases a thing of the past.” Mr. Leonard A. Lauder is deeply involved with both nonprofit organizations, serving as Co-Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.

ESTÉE LAUDER
A visionary entrepreneur who believed all women could be beautiful, Estée Lauder (1906-2004) instinctively understood the power of beauty. Her dedication and hard work transformed the business she launched in 1946 with just four products into today’s global leader in prestige beauty. Mrs. Lauder got her start selling skin care products developed by her uncle, a chemist, in local beauty salons and hotels. She believed in the power of word of mouth and that sampling products sealed a sale, pioneering personalized beauty consultation and Gift with Purchase promotions. She was the recipient of many prestigious honors, including France’s Legion of Honor in 1978 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. She traveled and entertained extensively, and socialized with world leaders, Hollywood royalty and celebrities.

EVELYN H. LAUDER
Evelyn H. Lauder (1936-2011) was the Senior Corporate Vice President and Head of Fragrance Development Worldwide for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Her life is a remarkable American success story: born in Vienna, Austria, her parents fled from Europe at the outset of World War II, eventually settling in New York City. She was proud to have attended New York City public schools and Hunter College, where she met Leonard A. Lauder as a freshman. The two married in 1959, and Mrs. Lauder began her more than 50 years with the family company, contributing her invaluable insights into fashion trends, consumers’ changing needs, and new approaches to the development of innovative skin care, makeup and fragrance products.

Mrs. Lauder was perhaps best known to the public for her work in bringing global awareness to the importance of women’s health. In 1992, Mrs. Lauder co-created the now-ubiquitous Pink Ribbon with SELF magazine, and launched The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign (BCAcampaign.com). Mrs. Lauder was also Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which she founded in 1993. She was passionately committed to preventing and finding a cure for breast cancer.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COLLECTIONS
From the Collection of Estée Lauder
Sold to benefit the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation®

Pair of Platinum, 18 Karat Gold, Colored Diamond and Diamond Earclips, Van Cleef & Arpels Centering two Fancy Brown-Yellow diamonds weighing 8.08 and 7.74 carats. Estimate $100/150,000

Pair of Platinum and Diamond Clip-Brooches, circa 1935. Designed as leaves and set with diamonds weighing approximately 14.45 carats. Estimate $20/30,000

From the Collection of Evelyn H. Lauder
Sold to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®
Platinum, Colored Stone, Diamond and Enamel 'Tutti Frutti' Bracelet, Cartier, New York, circa 1928. Estimate $750,000/1 million

This magnificent ‘Tutti Frutti’ bracelet is featured in Hans Nadelhoffer’s seminal book, Cartier: Jewelers Extraordinary. Boasting ripe rubies and emeralds interspersed with spherical onyx berries issuing from diamond-set stems, the piece’s organic qualities are balanced by a symmetry that is both elegant and sophisticated. The focused color palette, absent of sapphires, suggests the piece may have been a special commission. The telltale zig-zag of black enamel, however, is tantamount to a signature, making this piece at once a masterpiece of Art Deco design and quintessentially Cartier.

Pair of Platinum, Diamond and Mystery-Set Colored Stone Pendant-Earclips, Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimate $200/300,000
The tops of feathered design set with round diamonds weighing approximately 5.00 carats. With two pairs of interchangeable pendants, one pair set with calibré-cut sapphires accented by round diamonds weighing approximately 1.30 carats, the second pair set with calibré-cut rubies accented by round diamonds weighing approximately 1.25 carats.

Platinum, Diamond, Sapphire and Emerald Bracelet, Oscar Heyman & Brothers, circa 1925. Estimate $100/150,000
Set with three marquise-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 1.95, 1.80 and 1.80 carats, accented by smaller marquise-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 6.30 carats, further set with round, old European and single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 15.00 carats, decorated with cabochon sapphires as well as calibré-cut sapphires and emeralds.