About

Thomas Faerber heads the world-renowned fourth-generation family business, specialising in exceptional gemstones, diamonds and antique jewellery. In 1973, at the International Basel Jewellery show, Thomas Faerber was the first exhibitor to present antique jewellery, bringing this field to a worldwide audience. From 1993 to 1998, he was the President of the “Swiss Precious Stones Dealers Association”. Over the years, his knowledge and business ethic have enabled him to acquire increasingly important pieces. In 2003, a historic emerald and diamond  necklace with matching earrings, commissioned in 1810 by Emperor Napoleon from François Regnault Nitot (now Chaumet) as a wedding present for his second wife, Archduchess Marie-Louise, was purchased by Thomas Faerber. This set was sold in 2004 to the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it is now displayed in the Galerie Apollon alongside the French crown jewels. Thanks to this transaction and to his continuing contribution to French Culture, Thomas Faerber was honoured in 2004 with the French “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” medal.

To perpetuate the family legacy, Thomas Faerber’s children, Ida and Max, joined the firm in 1999. For many years Thomas has been assisted by two directors, Alberto Corticelli and Philippe Atamian. The company has offices in Geneva, Antwerp, New York, Paris and Hong Kong. Its inventory, selected with expertise and professionalism and known as the “FAERBER COLLECTION”, is renowned for its beauty, quality and often historical provenance.

Ronny Totah was born in Egypt, and moved with his family to Paris in 1962 and then to Geneva in 1968.  He studied civil engineering in Lausanne, Switzerland, before deciding to join the gem and jewellery company established by his father and the two brothers, Oscar and Teddy Horovitz. Ronny describes Teddy Horovitz as a king of gems and godfather of Geneva’s gem-dealing community, and tells how he was captivated by the legendary merchant’s  innate affinity with gemstones and the revered position he occupied in the industry.  Ronny worked with his father and the Horovitz family from 1980 to 1990, during which time the company handled some of the world’s most famous and historic stones, as well as rare and record-breaking coloured diamonds. In 1990, Ronny Totah joined forces with Eric Horovitz, Teddy’s nephew, to establish their own company Horovitz &Totah. In 2008, Eric Horovitz retired.

Today, working with his daughters, Nadège and Sandrine, and his nephew, Stephane, Ronny Totah continues to source extraordinary diamonds and coloured stones, which he sets into jewels of classical splendour. He is known for his expertise and his passions for and knowledge of Kashmir sapphires and natural pearls. Ronny Totah has been active in various industry organisations, including the International Colored Gemstones Association, (ICA) and the Swiss Gemmological Laboratory, (SSEF); he is the Vice-President of the Swiss Association of Precious Stone Merchants. In these positions of authority, he has worked and continues to work tirelessly to ensure and enhance the ethics and integrity of the industry he loves.