GENEVA (AP) - A remarkable diamond brooch that once belonged to French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte sold for over 3.5 million Swiss francs (approximately $4.4 million) during an auction held by Sotheby’s in Geneva on Wednesday. The price achieved for the brooch far exceeded the pre-sale estimate, which was set at a maximum of 200,000 francs.
This exquisite piece of jewelry, which can be worn as either a brooch or a pendant, features an oval diamond of over 13 carats, surrounded by a collection of smaller cut diamonds. The final hammer price for the brooch was 2.85 million francs, with additional fees contributing to the total sum.
Sotheby’s explained that the circular brooch was uncovered among Napoleon's personal belongings found in carriages that were delayed due to muddy roads as he and his troops were retreating from the Duke of Wellington’s British forces and the Prussian army led by Field Marshal von Blücher during the historic Battle of Waterloo.
The diamond brooch has an illustrious history, having been part of the heirlooms of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern for over two centuries. Sotheby’s did not reveal the identity of the seller but noted that the buyer is a private collector. The auction also featured a striking green beryl, weighing over 132 carats, which Napoleon was reputed to have worn at his coronation in 1804. This green beryl also achieved a significant sale, fetching a hammer price of 838,000 francs—more than 17 times its high-end pre-sale estimate.
The fascination surrounding these jewels was heightened by a recent high-profile robbery of Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris. Tobias Kormind, managing director of online jewelry retailer 77 Diamonds, commented on the sale, stating, “Given the recent Louvre heist and the provenance of arguably the most famous French figure in history, I’m not surprised the jewel achieved a majestic 3.5 million francs. The brooch arrives at a moment of renewed global fascination with Napoleonic jewels, and its story is irresistible.”
In addition to the Napoleon-related items, Sotheby’s also organized a “high jewelry” auction on the same day. However, prior to the start of the auction, it was announced that a standout item—a 10-carat pink diamond tentatively referred to as the “Glowing Rose”—was withdrawn from the sale. The auction house later clarified that this decision was made following discussions with the consignor, though no further details were provided. The pink diamond had been projected to sell for about $20 million, and its owner remains anonymous.
