Napoleon’s lost diamond brooch sells for $4.4M

A diamond brooch that Napoleon lost while fleeing the Battle of Waterloo sold for approximately $4.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on Wednesday, vastly exceeding its pre-sale estimate of 200,000 Swiss francs.newsmax
The brooch, featuring a 13-carat oval diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, was discovered in Napoleon’s abandoned carriages that became stuck in mud as he fled British and Prussian forces in 1815, and remained among heirlooms of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern for over two centuries.newsmax
The auction also included a 132-carat green beryl that Napoleon wore at his 1804 coronation, which sold for more than 17 times its estimated price at 838,000 francs.newsmax
Diamond experts noted the sale gained additional interest following last month’s robbery at the Louvre museum in Paris, where thieves stole eight Napoleonic jewels valued at approximately $100 million in a heist that took less than four minutes.newsmax

Napoleon’s Lost Diamond Brooch Fetches $4.4 Million at Auction

A diamond brooch abandoned by Napoleon Bonaparte during his retreat from the Battle of Waterloo sold for 3.5 million Swiss francs, approximately $4.4 million, at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on Wednesday, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate.newsmax

The sale comes amid heightened global interest in Napoleonic jewels following the theft of eight pieces from the Louvre museum’s Crown Jewels collection in Paris last month. The brooch, which features a 13.04-carat oval diamond surrounded by nearly 100 smaller diamonds, had been estimated to sell for between 120,000 and 200,000 Swiss francs. The final hammer price of 2.85 million francs, excluding fees, represented more than 14 times the high estimate.cbsnews

A Trophy of War

According to Sotheby’s, the circular jewel was discovered among Napoleon’s personal belongings in carriages that became mired in mud as he fled the combined British and Prussian forces on June 18, 1815. Lieutenant von Pless of the Prussian army presented the ornament to King Friedrich Wilhelm III just three days after the battle, describing it as “so rare that it should rightfully belong only to the Crown of Prussia”.newsmax

The brooch remained in the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern for more than two centuries before passing into private hands. Sotheby’s did not disclose the identities of the seller or the buyer, who was described only as a private collector.cbsnews

Timing and Context

The auction also featured a 132-carat green beryl that Napoleon reportedly wore at his 1804 coronation, which sold for 838,000 francs—17 times its high-end estimate. However, the anticipated highlight of Sotheby’s High Jewelry auction, a 10.08-carat pink diamond called “The Glowing Rose” expected to fetch $20 million, was withdrawn before the sale following discussions with its owner.newsmax

“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,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of online jeweler 77 Diamonds. “The brooch arrives at a moment of renewed global fascination with Napoleonic jewels, and its story is irresistible.”cbsnews

The October 19 Louvre heist saw thieves make off with jewels valued at approximately 88 million euros, including emerald earrings Napoleon gifted to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise.time