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

A historic diamond brooch that French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte lost while fleeing the Battle of Waterloo in the early 19th century sold for over 3.5 million Swiss francs (approximately $4.4 million) at a Geneva auction on Wednesday. The sale, held by Sotheby’s, far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of 200,000 francs, highlighting the allure of Napoleonic treasures.

The exquisite brooch, which can also be worn as a pendant, features an oval diamond weighing more than 13 carats, surrounded by smaller cut diamonds. Its hammer price reached 2.85 million francs, excluding fees and charges, which brought the final total to 3.5 million francs.

Sotheby’s reported that the brooch had been discovered among Napoleon’s personal belongings in carriages that were delayed on muddy roads while the emperor and his troops fled the forces of the Duke of Wellington and Prussian Field Marshal von Blücher. Over the next two centuries, the jewel remained part of the heirlooms of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern. The buyer has been identified only as a private collector, while the seller’s identity was not disclosed.

Also featured at the Geneva auction was a green beryl weighing over 132 carats, which Napoleon reportedly wore at his 1804 coronation. The gem sold for 838,000 francs, more than 17 times the high-end pre-sale estimate.

Experts note that the auction’s timing, following the high-profile robbery of Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris last month, added to the excitement. “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.

Sotheby’s also held a “high jewelry” auction on the same day. A standout item, a 10-carat pink diamond tentatively called the “Glowing Rose,” was withdrawn prior to the start of the event following discussions with its consignor. The gem, previously expected to fetch around $20 million, had an undisclosed owner.

The sale of Napoleon’s lost brooch has reignited global fascination with the emperor’s historic jewels, combining remarkable craftsmanship with a rich and dramatic provenance that continues to captivate collectors and history enthusiasts alike.