A historic diamond brooch once owned by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, lost during his retreat from the Battle of Waterloo in the early 19th century, was sold for over 3.5 million Swiss francs (approximately $4.4 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on Wednesday. The exquisite piece, which doubles as a pendant, features a 13-carat oval diamond encircled by smaller cut diamonds. The final sale price far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of 200,000 francs, with the hammer price alone reaching 2.85 million francs, excluding additional fees. The brooch was discovered among Napoleon’s personal belongings in carriages delayed by muddy roads during his escape from British and Prussian forces. For over two centuries, the jewel remained part of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern’s heirlooms. Sotheby’s did not reveal the seller’s identity but confirmed the buyer as a private collector. The auction also featured other notable items, including a 132-carat green beryl reportedly worn by Napoleon at his 1804 coronation, which sold for 838,000 francs. The sale gained added significance following the recent theft of Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre in Paris. Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, noted the brooch’s historical allure and its timing amidst renewed global interest in Napoleonic artifacts. Later that day, Sotheby’s hosted a high jewelry auction featuring a 10-carat pink diamond, the ‘Glowing Rose,’ expected to fetch around $20 million.
Sotheby’s says a diamond brooch lost by Napoleon as his forces fled Waterloo sells for $4.4 million
