Auctions Napoleon's brooch sold at auction for around 3.5 million francs
A diamond-studded brooch owned by Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned off in Geneva on Wednesday evening for the equivalent of more than 3.5 million francs. The auction house Sotheby's announced that this was a record price.
12.11.2025, 21:40
SDA
According to the auction house, the piece of jewelry had previously been valued at an estimated price of 120,000 to 200,000 Swiss francs. The piece, probably made around 1810 as a hat ornament, was taken by the self-crowned French emperor to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
On his escape, he had to leave the brooch behind, whereupon the piece of jewelry was confiscated by the Prussians. It was presented to King Frederick William III as a war trophy, then passed on to the German emperors and finally ended up in a private collection.
Meanwhile, another highlight was withdrawn from the auction at short notice: This was "The Glowing Rose" or "Radiant Rose", a bright pink diamond that had been estimated in advance to be worth the equivalent of around 17 million Swiss francs. Sotheby's did not provide an explanation for the withdrawal on Wednesday evening, according to a request from the French news agency AFP.
