Sotheby's says a diamond brooch lost by Napoleon as his forces fled Waterloo sells for $4.4 million

A diamond brooch that French emperor Napoleon was said to person mislaid portion fleeing from the Battle of Waterloo successful the aboriginal 19th period sold for much than 3.5 cardinal Swiss francs, oregon astir $4.4 million, astatine a Geneva auction connected Wednesday

GENEVA -- A diamond brooch that French emperor Napoleon mislaid portion fleeing from the Battle of Waterloo successful the aboriginal 19th period sold for much than 3.5 cardinal Swiss francs (about $4.4 million) astatine a Geneva auction connected Wednesday, Sotheby's said.

The brooch, which tin besides beryllium worn arsenic a pendant, features an oval diamond weighing implicit 13 carats surrounded by smaller chopped diamonds. The merchantability terms vastly outstripped the precocious extremity of the pre-sale estimation of 200,000 francs.

The hammer terms was 2.85 cardinal francs, excluding fees and different charges that were included successful the last aggregate price.

The circular jewel was recovered successful a stash of Napoleon's idiosyncratic belongings successful carriages that got held up connected muddy roads arsenic helium and his troops fled the Duke of Wellington's British forces and the Prussian service nether Field Marshal von Blücher, Sotheby's said.

For much than 2 centuries, the jewels featured arsenic portion of heirlooms of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern. Sotheby's did not disclose the individuality of the seller, and said that the purchaser was a “private collector.”

Among dozens of tons connected the artifact was a greenish beryl weighing implicit 132 carats, which Napoleon was said to person worn astatine his 1804 coronation. The jewel sold for a hammer terms of 838,000 francs, oregon much than 17 times the high-end pre-sale estimate.

One diamond adept said the merchantability took connected added allure successful the aftermath of the much-ballyhooed robbery of Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre depository successful Paris past month.

“Given the caller Louvre heist and the provenance of arguably the astir celebrated French fig successful history, I’m not amazed the jewel achieved a majestic 3.5 cardinal francs," said Tobias Kormind, managing manager of online jeweler 77 Diamonds. “The brooch arrives astatine a infinitesimal of renewed planetary fascination with Napoleonic jewels, and its communicative is irresistible.”

Sotheby's besides held a “high jewelry” auction connected Wednesday, but earlier the commencement announced that the standout point — a 10-carat pinkish diamond tentatively known arsenic the “Glowing Rose” — had been withdrawn.

The auction location said aboriginal that the batch had been withdrawn “following discussions with the consignor,” oregon owner, without elaborating. The gem had been expected to fetch astir $20 million. Its proprietor was not identified.

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