Napoleon s 200 year old diamond brooch from waterloo auctions for 30X estimate at sotheby s
In the white-glove, 100% sold Royal & Noble Jewels auction today at #SothebysGeneva, Napoleon’s diamond brooch took center stage. The 200-year-old jewel fetched 30X its low estimate, selling for $4,380,534 USD / 3,527,000 CHF.
The unique piece was created in Paris for Napoleon around 1810, most likely to adorn his bicorne on special occasions.
In Napoleon’s haste to flee the infamous battle of Waterloo, he abandoned some of his carriages – including the one containing this brooch and other precious belongings. Looted from the carriages by the Prussian forces, the brooch was offered to King Friedrich Wilhelm III as a battle trophy, and became part of the Prussian crown jewels.
And this brings us now to the last lot in our session.
Extraordinarily important and historical diamond pendant brooch and pendant
originally in the collection of Napoleon Bonaparte
until the Battle of Waterloo
and for the first time available for sale at public auction.
We'll start the bidding here at 100,000 francs.
150, 200, 50, 300, and 50, 400.
At 400,000 francs here with me, 420,000 here, 450.
With Jessica Graff at 450, at 480,000.
With Emma at 480, at 480,000.
With Emma Pileski at 480, 500.
Jessica Graff, I have 550 ahead of you all.
600 with Emma at 600,000.
With Emma Pileski at 600, 650 I have online at 650,000.
At 650,000, 700,000.
With Emma now at 700, at 700, and 50 online ahead of you all.
At 750,000, 780 I would take with pleasure.
At 780,000 with Emma, who would like 800?
800,000 in a new place, but I have 850 online ahead of you all at 850,000.
900,000 is Kers, is yours at 900,000 francs online.
If you try again, at 900,000 with Jessica Kers, 950,000 the bid is online.
One million francs with Emma Pileski.
Should we say 1,000,002?
We shall not.
At 1,100,000 with Jessica Kers.
1,200,000 with Jessica Graff ahead of you.
1,000,003 with Jessica Kers.
Not yours online, on the phone first at 1,000,003.
1,400,000 has bid ahead of you online.
1,000,007.
Are we sure we're all done?
Shall we say any more?
Online is ahead of you.
Not yours, Jessica.
Jessica Kers, but it's yours at 1,800,000 francs with pleasure in a new place with Andres
at 1,850,000 francs.
1,000,009.
Jessica Kers at 1,900,000.
1,950,000.
2,000,000 francs is bid at 2,000,000.
2,050,000 with Andres at 2,050,000.
2,000,001.
Jessica Kers at 2,100,000.
2,150,000 now.
2,000,002.
We'll get to 2,250,000, shall we?
At 2,000,002 with pleasure.
I'll take 50 more.
Do you think I was going to say no?
At 2,250,000 with Andres at 2,250,000.
2,003,000 though, straight away ahead of you.
At 2,300,000 with Jessica.
2,350,000 now.
2,000,004.
At 2,400,000.
2,450,000 with Andres.
Pourquoi pas?
2,005,000 is bid with Jessica Kers.
Jessica, the bid is yours.
I'm very curious as to what's coming next.
2,600,000 francs is bid.
That was so kind of you.
2,650,000.
Those who are not in the room, the bid is 2,800,000 now.
Ms. Kers, how do you respond to that?
At 2,800,000.
Indeed, 2,850,000.
I'm glad she's laughing.
Everyone here is enjoying.
We're having a great time.
At 2,850,000.
I hope your client enjoys her dinner because it seems...
And once again, for a third straight season,
a white glove sale of Royal Noble Jewels here at Suffolk for 2,000,000.
I'm sorry, she's annoyed.
At 2,850,000 francs.
Adjugé, Jessica.
Title 257.
Thank you all very much.