Napoleon’s 13-Carat Diamond Brooch That He Left Behind at Waterloo Is Heading to Auction

You could soon accessorize like a famous French emperor. A dazzling diamond brooch once owned by Napoleon I will be auctioned off during Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Jewels sale in Geneva this week. It is expected to fetch between 120,000 and 200,000 Swiss francs (approximately $149,000 and $248,000 at the current exchange rate), but some experts believe it will sell for over $600,000 due to a renewed interest in 19th-century French jewelry with ties to the Bonaparte family. Thieves recently stole several of the French crown jewels worn by the two imperial families of Napoleon and his nephew, Napoleon II, from the Louvre in Paris. As such, historic royal pieces, like this brooch, have become even more coveted. “The recent Louvre heist has reignited global fascination with jewels linked to Napoleon, and his brooch comes to auction at a pivotal moment,” Tobias Kormind, managing director of jeweler 77 Diamonds, told Robb Report in an email. “With several historic pieces now missing, collectors are increasingly focused on jewels with secure provenance and ownership—factors I believe will heighten interest and command higher prices.” Created by a Parisian atelier around 1810, the circular brooch features a huge diamond of 13.04 carats surrounded by 100 old mine- and mazarin-cut stones. It is one of the personal belongings Napoleon left behind at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, according to Sotheby’s. After ruling most of Europe for two decades, the French emperor lost this battle to the combined forces of the British and Prussian army. He was forced to escape on horseback, leaving behind his prized possessions in the carriage. Ironically, the thieves from the recent Louvre heist also left behind a treasure as they fled from the museum. Empress Eugénie’s diamond-encrusted imperial crown was recovered on the day of the robbery outside the Louvre. The brooch was given to Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III three days after the Battle of Waterloo. “I herewith humbly present, in the name of the 15th Regiment and particularly the Fusilier Battalion under my command, a brilliant ornament that we captured in pursuit during the glorious battle,” Lieutenant von Pless said at the time. “This ornament is so rare that it should rightfully belong only to the crown of Prussia and our revered king.” The brooch remained in the hands of the Hohenzollern dynasty for over two centuries, moving from Emperor Wilhelm II to his son Crown Prince Wilhelm and his grandson Prince Louis Ferdinand. This is the first time it will be offered for auction. Kormind believes the brooch will hammer down for at least 500,000 francs ($620,000)—more than double Sotheby’s high estimate. “The jewel offers a rare chance to own a living fragment of Europe’s past that was part of one of history’s most dramatic turning points,” he adds. Sotheby’s Royal & Noble Jewels auction will take place live in Geneva on Wednesday, November 12. You can register and bid online ahead of the sale. ## Implicazioni per i Collezionisti di Asset di Lusso Questo sviluppo del mercato evidenzia l'importanza crescente della **gestione digitale degli asset di lusso**. Per i collezionisti e investitori, mantenere documentazione accurata è fondamentale per: ### 📋 **Documentazione Essenziale** - **Richieste di Finanziamento**: Documentazione completa accelera le approvazioni di prestiti garantiti - **Pratiche Assicurative**: Valutazioni aggiornate ottimizzano coperture e risarcimenti - **Pianificazione Successoria**: Inventari dettagliati semplificano il trasferimento patrimoniale - **Analisi di Portfolio**: Tracking digitale permette decisioni d'investimento informate ### 💼 **Vantaggi del Tracking Digitale** La gestione professionale degli asset di lusso attraverso sistemi digitali offre: - ⚡ **Accesso Rapido**: Documentazione istantanea per qualsiasi necessità - 🔒 **Sicurezza**: Backup cloud e crittografia dei dati sensibili - 📈 **Analisi**: Monitoraggio performance e trend di mercato - 🤝 **Professionalità**: Presentazione standardizzata per advisor e istituzioni ### 🎯 **Call to Action** Per ottimizzare la gestione del tuo patrimonio di asset di lusso: 1. Digitalizza tutta la documentazione esistente 2. Implementa un sistema di tracking professionale 3. Mantieni valutazioni aggiornate regolarmente 4. Prepara la documentazione per ogni eventualità finanziaria Il **Luxury Asset Tracker** offre tutti gli strumenti necessari per una gestione patrimoniale professionale, essenziale nell'attuale panorama finanziario.