Editor’s Note
A piece of Napoleonic history commanded a princely sum at auction this week, as the French emperor’s personal brooch sold for $4.3 million—far surpassing its pre-sale estimate. The sale contributed to a strong autumn season for Sotheby’s Geneva.
At the Sotheby’s Geneva auction, Napoleon’s brooch sold for $4.3 million dollars.
Napoleon’s pendant brooch, which the French emperor wore on his bicorne hat on special occasions, sold for $4.3 million at Sotheby’s Geneva. The auction was won by one of four bidders who participated via phone, internet, and in person. The final price exceeded the minimum estimate by 30 times. In total, Sotheby’s Geneva’s autumn season sales raised $51.3 million.
The main event of the auction was Sotheby’s Royal and Noble auction, held every November and the only one of its kind in the world, which closed with $14.3 million in sales. The Royal and Noble auction also included another Napoleonic jewel: an unset cushion-cut green beryl of great historical importance weighing 132.66 carats. It is said that Napoleon wore it on his crimson velvet coronation mantle lined with ermine. Acquired by an American museum through an online bid, the precious gem achieved an astonishing price for a beryl: $1 million, more than 25 times its minimum estimated price. Other notable items included a pink diamond ring, which belonged to Russian Empress Catherine I and, more recently, was part of the private collection of Princess Neslishah-Sultan (1921-2012), one of the last Grand Princesses of the Ottoman Empire. This ring reached $3.6 million, 12 times its minimum estimated price.
Andrés White Correal, President of Jewelry for Europe and the Middle East, Director of Royal and Noble Jewelry
In addition to historical jewels, the Sotheby’s auction included high-end jewelry, which generated a total of $36.9 million, with 94% of lots sold, 98% of which exceeded their minimum estimate and over 75% exceeded their maximum estimate. The auction featured a special collection of nearly 40 pieces, focused on Cartier, which belonged to Antje-Katrin Kühnemann (1945-2025), the first female doctor to appear on German television, who had a great passion for jewelry. Besides Cartier, her collection included jewelry from Sabbadini and pieces from De Grisogono, all of which achieved excellent results at the auction: in total, the collection sold for $15.5 million, double its minimum estimate. Another group of exquisite jewels from an important private collection, composed exclusively of Van Cleef & Arpels pieces, far exceeded its estimate.
Jessica Wyndham, Director of Magnificent Jewels, Sotheby’s Geneva
