Diamond brooch Napoleon lost during his escape from the Battle of Waterloo to be auctioned for the first time

"The renowned auction house Sotheby's is preparing to hold one of its most anticipated annual events, the Royal & Noble Jewels auction, on November 12 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva. The collection contains extraordinary pieces that after years in private hands or royal collections are now seeking new owners. Although the online bidding has been active since the end of October, the auction will officially begin Wednesday."

"The beauty of Napoleon's piece is matched only by its historical significance: it is a circular diamond brooch, approximately 45 millimeters in diameter, with a large oval diamond at its center weighing 13.04 carats; the nearly one hundred antique mined diamonds surrounding it, in various shapes and sizes, are arranged in two concentric rows. It was created for Napoleon around 1810, most likely to adorn his bicorn hat on special occasions."

"The auction also includes other spectacular pieces of jewelry, such as a unique hair ornament created around 1840, which will be auctioned alongside a brooch with natural pearls and diamonds that belonged to a European noble family. Also included are jewels belonging to the last Ottoman princess, Fatma Neslisah (who died aged 91 in 2012), and a magnificent selection of tiaras."

Sotheby's will hold the Royal & Noble Jewels auction on November 12 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva. Online bidding opened in late October. The sale gathers extraordinary pieces from private and royal collections seeking new owners. The star lot is a diamond brooch made for Napoleon around 1810, lost at the Battle of Waterloo, featuring a 13.04-carat central oval diamond surrounded by nearly one hundred antique mined diamonds in two concentric rows, approximately 45 millimeters in diameter, estimated $150,000–$250,000. The sale also includes a unique c.1840 hair ornament, a brooch with natural pearls and diamonds from a European noble family, jewels of the last Ottoman princess Fatma Neslisah, and a selection of tiaras.

Read at english.elpais.com