The auction house Sotheby's announced the sale of a diamond-encrusted brooch that was lost by French Emperor Napoleon during his retreat from the Battle of Waterloo in the early 19th century. The brooch was sold at an auction in Geneva for $4.4 million. The centerpiece of the brooch, which can also be worn as a pendant, is an oval diamond weighing over 13 carats, surrounded by smaller diamonds. The final sale price far exceeded the initial estimate of 200,000 francs. The brooch sold for 2.85 million francs, and with fees and other costs, the final price rose to over 3.5 million francs. Sotheby's did not disclose the seller's identity but clarified that the buyer is a 'private collector'. A diamond expert noted that the sale garnered more attention after the theft of Napoleon's jewels from the Louvre in Paris last month. Tobias Kormind, managing director of online jewelry company 77 Diamonds, said: 'Given the recent Louvre heist and this gem's connection to France's most famous historical figure, I'm not surprised the price reached 3.5 million francs.' Kormind added that 'the brooch comes at a time of renewed global interest in Napoleon's jewels, and its story is irresistible.'
