Next week, history and luxury will share the same stage in Geneva, as some of the world’s most extraordinary jewels – including a diamond brooch once owned by Napoleon Bonaparte – go up for auction.
A relic from Waterloo
Among the dazzling pieces to be sold is a circular diamond brooch linked to one of the most dramatic moments in European history – Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Estimated between €130,000 and €220,000, the piece was seized by Prussian forces in the aftermath of the battle, when the fallen emperor abandoned his personal belongings while fleeing the field.
The brooch, roughly 45 millimetres in diameter, features a central oval diamond of 13.04 carats, surrounded by nearly one hundred old-cut stones arranged in two concentric circles. According to experts at Sotheby’s, it was crafted around 1810, possibly as a decorative piece for Napoleon’s famous bicorne hat during formal occasions.
Just three days after Waterloo, the brooch was presented as a war trophy to King Frederick William III of Prussia. More than two centuries later, it’s making a rare public appearance – this time as the star of Geneva’s Luxury Week auctions.
A gemstone fit for royalty
If Napoleon’s brooch connects bidders to history, the second highlight of the week is pure Hollywood glamour. Christie’s will present the “Mellon Blue”, a 9.51-carat vivid blue diamond of exceptional clarity. Experts have placed its value between $20 million and $30 million, with some predicting it could break records.
The diamond once belonged to Rachel Lambert Mellon, better known as “Bunny Mellon” – the American philanthropist and horticulturist who redesigned the White House Rose Garden at the request of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery, describes the stone as “one of the most magnificent blue diamonds ever offered at auction.”
Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, believes it may even surpass the current record set by the Blue Moon of Josephine, which fetched $48 million in 2015 – a staggering $4.1 million per carat.
The rise of rare colours
Coloured diamonds continue to captivate collectors worldwide, with pink and blue varieties leading the charge. This trend will be underscored by another standout lot at Sotheby’s: a 10.08-carat pink diamond known as “The Glowing Rose.” Its vibrant hue and flawless cut make it one of the rarest examples of its kind, valued at around $20 million.
As Sotheby’s specialists explain, most pink diamonds contain secondary tones of orange or purple. “The Glowing Rose,” however, displays a pure, luminous pink – a rarity in the natural world and a guaranteed showstopper in the auction room.
Timeless treasures beyond the jewels
The Geneva sales won’t be limited to gemstones. Collectors of fine watches will also have their moment when an early Rolex Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, goes under the hammer. The model on offer once belonged to Mercedes Gleitze, the first British woman to swim across the English Channel in 1927. The watch, estimated at over €1.1 million, symbolises the enduring union of craftsmanship and courage.
Where history meets brilliance
From Napoleon’s lost treasures to Bunny Mellon’s legendary diamond, these sales remind us that luxury isn’t just about wealth – it’s about heritage, artistry and storytelling. Each piece carries a fragment of history, connecting emperors, collectors and adventurers across centuries.
So when the auctioneer’s gavel falls in Geneva this week, it won’t just mark another sale. It will echo with the stories of power, passion and brilliance that continue to fascinate long after the jewels have changed hands.
