In 1796, as a symbol of his love for
his wife-to-be Joséphine, Napoleon
Bonaparte presented her with a
diamond and sapphire engagement ring.
This same ring will be up for bid March 24
at theOsenat auction house in Fontainebleau,
France. It is estimated to fetch $13,000 to
$20,000.
The gold ring, with an origin listed as
18th Century, is adorned with two
pear-shaped stones (also described
as “tear shaped” in media reports),
a blue sapphire and diamond that rest
side by side facing opposite directions.
Updated information: The carat-weight
of each gem is approximately one carat each,
said Jean Christophe Chatignier, a partner
with the auction house, who responded
to my e-mail Monday morning.
Empress Joséphine was 32 years old,
six years older than Napoleon, and a
widow with a son and daughter at the
time of their marriage on March 9, 1796,
just before Napoleon departed for his
Italian command, according to the auction house.
The ring is from the collection of Emperor
Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, according
to the auction house. Napoleon III, the last
monarch of France, was the nephew and
Empress Joséphine did not produce an heir, although Napoleon formally adopted her son
Eugène and cousin Stéphanie. Napoleon chose
to divorce Joséphine so he could remarry for
an heir. In March 1810, he married Marie
Louise, Archduchess of Austria. The couple
had one child, Napoleon Francis Joseph
Charles. He became Napoleon II in 1814
and reigned for only two weeks. He was
given the title of the Duke of Reichstadt in
1818 and died of tuberculosis in 1832 at
the age of 21, with no children.
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Anthony DeMarco, Contributor
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