The engagement ring Napoleon gave to his Josephine in 1796...well, it just sold at a French auction last week Saturday. Before that, it had remained in Josephine's family -- first given to her daughter, then her grandson, Napoleon III, and so on.
The appraisal 'expert' (snort) valued the pear-shaped diamond/blue sapphire combination (less than a carat each) at $20,000. (They based that on, I'm guessing, the actual stones and the gold setting. Sort of.)
Guess what it sold for?
$948,000.
You read that right. Not counting seller's premium and other fees. Which makes the final price about $1.17 million dollars. Bidding started at $50,000.
Yow.
Behold, the value of provenance.
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