A Napoleon & Josephine Engagement Ring for $1M

(IDEX Online News) – The engagement ring Napoleon Bonaparte gave to Josephine de Beauharnais sold at auction for €730,000 ($935,000), far exceeding the original €15,000 estimate.

The gold ring is set with pear shape diamond and sapphire, each weighing about 1 carat. The purchase price reflects the rings history and not the commercial value of its components.

Napoleon and Josephine were engaged on February 24, 1796 and married on March 9. Two days after the wedding Napoleon left Paris to invade Italy.

The auction took place at Osenat auction house in France on Sunday, shortly after the couple's 217th anniversary.

The ring was part of the estate of their grandson Emperor Napoleon III and his wife Empress Eugenie.