Robbery at the Louvre – What to Know about Empress Eugenie’s Crown

Events

Most people have heard about the robbery of the Louvre on October 19, but you may not know about the diamond and emerald crown of Empress Eugenie, empress consort to Napoleon III, emperor of France and nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. The crown has 2,480 diamonds and 56 emeralds and stands 13cm high and 15 cm in diameter, with a total weight of over 140 carats. Never used in a coronation as neither she nor her husband had one, the crown was created for the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

Emperor Napoleon III was overthrown in 1870 and Eugenia’s crown along with the emperor’s crown and other pieces were held in the vaults of the Finance Ministry until being presented at the Exposition Universelle in 1878. In 1887, a law of disposal of the “Diamonds of the Crown of France” and many of the pieces were put up for sale. The Emperor’s crown was one of the pieces sold into private hands. Eugenie’s crown was not sold, but returned to her in 1875 and she bequeathed it to Princesse Marie-Clotilde Napolean. In 1988, the crown was bought at auction then offered to the Louvre where it is displayed with other French royal jewels.

The crown was damaged in the robbery with one of the gold eagles missing and a few small pieces of diamond missing. Patrons have already stepped forward to fund the restoration of the crown.

We at Bridgewaters love to learn about historic pieces of jewelry, but we love helping our customers find their very own precious gems and jewel! Stop in to find your next favorite piece!