The sapphire of the last tsars of Russia sold for 19.4 million PLN. The price exceeded all expectations

A rare Romanov sapphire weighing 197.80 carats was sold for 4.1 million Swiss francs at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva, significantly exceeding pre-auction estimates. The sapphire, set in a diamond-studded bracelet by Cartier, is part of the legendary Romanov collection, once owned by the last Russian Tsar's mother. The gemstone's history traces back to the 1883 ball attended by Empress Maria Feodorovna. After the Russian Revolution, the collection was sold off, with the sapphire eventually acquired by opera singer Ganna Walska. Sotheby's noted that Romanov jewels consistently fetch high prices at auctions, often surpassing estimates.