Auction gem: golden Easter egg

It almost sounds like a fairy tale. In 2004, a man from America bought a gold ornament barely eight centimeters high at a flea market for almost €13,000. The price seemed steep for a small ornament. Yet it proved to be an exceptional find. Years later, the ornament turned out to be a rare Fabergé egg. It sold for millions at auction.

It almost sounds like a fairy tale; In 2004, a man from America bought a gold ornament barely eight centimeters high at a flea market for almost €13.000. You might think that the price is high for a small ornament. However, it turned out to be a piece of cake after all. Years later, the ornament turned out to be a very expensive Fabergé egg. It sold for millions at auction. 

Easter was an important holiday in Russia where it was the custom to give each other gifts. These were often beautifully decorated eggs, because they symbolized fertility. In 1885, Tsar Alexander III commissioned his jeweler Fabergé to make an Easter egg for his wife, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. This is how the first Fabergé egg made its debut. Maria was so delighted with the gift that the Tsar appointed Fabergé court jeweler with the task of making a new Easter egg every year. The conditions were that each egg had to be unique and preferably have a certain theme. A total of 69 were manufactured, of which 57 still exist. 

The egg that was long thought to have been lost is the so-called Third Imperial Egg, which the dealer in America bought at a flea market. The man got into financial trouble because he initially overestimated the value. He hoped to make another $500 if he melted it down. In a fit of desperation, he typed "egg" with the name engraved on the clock into Google. In this way he came across an article about the frantic search to the object. 

Blue sapphire with diamond

The 8.2 centimeter Fabergé egg stands on a gold stand with lion paws and is circled with gold garlands of flowers. These garlands hang from cabochon cut blue sapphires surrounded by diamonds. Inside is a women's watch from the Vacheron Constantin brand. 

In 2014, the Third Imperial Egg was sold at auction. It is unclear how much, but experts estimate the value at approximately €30 million.