Napoleon's Black Opal

Napoleon Bonaparte

Emperor Napoleon gave his wife and Empress Josephine de Beauharnais a magnificent Black Opal. Due to the flashing crimson fire in its dark depths, it was named the Burning of Troy. 

This gem was at the time undoubtedly the largest Black Opal in the world at the time at 700 carats in cut form. Its beauty and value attracted much attention and Josephine wore it often.

The Burning of Troy Black Opal disappeared after Josephine's death in 1814 and remained hidden for 100 years. 

Josephine de Beauharnais

The Opal was purchased by the city of Vienna in Austria and at the time of World War One was valued at over $50,000. 

The Opal vanished once more at the outbreak of World War Two and has not been seen in public since.

The gem was thought to have been mined in Slovakia but a consensus of professional opinion disagrees with this theory. 

Due to the Burning of Troy being a Black Opal and backed in the deepest black and its impressive size it is thought likely that the gem originated from Honduras. The Honduran mines are some of the oldest in the world and supplied the native population with gems throughout history.