A cigarette case with a diamond veneer of Nicholas II left the auction for $ 17 thousand.

A gold cigarette case with a diamond crown of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, presented to British Baron Frederick Ponsonby, sold at auction in Paris for €15,360 (about $ 17.8 thousand). This is reported by the auction house Sotheby's.

The bidding ended on November 9, 2026. The case was presented as part of a sale of items from the palace of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Initially, the product was estimated at €2-3 thousand. Thus, the final price was more than five times higher than the initial estimate.

The gold cigarette case is decorated with a diamond monogram of Nicholas II and an opening button with a sapphire-cabochon. Its total weight is 220 years Sotheby’s dates the product 1908-1917 years and presumably associates with the company Morozov in St. Petersburg. On the inside of the lid is a later engraving, according to which the emperor gave a cigarette case to Frederick Edward Gray Ponsonby.

On the inside of the lid is an inscription: "Given by F. E. G. Ponsonbi by the Russian Emperor Nicholas II." Born in 1868. Killed in 1918.” According to the auction house, Ponsonby was a military and representative of British high society, served at the court of several British monarchs.

On November 10, Sotheby’s announced plans to auction about 300 items related to the Russian imperial family. From the Vaults of A La Vieille Russie will be auctioned on December 16th in New York City, with another part of the collection going online from December 3rd to 17th. The collection includes jewelry by Carl Faberge, porcelain, silver, paintings and other art objects. The total estimated value of the collection exceeds $ 15 million, according to the website of the auction house.