When A Golden Goose Drops A Nest Egg: Expensive Fabergé Eggs

The price of eggs might be rising in your local supermarket, but they don’t compare to the creations from the House of Fabergé jewelry firm. These intricate works of art, created mainly between 1885 and 1917, are worth almost as much as the most expensive paintings in the world.

The Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II commissioned most of the Fabergé eggs as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers. Peter Carl Fabergé supervised their creation, adding many jewels and precious metals into their complicated designs with a hidden surprise.

Why are Fabergé eggs so expensive? They are rare collectibles unlike most other pieces of art, they hold a variety of valuable materials, but perhaps most of all, they have a rich history associated with immense wealth and famed royalty.

Demand has only sharpened with time: when the Winter Egg crossed the block at Christie’s, it set a new world auction record for any Fabergé work at $30.2 million.

We’ve rounded up 15 of the most expensive Fabergé eggs, some of which have unknown current values but are sure to be extremely desirable items. Others are hosted as part of major collections throughout the world. Are you ready for the full eggs-ibition?

The most expensive Fabergé eggs in the world

Renaissance Egg: Price unknown

This Fabregé egg was the last one gifted from Tsar Alexander III to his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1894.

The interior surprise is no longer present. One theory is that a string of pearls rested inside. Another is that the Resurrection Egg was nestled inside, backed by the fact it fits perfectly inside.

The value is unknown, but it was also sold as part of the deal to Viktor Vekselberg when he purchased nine of the Fabergé eggs for $100 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & Mikhail Perkhin (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	Unknown

Mosaic Egg: Price unknown

With an original 1914 purchase price of 28,300 rubles, this was the most expensive egg produced by Fabergé. It is a gold egg divided into five flower-patterned oval panes by diamond and gold belts.

It is one of the most intricate Fabergé eggs and was last sold to King George V and Queen Mary for £250. It is part of the Royal Collection and was last on display in 2011.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor), Alma Theresia Pikl (designer) & Albert Holstrom (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Private Royal Collection
Faberge Egg Price	Unknown

Rosebud Egg: $4 million

Back in 1895, Tsar Nicholas II wanted to provide his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, a special token of love. And so he commissioned his first Fabergé egg to gift her.

A yellow enamel tea rose is tucked inside of the stunning red egg covered in four strips of brilliant diamonds. The small gold crown and ruby pendant hidden inside of the tea rose are now gone, but the egg lives on.

It is estimated to be worth $4 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & Mikhail Perkhin (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$4 million

Tsarevich Egg: $6 million

Carved from a single block of deep-blue lapis lazuli and laced with chased gold scrollwork, the Tsarevich Egg ranks among the most beautiful pieces the House of Fabergé ever produced — and one of the most tender. Tsar Nicholas II commissioned it in 1912 for his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

Its meaning runs deeper than its materials. The egg marks the recovery of their only son, the Tsarevich Alexei, from a near-fatal hemophilia crisis. Open it and the surprise reveals itself: a platinum double-headed Imperial eagle cradling a diamond-set miniature of the young heir in his sailor suit.

Today it anchors the Lillian Thomas Pratt collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the largest gathering of Fabergé on public display in the United States. It has never come to market, but its craftsmanship and provenance place its value at an estimated $6 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & Henrik Wigström (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond
Faberge Egg Price	$6 million

Hen Egg: $6 million

This is one of the most expensive Fabergé eggs, and it holds a unique position as the first jeweled egg commissioned by Emperor Alexander III in 1885. It pleased him so much that it became an annual ritual and at each Easter, a new one was commissioned for his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.

The Hen Egg is a rather minimalistic white and gold design with a small golden hen placed inside. An Imperial crown was once inside of the hen but is now missing. It is estimated to be worth $6 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & Erik Kollin (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in St Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$6 million

Cradle with Garlands Egg: $6.65 million

Celebrating newborns is a nearly ubiquitous part of every culture. And for Tsar Nicholas II, the birth of his son Alexei was a monumental occasion that he wanted to commemorate accordingly.

He commissioned this pearl-encrusted, pale blue-colored egg for his wife Alexandra upon Alexei’s birth. Although the miniature of the Imperial children once hidden inside is now missing, this Love Trophies egg is still one of the most expensive Fabergé eggs in existence.

In 1992, it sold for $3.19 million, equal to $6.65 million in today’s inflation-adjusted dollars.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & Henrik Wigström (designer)
Where it can be seen	V&A Museum in London
Faberge Egg Price	$6.65 million

Order of St George Egg: $7 million

The Order of St George is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation, and this Fabergé egg was commissioned in 1916 by Nicholas II to commemorate this achievement earned by himself and his son, Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaievich.

Coming from a period of austerity in World War I, this Fabergé egg is considered to be modest in design, covered with a green-colored pattern and presenting the Order of St George medal as the focal point.

It is estimated to be worth $7 million, making most of the most valuable stamps pale in comparison.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$7 million

Lilies of the Valley Egg: $13 million

As only one of two antique Fabergé eggs using Art Nouveau style, this egg was created in 1898 for Tsar Nicholas II as a gift to his wife, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.

The intricate design features many pearls placed carefully over a pink enamel on a guilloché field. Four legs support the structure, and a twist of the pearl button reveals portraits of Tsar Nicholas II and his two oldest daughters hidden within.

It is estimated to be worth up to $13 million, more than almost all of the most valuable coins.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & Mikhail Perkhin (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$13 million

Moscow Kremlin Egg: $15 million

The largest and most architecturally ambitious egg Fabergé ever attempted, this gold-and-onyx showpiece was modeled on the Cathedral of the Dormition inside the Moscow Kremlin, right down to its white enamel walls, golden cupolas, and miniature windows. Tsar Nicholas II gave it to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in 1906.

Standing more than 14 inches tall, it doubles as a music box: wind the mechanism in the base with a gold key and it plays the cherubim hymns sung at Russian Orthodox Easter.

Unlike the eggs scattered to private collectors after the Revolution, this one never left Russia. It remains in the Kremlin Armoury, home to the world’s largest collection of Imperial eggs. It has never been sold, but estimates place its worth at around $15 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé
Where it can be seen	Kremlin Armoury, Moscow
Faberge Egg Price	$15 million

Fifteenth Anniversary Egg: $15 million

While some cultures host large Quinceañera celebrations for 15th birthdays, this special Fabergé egg commemorates the fifteenth anniversary of Tsar Nicholas II’s coronation.

The exterior includes gold, white, and green touches surrounding 16 miniatures, all trimmed with elegant diamonds and crystals. Contrasting almost every other Fabergé egg for sale, the interior does not hold a hidden treasure and is believed to never have one.

It is estimated to be worth up to $15 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$15 million

Bay Tree Egg: $15 million

Presented along with the Fifteenth Anniversary egg, this stunning piece of art was gifted from Tsar Nicholas II to his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Adorned with a nephrite shell covered in diamonds, rubies, amethysts, and pearls, the interior opens by turning a tiny lever disguised as fruit, revealing a songbird inside.

Although thought to be an orange tree for some time, the original 1911 invoice of this Fabergé egg for sale shows it is a bay tree. It is estimated to be worth $15 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$15 million

Imperial Coronation Egg: $18 million

As one of the top 10 most expensive Fabergé eggs, this example exemplifies the intricate touch applied back in its 1897 creation. The exterior is crafted to match the cloth of gold robe worn by Tsarina, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna at her coronation.

And inside, a replica of the 18th-century Imperial coach used during the service is presented, including moving wheels, opening doors, and functional shock absorbers. It is estimated to be worth up to $18 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor), Mikhail Perkhin (workmaster), and Henrik Wigström (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$18 million

Rothschild Clock Egg: $25.1 million

As one of the rare examples not commissioned by the Russian Imperial family, this Fabergé egg was an engagement gift from Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild to Germaine Halphen.

Encrusted with gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls, the real surprise of this egg comes at the top of each hour, when a cockerel appears atop the egg, flaps its wings four times, nods his head three times, and a bell strikes the start of a new hour.

How much is a Fabergé egg worth? This one sold for £8.9 million in 2007, equal to about US $25.1 million in today’s inflation-adjusted dollars.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé
Where it can be seen	Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg
Faberge Egg Price	$25.1 million

Winter Egg: $30.2 million

Few Fabergé eggs capture the firm’s genius quite like the Winter Egg. Carved from rock crystal so fine it seems to hold its own frost, it was designed to resemble a block of ice, its surface traced with platinum snowflakes set with some 4,500 rose-cut diamonds. Tsar Nicholas II commissioned it in 1913 as an Easter gift for his mother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.

The surprise inside is just as delicate: a platinum basket of wood anemones rendered in white quartz, nephrite, and garnets, as if spring were emerging from the ice.

It is also the most valuable Fabergé egg ever to sell at public auction. After changing hands for $5.6 million in 1994 and $9.6 million in 2002, it sold at Christie’s for a record $30.2 million, a price that reflects just how rarely an Imperial egg comes to market.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor), Alma Pihl (designer) & Albert Holmström (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Private collection
Faberge Egg Price	$30.2 million

Third Imperial Easter Egg: $33 million

We’ve come to the most expensive egg on this list. The Third Imperial Easter egg is a solid 18K gold case decorated with diamonds and sapphires, held up by three sets of corbel-like legs ending in lion’s paws.

The surprise inside is a 14K gold Vacheron Constantin lady’s watch, featuring diamond-set hands. While it might not be worth as much as the most expensive houses in the world, it is certainly the most expensive Fabergé egg.

But the most interesting fact about this comes from recent history, when a scrap dealer discovered it in 2011, after letting it sit in his kitchen for years before discovering its true origin. It sold for an undisclosed amount in 2014 and is now estimated to be worth $33 million.

Creators	Peter Carl Fabergé (supervisor) & August Holmström (workmaster)
Where it can be seen	Private collection
Faberge Egg Price	$33 million

Most expensive Fabergé eggs: conclusion

There is no egg-aggerating the value of these delicate works of art. How much is the cheapest Fabergé egg on this list? That’s difficult to say with certainty since they don’t exchange hands very often, but it’s almost certain to be hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.

If you’re still wondering how many Fabergé eggs are there, great news: While 57 are known to exist today, experts believe at least 7 are missing. So next time you go to another estate sale, keep your eye out for treasure hidden in plain sight.

It’s unlikely you’re going to stumble across an antique Fabergé egg for sale anywhere other than a major auction house, but if you want to see some of the largest collections, then head to Saint Petersburg, Russia for a visit.

Unless anyone comes up with one of the missing seven eggs, the 15 most expensive Fabergé eggs in the world are:

Keep the luxury rolling with our guides to the Dazzling Desire: World’s Most Expensive Diamonds, You Won’t Guess: Most Expensive Engagement Rings, and Beyond Playthings: Most Expensive 1000%.

1. Third Imperial Easter Egg: $33 million
2. Winter Egg: $30.2 million
3. Rothschild Clock Egg: $25.1 million
4. Imperial Coronation Egg: $18 million
5. Bay Tree Egg: $15 million
6. Fifteenth Anniversary Egg: $15 million
7. Moscow Kremlin Egg: $15 million
8. Lilies of the Valley Egg: $13 million
9. Order of St George Egg: $7 million
10. Cradle with Garlands Egg: $6.65 million
11. Hen Egg: $6 million
12. Tsarevich Egg: $6 million
13. Rosebud Egg: $4 million
14. Mosaic Egg: Price unknown
15. Renaissance Egg: Price unknown

Frequently asked questions about the most expensive fabergé eggs