A rare treasure made for the Russian royal family is about to go on sale. Fabergé’s Imperial Winter Egg is expected to fetch more than $26 million at auction on December 2, 2025. If it sells for this amount, it could set a new world record for a Fabergé item.
The Winter Egg was made in 1913 for Tsar Nicholas II. He gave it as an Easter gift to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. The egg is only 4 inches tall but is very detailed. It is made from clear rock crystal and decorated with platinum “snowflakes” and over 4,500 small diamonds. The base of the egg is designed to look like melting ice.
Inside the egg is a small surprise. When opened, a tiny basket of quartz flowers appears. This hidden feature is still in perfect condition. Such surprises were common in imperial Fabergé eggs and made them very special.
Only a few of these imperial Fabergé eggs are still owned by private collectors. Out of 43 known imperial eggs, just seven are privately owned today. This rarity makes the Winter Egg very valuable and highly sought after.
The Winter Egg has already set records in the past. It sold for $9.6 million at auction in 2002 and broke previous records in 1994. The upcoming sale could beat all earlier prices for a Fabergé egg.
The auction is part of Christie’s “Classic Week,” which runs from December 2 to December 11, 2025. Other valuable artworks, including paintings by famous artists, will also be on sale during this event.
Collectors and art lovers see the Winter Egg as more than just a luxury object. It is a symbol of the old Russian empire, a masterpiece of craftsmanship, and a historic gift full of personal meaning. The auction will show how much collectors today value these rare and beautiful pieces.
