Bavaria—Crown of the King of Bavaria

Maximilian I, the first monarch of Bavaria, now known as Germany, had this crown created of the most valuable gems, such as sapphires and diamond rubies. This crown is worth more than $17 million. The Wittelsbach Diamond or Der Blue Wittessbatcher also adorns the crown.

The Bavarian Crown Jewels are a collection of crown jewels manufactured for the Kingdom of Bavaria from 1806 until 1918. Emperor Napoléon I of France raised the autonomous German duchy of Bavaria to full kingdom status in 1806, as part of his massive re-ordering of Europe's geography. Maximilian I, the previous Duke of Bavaria who later became King of Bavaria, celebrated the occasion by commissioning a set of crown jewels for use by Bavarian monarchs. However, no coronation ceremony was held, and the monarch never wore the crown in public. When shown at events like the king's ascension or funeral, it was put on a cushion.

Estimated Value: $17 million