The history of the "Toi et Moi" ring: a symbol of love and destiny (3 photos)

Josephine was born on the island of Martinique and married Viscount Alexandre de Beauharnais at the age of 16. The marriage was short-lived. After their divorce, she found a powerful patron who made her one of the most powerful women in Paris. In 1795, at the age of 32, she met the young general Napoleon Bonaparte, who was 26. He was immediately captivated by her. A year later, already an officer with a promising career, Napoleon gave Josephine a ring called "Toi et Moi"—French for "You and Me." He couldn't afford an expensive piece of jewelry at the time, but this pear-shaped diamond and sapphire ring was an important symbol of his sincere feelings and serious intentions. On the inside, the inscription reads: "It is destiny."

Despite being a mature woman with two children, Josephine accepted Napoleon's proposal. But his ambitions prevailed—he wanted not just an empire, but a new dynasty of power. Josephine was unable to give him an heir, and their marriage broke up in 1809. Speculation suggests that infidelity and Josephine's free-spirited nature were the cause, though she still carefully preserved the "You and I" ring even after the breakup. This family heirloom was passed down through generations of French families. In 2013, it sold at auction in Paris for a record-breaking $948,000.