Rating and value of Russian military and knighthood orders

If you own a Russian military order or order of chivalry, and would like to know its value and, if you don't know, the period and model of the decoration, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their expert appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we'll guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.   

Rating and value of Russian military and knighthood orders

Military orders and orders of chivalry are highly sought-after by collectors, particularly Russian orders. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on the order, its state of preservation, the person to whom it belonged, and other criteria. Nowadays, prices for these objects can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. Buyers from all over the world are interested in the sale of certain rare pieces. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €100 to €338,000, at the moment, a considerable difference but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these decorations. In 2021, an order of Saint Alexander of Newski in diamonds sold for €338,000, whereas its estimate was between €200,000 and €300,000.

Value order ranging from simple to prestigious

A look back at the history of Russian military orders and orders of chivalry  

As in France, Russian military orders have a hierarchy. They are also distinguished according to gender, which is rare in other countries. Male saints are assigned to men and female saints to women. Sometimes, orders are also named after a Tsar, but more often they are named after saints venerated by Orthodox Catholics, Russia's official religion since the 15th century.

The orders most present on the auction market today are those created by Imperial Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Here's a summary of some of the most famous.

The Order of Saint Catherine 

The Order of Saint Catherine was created in 1714 by Tsar Peter I. It is reserved exclusively for women and has two classes: Dame de la Grand-Croix and Dame de la Petite Croix. Depending on the case, the order is aesthetically different and is not worn in the same way. 

The Order of Saint Anne

The Order of St. Anne was founded in Kiel in 1735 by the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. There are five classes in the order. Initially worn by a few men, it was soon reserved exclusively for women. 

The Order of Saint Stanislas  

This decoration was founded by the King of Poland in 1765, and became part of the Russian orders in 1831. It comprises three classes: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. It has evolved over time, and some decorations that are no longer awarded today can raise the stakes.  

The Order of Saint Alexander Newski

This order was also founded by Tsar Peter I, and has only one class: that of knight. Originally a military award, it has since been extended to civilians. It is in honor of Russian war hero Alexander Newski.

Foreign military orders and orders of chivalry

Of course, foreign orders are also auctioned in France and are also highly prized.

For example, the orders of the First French Empire are highly sought-after, and the Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor can easily fetch millions of euros. 

Reasons to auction a military order or an order of chivalry   

If you own a military or knightly order and don't know how to sell it, auctions are a solution. Indeed, collectors use this medium to find models that correspond to a particular battle or that belonged to their ancestors. Prices can reach unprecedented heights.   

Know the value of a military order or knighthood

If you own a military or knightly decoration and would like to know its value, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your property, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.