The Coronation Egg (1897)

Made to mark Nicholas II's 1896 coronation, this egg wraps a gold surface in translucent yellow enamel radiating out from the center like sunbeams -- one of Faberge's most instantly recognizable finishes. Inside is the real showpiece: a tiny gold replica of the 18th-century coronation coach, barely 9 cm long, accurate down to the smallest detail. It's the egg most people picture when they picture a Faberge egg at all, and it earns that reputation on craftsmanship alone.