Telling if a Fabergé egg is real involves checking for impeccable, intricate craftsmanship, real precious metals/gems (no plastic), correct Cyrillic hallmarks (like Fabergé, workmaster initials, gold standard "56"), and historical provenance, but beware of fakes, as some have convincing marks; expert authentication from major auction houses (like Christie's) or specialists is crucial, as only 57 Imperial Eggs exist, with most in museums/private collections.
Examine Carl Fabergé hallmarks carefully. Pieces were often hallmarked before the item was finished to avoid damage – fake marks can look too good. They are usually very tactile and the colours of the hardstones and enamel are sometimes bright but never vulgar.
One way to tell for sure is that Faberge uses precious metals and real gemstones. A jeweler can tell the difference immediately. Just the weight of the piece alone generally can tell you if there is plastic involved in the fake piece. Also, check for rough or sharp edges which the fakes will sometimes have.
A variety of marks can be seen on works by Fabergé, associated with the different branches of the firm. For example, works from St Petersburg are marked 'Fabergé' in Cyrillic, while Moscow pieces are marked 'K. Fabergé' in Cyrillic and include the double-headed eagle of the imperial warrant.
Simply fill a bowl with cold tap water and place your eggs in it. If they sink to the bottom, they are fresh and good to eat. A bad egg will float because of the large air cell that forms at its base. Any floating eggs should be thrown out. All egg cartons and trays sold in USA with a sell-by date.
The "555 egg method" is a popular technique for making easy-peel hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker, involving 5 minutes of high pressure, a 5-minute natural pressure release, and a final 5-minute ice bath to stop cooking and loosen the shell, though results can vary, with some finding it perfect and others needing adjustments.
The eggs are very highly sought-after collectors items. For example, the Fabergé Winter Egg was sold for US $30.2 million at auction in 2025.
The tradition of the Faberge Eggs started during the reign of Tsar Alexander III, when he commissioned the House of Faberge to craft an Easter gift for his wife, the Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. The eggs were manufactured, not just to be Easter gifts, but gifts in general, which is why so many of them were created.
Here is what we know about the missing Fabergé Imperial Easter eggs.
The VMFA is significant because it is the largest public collection of Fabergé eggs in the United States, and more importantly, outside of Russia. In 1954, the VMFA opened the first permanent Fabergé gallery exhibition, and in 1996, VMFA presented Fabergé in America and The Lillian Thomas Pratt Collection of Fabergé.
It's a history-making sale for a rare Fabergé creation. The Winter Egg, a dazzling object with ties to Russian royalty, sold for £22.8 million ($30.2 million) at Christie's London on December 2, becoming the most valuable Fabergé egg to ever sell at auction.
The extreme scarcity of these luxury creations gives them strong potential as investments, with unique one-of-a-kind pieces having even more room for value appreciation. The Fabergé Winter Egg from 1913 famously sold for nearly $10M in 2002.
The metal work is finely chased, leaving no spot unattended. The decorations are delicate and harmonious with the rest of the piece. Real Fabergé items have a tactile balance about them as well. It's a hard thing to describe, but when you hold them in your hand, you can sense the quality of the item.
Some tell-tale signs of a fake include uneven stitching, a plastic-like odour in place of the distinctive scent of leather and sloppy logo printing. Typically, the more popular the brand the more likely it is to be duped, but I'd never say that any brand is 100 pre cent safe or completely off-limits to counterfeiters.
Fabergé egg fetches record $30.2 million at rare auction. The Winter Egg, pictured here ahead of Tuesday's auction, is one of the last Fabergé eggs left in private hands.
Billionaire Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg owns 15 Fabergé Easter Eggs, making him the largest private collector in the world. Vekselberg bought nine Imperial Eggs from the Forbes media family, at the time the world's largest private collection, in 2004 for just over $100 million.
The Fabergé family's origins can be traced back to 17th-century France, under the name Favri.
Faberge and his company created more than 50 of the eggs for Russia's royal family between 1885 and 1917, each elaborately unique and containing a hidden surprise. Some have been lost over time, so as a result, they are worth a lot of money and are often sold for millions of pounds when they go to auction.
There is a small, jeweled egg, which is made of precious metals and hard stones. Silver, gold, copper, nickel, and palladium in addition to sapphires, rubies, diamonds and emeralds are various metals and stones that could be used in this egg. It is decorated with enamel and gems while hanging from a chain.
By holding the egg against the light, you can see inside and determine its freshness based on the position of the yolk and the air pocket. It's a simple and effective way to avoid using spoiled eggs.