6 Charged in Connection with Green Vault Jewel Heist
The men are charged with the theft of 18th century royal jewels from the museum in Dresden, Germany in November 2019.

The men, German nationals ages 22 to 27, are charged with organized robbery and arson after breaking into the museum and swiping 21 pieces of jewelry with an insured value of at least $135 million, as per an NPR report.
Marion Ackermann, Dresden’s State Art Collections director, said at the time of the theft that the true value of the items couldn’t be measured.
“We cannot give a value because it is impossible to sell,” she told reporters. “The material value doesn’t reflect the historic meaning.”
The thieves are said to have lit a fire ahead of the break-in, disrupting the power supply to the lights above the museum windows and the streetlights outside.
An unregistered Audi A6 was also found set on fire nearby in an underground parking lot, which Dresden police confirmed matched the description of the getaway car.
The investigation was dubbed “Operation Epaulette.”
The missing jewels are still unaccounted for, and the suspects have not addressed the accusations against them.
SEE: Some of the Jewelry Stolen from the Green Vault
Two of the suspects were already serving sentences for robbing the Bode Museum in Berlin, swiping a 220-pound Canadian gold coin dubbed the “Big Maple Leaf.”
That coin, valued at around $4.2 million, has also never been recovered, believed by authorities to have been cut into pieces and sold.
The Green Vault is one of the world’s oldest museums, created in 1723 by Augustus the Strong of Saxony, who wanted to establish Dresden as an arts hub.
His treasury, on display in Dresden’s Royal Palace, includes 4,000 jewels, objets d’art, and other historically significant items.
The museum’s most famous treasure is the Dresden Green Diamond, a 41-carat green diamond, which was on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for an exhibition at the time.
Michael Kretschmer, minister president of Saxony, took to Twitter at the time to comment on the heist, stating: “It’s not just the state art collections that were robbed, but us Saxons.”
“One can’t understand the history of Saxony without the Green Vault.”
An indictment was filed at the state court in Dresden, which then decides whether the case will go to trial.
The Latest

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

The 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.

The West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

This past year, the manufacturer said it recorded below-zero emissions per carat of natural diamond.


The brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.

Located on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.

The online watch marketplace’s “Time Is Our Thing” campaign highlights the importance of time.

She will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of the Gem Legacy Campus in Tanzania.

The jewelry company has closed its three California brick-and-mortar stores, as well as its online shop, for now.

The company is providing the opportunity for an FIT student to work alongside master diamond cutter Willie Lopez in its workshop.

He is remembered for his successful entrepreneurship, generosity, and dedication to his family.

The jewelry store chain has reportedly been struggling with costs related to tariffs as well as tough retail competition.

Welcome warm summer days with red hot rubies perfectly chosen as July’s birthstone.

Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.

The best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

This year’s winner is Morgan Keefe, who is currently studying at GIA to be a gemologist.

“The Jewelry Book” comes out this September.

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.

Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.