Jewels Stolen During Green Vault Heist Back on Display
Most of the 18th century royal jewelry taken from the Green Vault Museum in Dresden, Germany, in 2019 went back on display this week.

German authorities recovered almost all the jewelry in 2022, though a few pieces are still missing, including a large jeweled bustle bow that belonged to Queen Amalie Auguste of Bavaria and an epaulet set with the “Saxon White” diamond.
“We are very grateful to the Dresden Regional Court for approving the relocation of the jewels to their original location,” Marion Ackermann, director general of the Dresden State Art Collections, said in a statement translated from German.
“However, they will remain secured for judicial appraisal. The reinstallation of the display case now allows the citizens of Saxony and all interested visitors to experience the Green Vault again in almost all its glory.”
The jewels were returned with some “barely visible” damage, said Ackermann, and need to be repaired.
“The returned pieces are major artistic works of Saxon and international jewelry art of the 18th century. We assume that, in principle, all damage can be restored. An international commission of experts will meet for this purpose after the jewels have been released,” she said.
In May 2023, a German court convicted five men of breaking into the museum and stealing jewels with an insured value of at least $135 million.
Throughout the investigation, museum officials said the jewels were priceless in terms of their historical and cultural value and hoped for their return.
The men were all members of the Berlin-based Remmo organized crime family, according to German news agency DPA.
The men, ages 24 to 29 at the time, were sentenced to between 4 and 6 years in prison. A sixth suspect was acquitted.
The sentences were handed down as part of a plea bargain, following the retrieval of some of the stolen jewels in late 2022.
Local police said at the time that they found 31 jewels in Berlin and most of the pieces were intact.
“Of course, we have not given up hope of being able to exhibit the remaining jewels here in the Green Vault one day,” said Ackermann.
“We cannot undo the break-in, but we can ensure that it cannot happen again,” she said, noting the museum’s security architecture has been reviewed and it is coordinating with the relevant authorities.
The museum is inviting the public to come see the recovered jewels, offering extended opening hours and a limited number of free tickets on its website.
In a post on X, Saxony Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer said it was a good day for Saxony.
Heute ist ein guter Tag für #Sachsen. 2019 haben kriminelle Clans aus Berlin sich unser #kulturelles #Erbe zu eignen gemacht. Doch wir haben für unseren Schatz gekämpft! Dank der unermüdlichen Arbeit von #Polizei, #Justiz und Politik konnte ein großer Teil der Schmuckstücke… pic.twitter.com/c0pjb8NOCq
— Michael Kretschmer (@MPKretschmer) August 13, 2024
His treasury, on display in Dresden’s Royal Palace, is comprised of 4,000 jewels, objets d’art, and other historically significant items, including the 41-carat “Dresden Green” diamond.
The Latest

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.


The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.

The online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.

The opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.

The “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Robert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.