Supplier BulletinAug 11, 2022
AGTA GemFair™ Denver – Back and Better Than Before!Sponsored by AGTA
CrimeNov 26, 2019
‘Invaluable’ Royal Jewels Stolen from Museum in Germany
Snatched from Dresden’s Green Vault, the pieces dated back to the 18th century.
Officials say two thieves broke into the jewel room of the historic Green Vault in Dresden, Germany and made off several pieces dating back to the 18th century. (Image credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. Photo: David Brandt)
Berlin—Police say a manhunt is underway in Germany after thieves made off with royal jewelry from the Green Vault Museum in Dresden, a centuries-old museum that houses thousands of jewels.
The thieves reportedly broke open a glass case containing three sets of Baroque-style jewelry that date to the 18th century, as per an AP report.
Security guards notified police of the heist around 5 a.m. after spotting two individuals entering the museum on video surveillance cameras.
WATCH: Video Surveillance of the Break-In
Marion Ackermann, Dresden’s State Art Collections director, told reporters it is standard security procedure at the museum to call the police in the event of a break-in rather than intervene.
Although officers arrived on the scene within minutes, the thieves already had sped off in a getaway car, Dresden Police Chief Joerg Kubiessa told reporters during a press conference.
An official noted that although police closed exits on the nearby motorway, it would be easy to get from the museum to the highway within minutes, as per a CNN report.
Investigators are looking into a nearby electrical fire, which disabled the streetlights at the time of the robbery as well as the lights in front of the window the thieves entered, Volker Lange of the Dresden Police Department said to reporters.
An unregistered Audi A6 was found set on fire nearby in an underground parking lot, which police confirmed matched the description of the getaway car.
SEE: The Jewelry Stolen from the Green Vault
A jewel featuring rose-cut diamonds, dating back to the 18th century, was among the pieces stolen in the heist of the Green Vault in Dresden. (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
An epaulette featuring 20 large and 216 small diamonds; the largest diamond is about 31.5 carats. (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
A jewel-encrusted sword and scabbard (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
A piece of jewelry from Poland’s Order of the White Eagle (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
Breast star from the Order of the White Eagle (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
Jewel from the bustle of Queen Amalie Auguste (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
A palmetto-shaped jewel (Photo credit: © Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
A chain of 177 Saxon river pearls, strung in 1805 (Photo credit:© Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
A sun-shaped hair pin set with 127 diamonds (Photo credit:© Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
A crescent moon-shaped hair pin (Photo credit:© Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Photo: Jürgen Karpinski)
As for the jewelry, art collection director Ackermann could not put a price on the value of the items.
“We cannot give a value because it is impossible to sell,” she told reporters. “The material value doesn’t reflect the historic meaning.”
Ackermann added that she hoped the pieces would be kept intact and stay a set.
Dirk Syndram, the Green Vault director, echoed a similar sentiment and noted the “invaluable” cultural worth of the pieces, particularly because of the sets’ completeness.
“Nowhere in any other collection in Europe have jewels or sets of jewels been preserved in this form and quantity,” he said to reporters. “The value is really in the ensemble.”
Roland Wöller, the state’s interior minister, described the theft as “a bitter day for the cultural heritage of Saxony.” He vowed to secure the return of the jewelry and capture the thieves with the help of a special team of investigators.
The investigation has been dubbed Operation Epaulette.
Michael Kretschmer, governor of
Saxony, took to Twitter to comment on the heist, stating: “It’s not just the state art collections that was robbed, but us Saxons.
“One can’t understand the history of Saxony without the Green Vault.”
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.
Its most famous treasure is the Dresden Green Diamond, a 41-carat green diamond, which is currently on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for an exhibit.
The museum’s website noted it was closed Monday for “organizational reasons.”
“One can’t understand the history of Saxony without the Green Vault.”
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.
Its most famous treasure is the Dresden Green Diamond, a 41-carat green diamond, which is currently on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for an exhibit.
The museum’s website noted it was closed Monday for “organizational reasons.”
More on Crime
The Latest
AuctionsAug 11, 2022
Sotheby’s Is Preparing its First Art Jewelry Auction This Fall“Art as Jewelry as Art” features works from artists like Salvador Dalí, Alexander Calder, and Max Ernst.
IndependentsAug 11, 2022
Martin Katz Is Moving to a PenthouseThe jeweler is relocating his Beverly Hills store after 20 years and has begun developing a lifestyle brand.
Brought to you by
The American Mined™ Collection: Ethical Sourcing That MattersRio Grande provides a pathway to responsibly sourced gemstones.
MajorsAug 11, 2022
Brilliant Earth Opens First Missouri Showroom in St. LouisIt’s the company’s seventh showroom opening this year.
Weekly QuizAug 11, 2022
This Week’s QuizTest your knowledge of the latest jewelry news with this quick test.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2022
HRD Antwerp Is Bringing Back Its Jewelry Design Competition The Belgian organization is calling for entries from all over the world, with an eye on attracting emerging talent.
ColumnistsAug 10, 2022
On Data: What We Know About Jewelry Sales So Far This YearSherry Smith digs into year-to-date data on lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, the performance of colored gemstone jewelry, and more.
Brought to you by
Knowledge and Skills for Today’s Hot TopicsFrom laboratory-grown diamonds to design to country-of-origin, GIA's Alumni Collective™ has a seminar to suite your needs.
EditorsAug 10, 2022
Take a Tour Through Buccellati’s Vintage Jewelry CollectionAssociate Editor Lenore Fedow leads readers through the Italian jeweler’s works from the 1940s to the 2000s.
Events & AwardsAug 10, 2022
JA New York Returns with New Designer GalleryThe jewelry trade show is taking place Aug. 14-16 at the Javits Center in New York City.
MajorsAug 10, 2022
GIA Is Now a Sponsor of AGS Young TitleholdersThe sponsorship will help fund programs and initiatives in the upcoming year.
MajorsAug 09, 2022
Signet to Buy Blue Nile in $360M DealThe jewelry giant said the acquisition will allow it to tap into a pool of customers who are younger, more affluent and ethnically diverse.
TechnologyAug 09, 2022
Tiffany & Co.’s CryptoPunk Pendant NFTs Are Sold OutThere were only 250 made available, selling for more than $50,000.
CollectionsAug 09, 2022
Cora Sheibani Shows a Magic Garden of Jewelry at Sotheby’sThe British-based Swiss designer’s “Pottering Around” collection is for sale at Sotheby’s East Hampton starting this week.
SourcingAug 09, 2022
Diamond Price List Introduces ‘Insights’ Platform It provides real-time diamond market analytics.
SourcingAug 09, 2022
Grandview Klein to Donate Dialysis Machines to Namibian ClinicThe diamond firm will give the donation at a ceremony in Namibia this month during a trip for select retail jeweler partners.
TrendsAug 08, 2022
Amanda’s Style File: Spicy SpinelsTough, vibrant, and full of personality, spinel is a perfect birthstone for August babies, Amanda Gizzi says.
IndependentsAug 08, 2022
Gemist, NDC to Offer Custom Pieces by BIPOC DesignersDorian Webb, one of the designers in the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative, will be the first to work with Gemist.
MajorsAug 08, 2022
Here’s How to Support Jewelers for Children this JFC DayThe charity will hold its fifth annual fundraising day on Sept. 24.
SourcingAug 05, 2022
Rare Earth Mining Co.’s Bill Heher Dies at 72The passionate gem lover helped bring more than 300 different varieties of stones to the gem trade.
TrendsAug 05, 2022
Piece of the Week: Storrow Jewelry’s ‘Emblem Rosa’ CharmThe brand has attracted attention for its colorful, vintage-inspired pieces.
MajorsAug 05, 2022
Former Nike Executive Joins Team at David Yurman Marcelo Tau is the company’s new chief operations officer.
Policies & IssuesAug 05, 2022
Satta Matturi Joins RJC BoardThe jewelry designer founded her eponymous brand in 2015 after nearly two decades in the diamond industry.
Supplier BulletinAug 04, 2022
Unusual Jewelry Finds Eager Buyers In Online AuctionsSponsored by HiBid
WatchesAug 04, 2022
4 Takeaways from Chrono24’s Analysis of the Luxury Watch MarketThe watch seller comments on future demand, how the crypto crash impacted Rolex and Patek Philippe pricing, the supply recovery, and more.
CollectionsAug 04, 2022
The Rest of De Beers’ 2022 High Jewelry Collection Is HereIt features fives sets of jewelry.
Lab-GrownAug 04, 2022
Lab-Grown Diamond Co. Plasmability Partners with HRA GroupThrough the collaboration, HRA will exclusively cut, polish, and distribute Plasmability’s lab-grown diamonds in the market.
