The Green Vault displays jewels recovered from a spectacular heist

This is one of the most spectacular art thefts in Germany: about five years ago, thieves stole priceless jewels from the Dresden Palace Green Vault Museum. After a trial against a family in Berlin, five members of the robbery gang have been convicted, while one of the alleged criminals is still under prosecution.

Most of the jewels have been returned to the Green Vault. From August 14, 2024, these precious objects can be seen again. In anticipation of a large influx of visitors, the museum has even extended its opening hours.

The jewels have not yet been restored and will be displayed to the public after they are returned by the thieves in December 2022.

Saxony Minister Michael Kretschmer was “delighted and very grateful” for his speech to the media on Tuesday (August 13, 2024).

At first glance, the damage to the jewels was not noticeable. Under the light of the display case, they sparkled as if no one had ever touched them.

“At the moment, we believe that everything can be restored,” said Marion Ackermann, director of the Dresden State Art Collections. However, this will only be possible once the investigation is finally concluded, as not all circumstances of the theft have been clarified and the jewels are considered evidence in an ongoing case.

On November 25, 2019, thieves cut off the street lights in front of the Dresden Royal Palace, tore off the grille of a window of the Green Vault, and forced the window open with hydraulic tools.

Two criminals entered the building and, ignoring the alarm, forcibly destroyed a display case containing jewellery.

The thieves collected everything they could and disappeared shortly before the police arrived. They managed to get 21 unique pieces of historical jewellery, a total of 4,300 diamonds and brilliant-cut diamonds, valued at more than 113 million euros.

His spoils belonged to the treasury of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony, King of Poland, nicknamed “Sun King of Saxony”. He reigned from 1694 to 1733 and went down in history as a lover of luxury, splendor and women. The baroque splendor of the city of Dresden on the Elbe is attributed to him.

The monarch ordered the creation of the most valuable jewels for himself. Among them, a sword set with diamonds, a breast medal and an epaulette (a nameplate attached to the shoulder of a uniform) were set with one of the largest diamonds in Germany, the so-called “White Diamond of Saxony”, weighing nearly 50 carats.

The theft was quickly declared the coup of the century, as Germany had lost one of its most valuable cultural treasures.

Experts believe the theft was the work of a wealthy art collector and that many of the artworks will be removed and the gems cut because the treasures cannot be sold on the open market.

The investigation led police to Berlin, where members of a family were about to be sentenced for another art theft of staggering proportions: they allegedly stole a 100-kilogram gold coin from Berlin’s Bode Museum in March 2017.

After defense lawyers and prosecutors reached an agreement, some of the jewelry was recovered in December 2022. A museum administrator reported that some of the historical artifacts were severely damaged: some pieces had broken corners, deformation and moisture damage, which may have been caused by improper storage or even attempts to clean them.

Three large stone objects of particular value have remained undiscovered to date, including shoulder pieces bearing the “Saxon White”.