Last week, the largest part of the jewels stolen from the historic Dresden art collection of Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) Museum three years ago was found by German police. The value of the jewels – containing over 4,300 diamonds – exceeds 113 million euros.

In total, 31 pieces have been recovered. They include an ornate diamond head-dress and the Polish Order of the White Eagle breast star, as TVP World reports. Once secured, they were brought to Dresden with the assistance of special police units. German authorities informed that the returned pieces are to be examined by specialists in order “to confirm their authenticity and intactness”. 

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1604121774123352064?s=20&t=n1yzlaxReXO5Hkb5VYxLdw

So far, there had been no trace of the stolen jewels. According to the prosecutor’s office in Dresden, the entire art collection has not yet been fully recovered. For example, an epaulette containing the precious “Dresden White Diamond” stone remains to be found. 

The Dresden burglary of the Green Vault was one of the most spectacular burglaries in German history. In November 2019, a group of thieves entered through a window into the historic art gallery in the Saxon capital’s royal palace. The robbers stole priceless art treasures, including gold and diamond jewels in just a few minutes. They then fled in a car, which they later set on fire.

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1604149420894720000?s=20&t=JHg1uNzm17E8EAMfUz9_zA

The Green Vault Gallery was founded in 1721 as a treasury of the Saxon electors and is considered one of Europe’s richest collections of gems.

Image: Twitter (@skoldehoff)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen