Another sensational heist has taken place at a museum: one of the most valuable pieces of jewelry in the collection was stolen from the MAK—Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. Two men, who entered the Viennese museum posing as ordinary visitors, made off with a diamond necklace that once belonged to Queen Nazli of Egypt, crafted in 1939 by the renowned Parisian house Van Cleef & Arpels. The theft occurred shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, when two criminals smashed the display case protecting the jewel with a hammer—in full view of several witnesses—and managed to take the necklace before fleeing. The perpetrators are still at large, and the investigation has been entrusted tothe Vienna Regional Criminal Office, which is conducting a large-scale operation to track them down.
According to Sotheby’s auction house database, the necklace was sold at auction in New York ten years ago for $4.3 million, equivalent at the time to approximately 3.7 million euros. The precious piece weighs over 200 carats and consists of 673 diamonds—including round and baguette-cut stones—arranged in an elegant radiating pattern. A masterpiece of fine jewelry created in 1939 in the Art Deco style, characterized by its refined geometric composition and the exclusive use of diamonds. The necklace had been commissioned by Queen Nazli of Egypt, along with a matching tiara, to celebrate the wedding of her daughter Fawzia to the Iranian Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who would later become the Shah of Persia.
According to reports, the thieves did not need to devise a particularly elaborate plan to gain access to the museum. In fact, they entered the MAK in Vienna through normal channels, purchasing a ticket like any other visitor. They made their way to the display case containing the necklace and smashed it to pieces with a hammer. Despite the presence of other people in the room, the two managed to grab the jewel and flee before law enforcement intervened. The necklace was one of approximately 500 pieces featured in the temporary exhibition dedicated to Van Cleef & Arpels, a jewelry house founded 120 years ago on Place Vendôme. The exhibition at the Vienna museum will remain open until September 27.
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| Theft at the MAK in Vienna: Queen Nazli of Egypt’s diamond necklace stolen |
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