Jewels of the Green Vault on display again after shocking museum robbery in Dresden

Years after the historic robbery of a German museum’s Green Vault, in which thieves stole a priceless amount of jewels, many of the stolen treasures are now back on display.

In 2019, thieves infiltrated Fort Knox–such as the safe of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) and stole more than 4,300 diamonds that once belonged to the kings of Saxony. While the museum refused to set a price for the stolen gems, the German newspaper Picture It was later estimated that their total value was one billion euros (US$1.1 billion), making the burglary the largest in art history, surpassing even the theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, in which 13 Old Master paintings disappeared.

“Almost five years after the break-in at the Historic Green Vault, we are now allowed to present our jewels, recovered in December 2022, to the public for the first time,” said Marion Ackermann, General Director of the SKD, in a statement.

Presentation of the recovered jewels in the Historic Green Vault. Photo: David Pinzer, © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.

While the 1990 Gardner Museum theft remains unsolved, a small but significant number of the Green Vault jewels were recovered in 2022 when the thieves, who were arrested for another crime, revealed their whereabouts as part of a settlement. Unfortunately, most of the loot is still missing. This includes the crown jewel, the so-called Dresden White Diamond, a 62-carat cushion-cut diamond purchased by the Saxon King Frederick Augustus I (1750–1827).

“We are very grateful to the Dresden Regional Court for allowing the jewels to be moved to their original location,” said Ackermann. “However, they will remain secured for the court’s assessment. With the display case being reinstalled, the citizens of Saxony and all interested visitors can now experience the Green Vault in almost all its glory again.”

Presentation of the recovered jewels in the Historic Green Vault. Photo: David Pinzer, © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.

Some of the jewels were damaged during their time outside the Green Vault, but Ackermann said the damage was “barely visible.” She added that the museum assumes “that in principle all damage can be repaired” and that “after the jewels are released, an international commission of experts will meet for this purpose.”

Presentation of the recovered jewels in the Historic Green Vault. Photo: David Pinzer, © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.

Ackermann also spoke about the future of the Green Vault’s security service.—although previously praised as impenetrable—must be updated to prevent future theft.

“We cannot undo the break-in,” she said. “But we can ensure that it does not happen again. The security architecture of the collections and properties entrusted to us, which goes far beyond the sole responsibility of the SKD, has been thoroughly reviewed and appropriate conclusions drawn.—as always in close coordination with all relevant authorities.”

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