Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Thieves steal historic diamond necklace from Austria museum
Two men went into a museum in Austria after buying regular tickets.
They broke a glass case with a hammer and took a very valuable necklace.
The necklace has 200 carats of diamonds and platinum, with 673 precious stones.
It was made by Van Cleef & Arpels and had once been connected to Egypt’s royal family.
The museum closed the exhibition after the theft.
Police are looking for the two men, who were seen clearly on security cameras.
The robbery is part of a series of museum thefts reported in Europe.
Other recent raids happened at the Louvre in Paris and at a museum in Spain.
Two men bought tickets, entered Austria’s Museum of Applied Arts, and smashed a glass display case with a hammer.
The thieves fled with a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace containing 673 precious stones.
The Van Cleef & Arpels necklace was reportedly worth several million dollars and belonged to an exhibition of about 500 pieces.
The necklace was designed for Egypt’s former royal family and was worn by Queen Nazli at her daughter’s 1939 wedding.
The theft follows high-profile museum raids in Paris and Spain, including a four-minute robbery at the Treasure of Villena museum.
- Who
- Two men stole a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the Museum of Applied Arts; police are investigating.
- What
- The men smashed a glass display case with a hammer and took a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace.
- When
- Friday; the exhibition had been on display since June and was scheduled to continue until September 27.
- Where
- Austria’s Museum of Applied Arts, also known as MAK.
- Why
- The articles do not state the thieves’ motive; police are investigating the theft.
- Stolen item
- A 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace
- Number of stones
- 673 precious stones
- Estimated value
- Several million dollars, according to Austrian media reports
- Designer
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Exhibition
- An exhibition of about 500 Van Cleef & Arpels pieces
- Historical connection
- The necklace was designed for Egypt’s former royal family and was worn by Queen Nazli in 1939
- Police evidence
- The two suspects were visible on surveillance cameras and reportedly did not wear masks