Politics · Spain · 3 hrs ago
Spanish judge orders inquiry into marks on Zapatero’s seized jewels
A Spanish judge has asked police to identify who made marks on valuable jewels seized from former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
The jewels were found in a safe in his office during a search on May 19 as part of the Plus Ultra case.
Zapatero has said the jewels were a personal gift from Saudi King Abdullah in 2007, but the judge has questioned that account.
Two jewellery firms valued the collection at about €1 million or more, with estimates of €1.02 million and about €1.32 million.
One firm said a distinctive mark on the pieces could help investigators trace their maker, and the judge said police could seek help from Interpol or Europol if needed.
Zapatero plans to ask for an independent valuation and access for an expert to examine the jewels while they remain in police custody.
The judge has yet to decide whether to charge him with misappropriation of public funds over the jewels.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero plans to ask a judge to let an independent expert produce a new valuation of jewelry found in his office safe.
Two jewelry firms valued the collection at about €1.02 million and €1.32 million, and Zapatero’s associates say they want to seek a lower figure.
Zapatero says the jewelry was a personal gift from Saudi King Abdullah during a 2007 trip.
Judge José Luis Calama has asked police to investigate the maker’s mark on some of the most valuable pieces.
The Yanes jewelry firm said the mark could help identify the pieces’ manufacturer and reported that the pieces may have been made after 2007.
- Who
- José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain’s former prime minister, plans to seek a new valuation. Judge José Luis Calama is overseeing the investigation.
- What
- Zapatero intends to ask the judge to allow an independent expert to examine and value the jewelry. The judge has also asked police to investigate a maker’s mark on valuable pieces.
- When
- The jewelry was found during a search on May 19. The judge’s request to police was reported on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- In a safe in Zapatero’s office in Spain. The investigation is being handled by the National Court.
- Why
- Zapatero’s associates want to challenge the existing valuations, which they say are based on replacement value. The investigation is also examining the jewelry’s origin and whether it was public property.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Judge José Luis Calama and the investigation
Aspect
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Zapatero’s view
Judge José Luis Calama and the investigation
Judge and investigation’s view
Origin
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Zapatero says the jewelry was a personal gift from Saudi King Abdullah during a 2007 trip.
Judge José Luis Calama and the investigation
Calama has questioned that account and declined to request information from Saudi Arabia to verify it.
Value
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Zapatero’s associates consider the existing valuation too high and want an independent expert to assess the jewelry.
Judge José Luis Calama and the investigation
Two jewelry firms have valued the collection at more than €1 million; the judge has asked police to investigate a maker’s mark on valuable pieces.
Zapatero says Saudi King Abdullah gave him the jewelry as a personal gift during a trip.
Police found the jewelry in a safe in Zapatero’s office.
Ansorena produced a valuation of the collection, according to El País.
Yanes produced a second valuation, according to El País.
Calama asked the Udef police unit to investigate the maker’s mark on valuable pieces.
- First valuation
- Ansorena valued the collection at €1,323,915.
- Second valuation
- Yanes valued the collection at about €1.02 million.
- Search date
- May 19
- Jewelry location
- Safe in Zapatero’s office
- Police unit
- Udef, Spain’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit
- Maker’s mark
- A distinctive T inside a rounded rectangle, alongside an 18K mark
3 sources
What people are saying
un punzonado muy específico presente en todas las piezas
imagen que, con una investigación exhaustiva a nivel internacional, podría conducir al fabricante de origen
obsequio personal