Multi-Million Dollar Van Cleef and Arpels Necklace Stolen During Bold Heist at Vienna’s MAK Museum

Authorities in Vienna reported on Friday that two men executed a brazen theft at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) after purchasing admission tickets to the facility. The suspects reportedly smashed a display case to steal a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace before fleeing the scene.

According to Austrian media reports, the stolen Van Cleef and Arpels necklace features 673 precious stones and is valued at several million dollars. This incident marks the latest in a disturbing trend of high-profile robberies targeting European cultural institutions.

Police noted that the two suspects did not wear masks and were captured clearly on surveillance footage during the heist on Thursday. A police statement confirmed that the men used a hammer to shatter a glass display case before escaping in an unknown direction with the jewelry.

While the MAK museum has confirmed the theft, officials stated they will refrain from further comment while the ongoing investigation continues.

The necklace was a centerpiece of an exhibition dedicated to the renowned French designers Van Cleef and Arpels, which has featured approximately 500 pieces since June. The exhibition was originally slated to conclude on September 27.

Although the MAK initially announced that the exhibition wing would remain closed until further notice, the area where the theft occurred was reopened just hours later.

A Pattern of European Museum Heists

The stolen piece holds significant historical value, having been designed for the former Egyptian royal family. It was famously worn by Queen Nazli in 1939 during the wedding of her daughter, Faiza, to the future Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Van Cleef and Arpels had previously described the stolen necklace on its website as a “triumph of white jewellery.” The French luxury house has not yet issued an official statement regarding the theft.

This robbery follows a string of dramatic thefts across Europe. In October, thieves breached the Louvre in Paris during daylight hours, escaping with approximately €88 million worth of jewelry in less than eight minutes.

On Thursday, a museum in the Spanish city of Villena was targeted during a raid on the Treasure of Villena, one of the most significant Bronze Age gold collections. Thieves reportedly made off with most of the display, which included over 50 gold bracelets, bowls, and bottles.

Additionally, Italy’s culture ministry reported on Sunday that four invaluable works by Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in Sicily.

This follows a successful recovery operation by Italian police just two days prior, when they retrieved paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse valued at over €8 million, which had been stolen from the Magnani-Rocca Foundation museum near Parma.

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