Men sought over £3m diamond necklace theft from Vienna museum
Two men are being sought after stealing a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace worth more than £3 million from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts. The daylight smash-and-grab, captured on CCTV, highlights continued security concerns at European museums despite planned safeguards for high-value exhibitions.
The platinum necklace contains 673 diamonds totalling about 200 carats and was originally made for Egypt’s former royal family; Queen Nazli wore it at her daughter Fawzia’s 1939 wedding to the future Shah of Iran. Police said the unmasked suspects appeared to have bought museum tickets, smashed the display case with a hammer and fled towards Stadtpark, with one reportedly carrying a firearm; the theft occurred during an exhibition of more than 500 pieces.
- Two men stole a £3 million royal diamond necklace in Vienna.
- The 673-diamond necklace was taken after its display case was smashed.
- Police released CCTV images of the unmasked suspects.
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Van Cleef & Arpels is a French jewellery house known for high-value pieces made for wealthy clients and royal families. The necklace was created in the late 1930s for Egypt’s royal family, when Queen Nazli’s daughter, Princess Fawzia, married Iran’s future Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts, often known as MAK, holds collections of design, furniture, decorative arts and jewellery. Special exhibitions can bring together valuable items from museums and private lenders, which must be displayed while remaining accessible to visitors.
The theft raises wider questions about security at European museums. Institutions commonly use alarms, secure display cases, guards and CCTV, but public galleries must balance protecting rare objects with allowing people to see them.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Jewel thieves steal £3million royal necklace containing 673 diamonds in daring smash-and-grab Vienna museum heist”.