A priceless Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, valued at $4.3 million, was stolen from Vienna’s MAK Museum during the exhibition “Glanzstücke.” The thieves broke into the case and fled with the jewelry after entering as regular visitors.
The necklace, which was once worn by Queen Nazli of Egypt, was part of a joint show with the museum’s collection. Police identified the suspects via surveillance footage and are searching for leads, with some theories pointing to a Balkan criminal group.
This theft echoes a 2003 heist at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where a Cellini saliera was stolen. Such brazen robberies remind us of the allure of priceless artifacts, even when they are on display.
Less than a year ago, the Louvre in Paris faced a similar theft, with eight pieces of crown jewels vanishing. The MAK museum has indefinitely closed the exhibition pending the investigation.
