Precious Gems Recovered From Dresden’s Jewel Heist Are Back On Display

The Green Vault is a center piece of the Dresden State Art Collections which are among the foremost museums of the world. A total of 15 museums offer a thematic diversity that is exceptional for its kind and the jewel heist made headlines around the world.

In 2019, the spectacular jewel heist made the headlines when thieves stole items that contained more than 4,300 diamonds. According to police, most of the jewels stolen from the museum were recovered in December 2022 and are now back on display in the Green Vault’s spectacular baroque chambers.

According to the Dresden State Art Collections, the jewels are presented exactly as they were returned to the SKD - with damage that is barely visible, although in need of restoration. The baroque jewelry ensemble in the jewelry room is unique in the world. Museums are research institutions and are committed to preserving cultural values. The Dresden State Art Collections therefore never consider only the purely material value of the objects, but first and foremost their cultural value. The returned pieces are major artistic works of Saxon and international jewelry art of the 18th century. The Dresden State Art Collections assume that in principle all damage can be restored. An international commission of experts will meet for this purpose after the jewels have been released.

The collection of precious jewels and extraordinary objets d’art was assembled in the 18th century by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and later King of Poland, who created the museum in 1723. After World War II, the treasures were initially confiscated and transported to the Soviet Union but returned in 1958.

With the stolen jewels back on display, the Green Vault has also extended its regular opening hours (daily from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Tuesdays) so that visitors can tour the museum until 8 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Timed tickets can be booked online at shop.skd.museum.

Saxony is popular with travelers for a multitude of reasons. The state, in the eastern part of Germany bordering Poland, the Czech Republic and Bavaria to the south, is Germany’s number one cultural destination. It is enriched with modern cities, historic and quaint small towns, low mountain ranges, water landscapes, expansive parks, gardens, as well as friendly, service-oriented hosts. Now, there is yet another reason to travel to this beautiful state: to see these beautiful jewels in their original spot. https://www.skd.museum/en/