A historic diamond necklace valued at 3.7 million euros was stolen from the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna during a broad-daylight heist on Thursday, police said.
Two men smashed the glass display case protecting the gem-encrusted piece, took the necklace, and fled on foot while the museum remained open to the public. Austrian police launched a manhunt operation to locate the suspects, and authorities confirmed that no one was injured during the robbery.
The stolen piece features 673 diamonds weighing more than 200 carats and is estimated to be worth up to four million euros. It was on loan as part of an exhibition showcasing creations by Van Cleef & Arpels, the prestigious French high jewelry house founded in Paris in 1906 and renowned for crafting luxury pieces for international royalty.
Daylight robbery in Vienna
The break-in occurred during operating hours at the Museum of Applied Arts, known locally as the MAK, a prominent venue on Vienna's Stubenring boulevard that houses major collections of decorative arts, design, and contemporary art.
Investigators said the two perpetrators acted swiftly inside the gallery before escaping into the surrounding streets. Law enforcement agencies in Austria have deployed extra resources as part of the ongoing manhunt to track down the fleeing suspects.
Royal history of the Van Cleef necklace
Beyond its monetary valuation, the stolen artifact possesses major historical significance. Van Cleef & Arpels crafted the elaborate piece in 1939 for the royal wedding of Princess Fawzia of Egypt to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was then the crown prince of Iran.
The necklace originally belonged to Queen Nazli of Egypt, the mother of Princess Fawzia. Queen Nazli wore the diamond piece during the official celebrations surrounding her daughter's nuptials.
Princess Fawzia later became Queen of Iran following her husband's ascension to the throne, while Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled as Iran's last shah until the 1979 revolution. Queen Nazli served as queen consort of Egypt during the reign of King Fuad I.
Echoes of major European museum thefts
Law enforcement officials consider the incident one of the most high-value museum thefts recorded in Vienna since the 2003 robbery of Benvenuto Cellini's Saliera from the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
The Saliera, a Renaissance masterpiece made of gold and enamel and valued at around 50 million euros at the time of its disappearance, was eventually recovered by authorities three years after the theft. The Kunsthistorisches Museum is Austria's largest art museum, holding extensive collections from the Habsburg monarchy.
The Vienna heist has renewed scrutiny over security measures across European cultural institutions. Vulnerabilities in museum security previously drew widespread attention after a group of hooded thieves stole French crown jewels valued at approximately 88 million euros from the Louvre Museum in Paris.
That high-profile theft at the landmark Paris institution resulted in significant leadership changes. Four months after the royal jewels were stolen, the president of the Louvre submitted her resignation.
Following the security breach, the Louvre also faced structural beam problems that forced management to close one of its galleries.
The French national museum subsequently reopened its doors to visitors after addressing the emergency security and maintenance issues.
