Theft of a Diamond-Encrusted Necklace of Egypt's Queen from Vienna Museum

In a daring daylight robbery, a legendary diamond necklace belonging to Queen Nazli of Egypt was stolen from the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna.

According to Austrian police, "the two suspects, who were not masked, bought museum entry tickets on Friday, then entered the exhibition hall, smashed the display case with a hammer, and rushed out toward city streets."

The British newspaper The Guardian reported that Austrian police "have clear surveillance footage of the suspects."

According to Interpol, Austrian authorities have added the necklace to their database of stolen artworks.

Queen Nazli commissioned this Art Deco-style diamond necklace in 1938 and wore it with a matching crown at her daughter Princess Fawzia’s wedding to the future Shah of Iran in 1939.

In a Facebook post dated August 29, Fawzia Farouk, granddaughter of Queen Nazli, expressed her "deep sorrow" over the theft of the historic necklace.

She said: "This jewel is an irreplaceable part of our family history and Egyptian cultural heritage. It is a significant witness to an era of elegance, art, and vision, surpassing personal value. I hope this exceptional piece will be preserved with utmost respect upon its recovery."

673 Diamonds

The necklace is made of pure platinum and features 673 diamonds. The piece was displayed in the museum’s exhibition titled "Sparkling Treasures: Fine Jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels," which included 500 pieces of jewelry, watches, and precious objects.

Queen Nazli was stripped of her royal title in 1950 by her son, King Farouk, due to her youngest daughter Princess Fathia’s marriage to a Coptic Christian, and she moved to Beverly Hills according to Art News.

After accumulating debts, Nazli sent her 720-diamond crown, weighing 274 carats, and her matching necklace to Sotheby’s auction house in 1975, where they sold for $127,500 and $140,000 respectively. In 2015, the necklace returned to Sotheby’s and was sold for $4.3 million.

According to a recent Europol report, "there has been a noticeable increase in violent museum robberies, accompanied by growing focus on valuable items such as precious metals, gemstones, and culturally significant artifacts."

In recent years, thieves have targeted major and small museums across France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and elsewhere, stealing royal crowns, ancient coins, crystals, and even a gold toilet, among other high-value items.