Zapatero's €278,000 necklace: family inheritance or mystery
A €278,000 necklace of Zambian diamonds has surfaced in Zapatero's safe. The official family inheritance story fails to convince. Analysis of the jewel.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Zapatero's diamond necklace: €278,000 that smells like a all-too-convenient family inheritance
An 18-carat white gold necklace, studded with diamonds from Zambia, has been valued at €278,000. It is the most valuable piece among those found by the Unidad de Delitos Económicos y Fiscales (UDEF, Spain's economic and fiscal crimes unit) in the safe of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's official office. The full haul adds up to €1,323,915. The official version, released by his spokesman, points to a family inheritance. However, the exotic origin of the gems and the absence of documentation have raised suspicions.
The Ansorena jewellery firm, in collaboration with the Instituto Gemológico Español (Spanish Gemmological Institute), was responsible for the valuation. The necklace, described as a U-shaped riviere chain studded with brilliant-cut diamonds and two natural pear-cut emeralds, is no ordinary piece. The question hanging in the air is: how did a jewel of such value and provenance end up in the hands of a former Spanish prime minister? The official answer satisfies no one. Analyst circles are floating everything from improbable inheritances to gifts from African leaders. The shadow of Zambia, a country known for its emerald mines and also for its endemic corruption, does nothing for credibility.
While the official account insists on the inheritance, scepticism is growing. The necklace, in itself, is a work of jewellery. Its history, however, is a black hole. Where did it really come from? Zapatero's safe holds more questions than answers.
Related discussions in the forum
An 18-carat white gold necklace, studded with diamonds from Zambia, has been valued at €278,000. It is the most valuable piece among those found by the Unidad de Delitos Económicos y Fiscales (UDEF, Spain's economic and fiscal crimes unit) in the safe of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's official office. The full haul adds up to €1,323,915. The official version, released by his spokesman, points to a family inheritance. However, the exotic origin of the gems and the absence of documentation have raised suspicions.
The Ansorena jewellery firm, in collaboration with the Instituto Gemológico Español (Spanish Gemmological Institute), was responsible for the valuation. The necklace, described as a U-shaped riviere chain studded with brilliant-cut diamonds and two natural pear-cut emeralds, is no ordinary piece. The question hanging in the air is: how did a jewel of such value and provenance end up in the hands of a former Spanish prime minister? The official answer satisfies no one. Analyst circles are floating everything from improbable inheritances to gifts from African leaders. The shadow of Zambia, a country known for its emerald mines and also for its endemic corruption, does nothing for credibility.
While the official account insists on the inheritance, scepticism is growing. The necklace, in itself, is a work of jewellery. Its history, however, is a black hole. Where did it really come from? Zapatero's safe holds more questions than answers.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (27 replies).
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