The investigation opened by the judge of the National Court José Luis Calama on the jewels found in the office of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has focused on a collection of high jewelery whose preliminary value amounts to 1,323,915 euros. The expert report commissioned from the historic Ansorena jewelry store reveals the existence of numerous luxury pieces made with white gold, diamonds and precious stones of great value.
The most notable piece of the collection is an 18-karat white gold necklace set with diamonds and two Zambian emeralds, valued at 278,000 euros. It is the most valuable jewel among the objects found during the search carried out by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) in an office linked to the former president of the Government. Among the most exclusive pieces is also a necklace from Thailand decorated with thirteen sapphires surrounded by diamonds, whose value reaches 220,000 euros. Added to this is another necklace valued at 155,000 euros, made with five rubies and several diamonds, completing the trio of most valuable pieces in the collection.
The inventory also includes various high-value bracelets, earrings, watches and rings. One of the bracelets, made of 18-carat white gold and adorned with three natural Zambian emeralds and diamonds, has been valued at 95,000 euros. Another ring with an emerald from the same African country reaches 85,000 euros. The list of pieces also includes a bracelet with seven sapphires of Thai origin valued at 80,000 euros and another with two rubies valued at 72,000 euros. Also included are a cocktail ring with a large natural emerald valued at 85,000 euros, long earrings decorated with four Zambian emeralds valued at 80,000 euros and another pair of earrings with eight sapphires and diamonds from Thailand whose value amounts to 70,000 euros.
As a whole, the collection brings together at least 29 sapphires, a dozen rubiesmore than 24 emeralds individually identified—as well as a complete necklace of emerald beads—and about 35 grams of diamonds distributed among the different pieces.
The Ansorena report highlights that The valuation was carried out by a certified gemologist with extensive professional experience. and that to determine the quality and origin of the gems, various specialized sources were used, as well as the analyzes carried out by the Spanish Gemological Institute. The study also took into account professional publications in the sector and manufacturing cost tables to establish the final amounts.
The researchers’ attention is especially focused on three sets of jewelry with similar design and aesthetics inspired by Arabic motifs. Each of them is made up of a necklace, a bracelet, a ring and two earrings, differentiated by the predominant color of the precious stones: green, red and blue. According to the judicial investigation, these pieces had not been previously declared by either Zapatero or members of his family environment.
This Friday, Judge Calama has agreed to open a separate case to investigate Zapatero for alleged crimes against the Public Treasury and smuggling. Meanwhile, sources close to Zapatero maintain that the dissemination of the value attributed to the jewelry responds to an interested leak and have insisted that the former president will offer the appropriate explanations before the judge.
