Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article reports on the discovery of high-value jewelry, including diamonds and sapphires worth approximately one million euros, among assets kept by former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The findings were made by the National Police in his office safe.
Zapatero’s Hidden Treasure: High-Quality Diamonds and Sapphires Worth Around One Million Euros
Among the hundred or so assets kept by the former president are valuable jewelry, bracelets, and watches.
By A. Mateu
25/5/2026 – 18:01
The arsenal of jewelry and precious stones that Zapatero hid in his office
Among the jewelry pieces found in the safe of the office of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero by the National Police, there are several watches, costume jewelry, or fine jewelry items, such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and bangles.
Among the watches, there is a gold-colored watch inscribed with “Longines,” two silver-colored watches of the Certina brand with chain straps, and a gold-colored watch of the Pierre Balmain brand. These are not luxury watches nor are they classified as high-end horology. Additionally, among them is a replica of a Franck Muller watch, which in watchmaking is known as a “homage” and does not hold significant economic value.
Regarding the jewelry pieces, according to the former president’s secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar, these are part of “Sonsoles Espinosa’s inheritance” as well as “gifts from various trips” made by the couple. Undoubtedly, gifts within the reach of very few.
Among the different jewels, one stands out, described in the report as “a silver-colored necklace with 13 blue stones” which could reach a market value of over 100,000 euros. According to jeweler Víctor Soto of Joyería Vinateros,
but they could be diamonds and sapphires, and even from the photographs, some that have a reddish luster could be rubies, one of the most expensive stones, which could significantly increase the value.
Related: The judge opens two separate cases as crimes by third parties unrelated to the plot emerge. The plot connected China with Venezuela to buy oil: “The Leader met with them in China.” Zapatero assures that the jewels found are an inheritance from his mother and mother-in-law, and gifts.
Ignacio Torres of Joyería Torres in the Salamanca district finds it striking that there is not a single everyday piece of jewelry, but rather highly valuable jewels and pieces of great significance. We are always talking about high jewelry. For Ignacio,
It could be a set of bracelet, earrings, and ring that, if they are of high quality as they appear, could be worth between 200,000 and 400,000 euros. Ignacio finds it plausible that they are the type of jewels often given by Arabs and that we have seen, for example, on European princesses, including Queen Letizia.
Furthermore, being high jewelry, they usually come with an appraisal and purchase certificate containing all the information for each piece, meaning it must include a description of the piece, as well as the purity, carats, type, clarity, and color of the stones.
Topics: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas