According to the complaint, jewels were stored not in a safe, but in a van

Chopard USA has lodged a $15 million lawsuit over 53 pieces that the jeweler says disappeared while in a courier’s custody.

According to a complaint filed July 18 in New York Supreme Court, in February courier Ferrari Express was contracted to transport 53 pieces—with a replacement value of $15 million—from Chopard’s New York City office to Los Angeles, where the company planned to give them to a celebrity to wear at the Grammys.

But instead of storing them overnight in a vault, an employee placed the pieces in his van, Chopard charges.

The employee then “drove to his home in a neighborhood in which vehicle thefts are common, parked the Ferrari van on a street near his house, left the jewelry in the van, and then went into his house leaving the van and the jewelry unattended, unprotected. and unreasonably susceptible to theft or other loss,” legal papers contend.

By morning, the van was gone, the complaint charges, and while police located it two days later, the jewelry was not recovered. The suit charges negligence and breach of contract.

Ferrari did not respond to a request for comment and has not filed a response at press time.

Chopard Red Carpet collection ring in 18k rose gold and titanium with a 9.6 ct. rubellite cabochon, 12.2 cts. t.w. fancy-cut rubellites, 5.5 cts. t.w. fancy-cut yellow sapphires, and 2.6 cts. t.w. brilliant-cut amethysts (photo courtesy of Chopard; not related to court case)

Rob Bates

JCK News Director