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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 K3MekIk2FIl1SMqcz9wIDR5Hr6TPSyk/fPIWv4RkV7LR/ViX1lQ8LsA0fuNRGiV+
 2FZEGoRwp/JD+PIh6aAv2w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-029033.txt : 20050519
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-029033.hdr.sgml : 20050519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050519104611
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-029033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050517
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050519
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050519

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACE LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000896159
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			D0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACE BLDG
		STREET 2:		30 WOODBOURNE AVE
		CITY:			HAMILTON HM 08 BERMU
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8092955200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX HM 1015
		CITY:			HAMITON BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DUPERREAULT BRIAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001072522

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11778
		FILM NUMBER:		05843567

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412955200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACE LTD
		STREET 2:		ACE BLDG 30 WOODBOURNE AVE HAMILTON BER
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd78999.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACE LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001072522</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUPERREAULT BRIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ACE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17 WOODBOURNE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON, BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM 08</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>846567.3015</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Total includes 100 shares indirectly owned in the name of his son.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Signed for Brian Duperreault by Keith White pursuant to a power of attorney on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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