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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-028629.txt : 20040601
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-028629.hdr.sgml : 20040601
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040601152018
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-028629
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040601

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:			FREDERICO DOMINIC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001072524

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11778
		FILM NUMBER:		04841140

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACE LTD
		STREET 2:		ACE BLDG 30 WOODBOURNE AVE HAMILTON BER
		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>rrd44074.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001072524</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREDERICO DOMINIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ACE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17 WOODBOURNE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON, BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM 08</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2168.675</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>189789.853</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock units, representing the right to receive Ordinary Shares, granted as an annual director retainer fee issued under the ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), which meets the requirements of Rule 16b-3.  Such stock units will vest on the day prior to the date of the next annual ACE Limited shareholder meeting, assuming the reporting person is a director of ACE Limited on such date.  Ordinary Shares will be issued for such stock units six months after the Director's termination from the Board or pursuant to such later deferral schedule as the director may elect.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The total reflects that reporting person forfeited 64,500 restricted shares of ACE Limited on April 28, 2004 in connection with the initial public offering of the common shares of Assured Guaranty Ltd.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Peter N. Mear Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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