🔗 Share this article

French authorities are urgently trying to recover extremely valuable gemstones taken from the Louvre in a daring daytime heist, but experts have warned it might be past the point of recovery to get them back.

At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, robbers broke into the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight precious artifacts before escaping on scooters in a bold robbery that was completed in eight minutes.

International art investigator a renowned specialist stated publicly he believes the artifacts may already be "long gone", after being taken apart into many fragments.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels will be sold for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of the country, several authorities noted.

Who May Be Behind the Heist

The thieves acted professionally, Mr Brand believes, evidenced by the fact they were through the museum of the museum in record time.

"You know, for an average individual, you don't wake up overnight planning, I should become a criminal, choosing as first target the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've carried out things before. They are confident and they calculated, we could succeed with this attempt, and went for it."

As further evidence the skill of the group is treated as important, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in solving major theft cases" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Law enforcement have stated they think the robbery is connected to a sophisticated gang.

Sophisticated gangs of this type generally have two objectives, French prosecutor the prosecutor explained. "Either they operate for the benefit of a financier, or to acquire valuable gems to carry out money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it would be extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he said commissioned theft for a private collector represents a situation that only happens in Hollywood films.

"No one desires to acquire a piece so identifiable," he elaborated. "It cannot be shown publicly, you cannot leave it to family, you cannot sell it."

Potential £10m Value

The expert thinks the artifacts are likely broken down and disassembled, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the gems cut up into smaller stones that could be extremely difficult to connect to the museum theft.

Historical jewelry specialist a renowned expert, host of the audio program focusing on gemstones and previously served as the prestigious publication's gemstone expert for many years, told the BBC the perpetrators had "specifically chosen" the most important treasures from the institution's artifacts.

The "beautiful large perfect gems" would likely be dug out of their mountings and sold, she explained, with the exception of the tiara belonging to the historical figure which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and was considered "too recognizable to handle," she continued.

This could explain why they left it behind as they got away, in addition to a second artifact, and located by officials.

Empress Eugenie's tiara that was taken, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.

Even though the pieces are regarded as being beyond valuation, the historian expects them will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.

"They'll likely end up to buyers who are able to acquire such items," she stated. "Everyone will be looking for the stolen goods – they will take whatever price is offered."

How much exactly would they generate financially upon being marketed? Concerning the potential value of the stolen goods, the detective stated the separated elements may amount to "several million."

The gems and gold stolen could fetch up to ten million pounds (€11.52m; millions in US currency), says a jewelry specialist, chief executive of an established company, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the perpetrators would need a skilled expert to extract the stones, and a skilled stone worker to modify the more noticeable pieces.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized could be sold right away and despite challenges to tell the exact price of each piece removed, the more significant gems may amount to approximately half a million pounds each, he explained.

"We know there are no fewer than four of that size, therefore combining all of those along with the precious metal, you are probably reaching the estimated figure," he concluded.

"The diamond and gemstone market has buyers and there are many buyers within gray markets that don't ask too many questions."

Hope persists that the artifacts could reappear undamaged in the future – but those hopes are fading over time.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the London museum features an item of jewellery stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in a public event much later.

Without doubt are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked regarding the theft, expressing an emotional attachment toward the treasures.

"There isn't always like jewellery as it symbolizes a question of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation among French people," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at established French company Maison Vever, said