🔗 Share this article

Police in France are making every effort to locate priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre in a daring daylight robbery, yet authorities are concerned it may already be too late to recover them.

Within the French capital this past Sunday, burglars gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, taking eight precious artifacts then fleeing using scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately just minutes.

Expert art detective a renowned specialist expressed his view he suspects the jewels may already be "long gone", after being taken apart into many fragments.

It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of the country, other experts have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery

The group were professionals, Mr Brand believes, evidenced by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the museum so quickly.

"You know, as a normal person, people don't suddenly decide in the morning planning, I'm going to become a criminal, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he added. "They have done things before. They're self-assured and they calculated, we might get away with this plan, and proceeded."

In another sign the skill of the thieves is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "strong track record in resolving high-profile robberies" has been tasked with finding them.

Police officials have stated they think the heist is linked to a criminal organization.

Criminal organizations such as these typically have two primary purposes, French prosecutor a senior official explained. "Either they operate working for a client, or to acquire valuable gems to carry out financial crimes."

The detective suggests it seems extremely difficult to sell the items intact, and he explained targeted robbery for a specific client is a scenario that only happens in fictional stories.

"No one desires to touch a piece so hot," he stated. "You can't display it publicly, it cannot be passed to family, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Value

Mr Brand believes the artifacts will be dismantled and broken up, with the gold and silver melted down and the jewels cut up into less recognizable pieces that could be extremely difficult to connect to the Paris heist.

Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, creator of the audio program If Jewels Could Talk and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, explained the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most significant gemstones from the Louvre's collection.

The "magnificent perfect gems" would likely be extracted of their mountings and disposed of, she said, except for the headpiece of the French empress which has smaller stones set in it and proved to be "too recognizable to keep," she continued.

This potentially clarifies the reason it was abandoned during the escape, in addition to a second artifact, and recovered by police.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, has rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.

Although the artifacts are considered being priceless, the expert believes they could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They will go to individuals who are able to acquire such items," she explained. "Everyone will be looking for these items – they will take any amount available."

What specific amount might they bring financially if sold on? Regarding the potential value of the stolen goods, the detective stated the cut-up parts may amount to "several million."

The gems and taken gold might achieve as much as ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), according to a jewelry specialist, senior official of 77 Diamonds, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the gang would need a skilled expert to extract the stones, and an expert gem cutter to change the more noticeable pieces.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed quickly and while it was hard to estimate the exact price of all the stones stolen, the more significant gems may amount to about a significant amount for individual pieces, he noted.

"We know there are a minimum of four of that size, thus totaling all those pieces along with the gold, you are probably reaching ten million," he concluded.

"The jewelry and luxury goods trade is active and numerous purchasers exist within gray markets that won't inquire about origins."

There are hopes that the stolen goods may be found undamaged eventually – yet this possibility are narrowing over time.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum features a piece of jewelry stolen in 1948 that later resurfaced in a sale many years after.

What is certain is many in France are extremely upset by the Louvre heist, demonstrating an emotional attachment toward the treasures.

"We don't necessarily like jewellery as it symbolizes an issue of power, and which doesn't always receive favorable interpretation within French culture," Alexandre Leger, head of heritage at established French company the prestigious firm, said