Will France Retrieve Its Priceless Historic Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?

Law enforcement in France are making every effort to recover irreplaceable jewels robbed from the Louvre Museum in a daring broad daylight theft, but experts have warned it could be past the point of recovery to save them.

In Paris this past Sunday, robbers gained access to the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight valued items and getting away via motor scooters in a daring heist that took about just minutes.

Expert art detective an expert in the field stated publicly he suspects the stolen items are likely "long gone", after being taken apart into numerous components.

It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of France, several authorities have said.

Who May Be Behind the Robbery

The perpetrators acted professionally, as the detective stated, shown by the fact they were inside and outside of the museum so quickly.

"Realistically speaking, for regular people, one doesn't just get up one day thinking, I should become a burglar, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've committed previous crimes. They feel certain and they calculated, we could succeed with this, and went for it."

In another sign the professionalism of the gang is being taken seriously, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in resolving high-profile robberies" has been tasked with locating the perpetrators.

Police officials have indicated they suspect the heist is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Sophisticated gangs of this type generally have two objectives, Paris prosecutor a senior official stated. "Either they operate for the benefit of a client, or to acquire expensive jewelry to conduct illegal financial activities."

The detective suggests it is extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts intact, and he explained targeted robbery for a specific client is a scenario that typically occurs in Hollywood films.

"Nobody wants to touch an artifact so hot," he stated. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to your children, it cannot be sold."

Estimated £10m Worth

Mr Brand believes the stolen items will be taken apart and broken up, along with gold elements and precious metals liquefied and the precious stones re-cut into smaller components that will be virtually impossible to trace back to the Louvre robbery.

Jewellery historian an authority in the field, host of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and was Vogue magazine's jewelry specialist for 20 years, told the BBC the thieves had "specifically chosen" the most important gemstones from the Louvre's collection.

The "magnificent flawless stones" will probably be extracted from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she said, excluding the crown from Empress Eugénie which has smaller stones mounted in it and was "too recognizable to keep," she added.

This might account for the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, along with one other item, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece which was stolen, has rare natural pearls which have a very large value, specialists confirm.

Although the artifacts are considered being priceless, the historian anticipates they to be sold for a fraction of their worth.

"They'll likely end up to individuals who are prepared to acquire such items," she said. "Authorities worldwide will search for the stolen goods – they will take any amount available."

The precise value would they generate as payment if sold on? Regarding the estimated price of the stolen goods, the detective said the cut-up parts may amount to "many millions."

The gems and taken gold may bring up to ten million pounds (millions in euros; $13.4m), stated by a jewelry specialist, managing director of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

He told the BBC the thieves will require a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to change the more noticeable pieces.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized could be sold quickly and although difficult to determine the precise value of each piece removed, the more significant gems could be worth around half a million pounds each, he noted.

"We know there are a minimum of four of that size, therefore combining all those pieces along with the precious metal, you are probably coming close to the estimated figure," he stated.

"The jewelry and precious stone industry is liquid and there are many buyers within gray markets that avoid questioning regarding sources."

Hope persists that the stolen goods might resurface undamaged eventually – although such expectations are narrowing over time.

Similar cases have occurred – a historical showcase at the London museum includes an artifact taken decades ago that later resurfaced in an auction many years after.

Definitely are numerous French citizens feel profoundly disturbed about the museum robbery, having felt an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"There isn't always value gems as it symbolizes an issue of privilege, and this isn't typically have a good connotation in France," a heritage expert, head of heritage at established French company Maison Vever, explained

John Fleming
John Fleming

A passionate storyteller and avid traveler, sharing insights from life's unexpected moments and journeys across the UK and beyond.

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