🔗 Share this article

Police in France are urgently trying to recover extremely valuable gemstones robbed from the Louvre Museum in a brazen daytime heist, although specialists are concerned it could be impossible to get them back.

In Paris this past Sunday, thieves gained access to the most popular museum globally, stealing eight valued items and getting away via motor scooters in a audacious theft that was completed in eight minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he believes the jewels are likely "dispersed", once separated into hundreds of parts.

Experts suggest the pieces may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from French territory, several authorities noted.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The thieves are experienced criminals, Mr Brand believes, as demonstrated by the way they managed in and out of the Louvre in record time.

"As you might expect, for regular people, you don't wake up overnight planning, I'm going to become a burglar, and begin with the world-famous museum," he noted.

"This likely isn't the first time they've done this," he said. "They've committed previous crimes. They feel certain and they thought, it might work out with this plan, and took the chance."

As further evidence the skill of the gang is considered significant, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in cracking high-profile robberies" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Law enforcement have said they think the theft is connected to an organised crime network.

Criminal organizations such as these typically have two objectives, French prosecutor the prosecutor stated. "Either to act for the benefit of a client, or to acquire valuable gems to conduct money laundering operations."

The expert believes it seems impossible to sell the items intact, and he explained stealing-to-order for a private collector is something that typically occurs in fictional stories.

"Nobody wants to handle an item so identifiable," he explained. "You cannot show it to your friends, you can't bequeath it to family, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Worth

The expert thinks the objects are likely broken down and disassembled, with the gold and silver melted down and the jewels re-cut into smaller components that would be extremely difficult to track back to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, host of the digital series about historical jewelry and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for two decades, told the BBC the robbers had "specifically chosen" the most significant jewels from the institution's artifacts.

The "magnificent flawless stones" are expected to be removed of their mountings and marketed, she said, except for the headpiece of the French empress which contains smaller gems mounted in it and was "too recognizable to handle," she continued.

This could explain why it was dropped while fleeing, in addition to another piece, and recovered by police.

The imperial headpiece which was stolen, has rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, specialists confirm.

Although the artifacts are considered having immeasurable worth, the historian believes they to be sold for a fraction of their worth.

"They'll likely end up to someone who is willing to take possession," she stated. "Everyone will be looking for these – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."

The precise value would they generate in money when disposed of? When asked about the estimated price of the stolen goods, Mr Brand indicated the separated elements may amount to "several million."

The precious stones and taken gold might achieve approximately £10 million (millions in euros; thirteen million dollars), according to Tobias Kormind, senior official of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

He told the BBC the gang must have a skilled expert to extract the stones, and an expert gem cutter to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Minor components that were not easily identifiable could be sold right away and despite challenges to determine the precise value of every gem stolen, the bigger stones could be worth around half a million pounds for individual pieces, he said.

"There are at least four that large, so adding all of those together with the gold, you are probably coming close to the estimated figure," he stated.

"The jewelry and gemstone market is liquid and there are many buyers within gray markets that avoid questioning regarding sources."

Hope persists that the stolen goods might resurface intact one day – although such expectations are fading over time.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution includes an artifact previously stolen before reappearing in an auction many years after.

What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked about the museum robbery, demonstrating a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily like jewellery because it's a question of power, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation within French culture," Alexandre Leger, director of historical collections at established French company the historical business, said