🔗 Share this article

Police in France are making every effort to locate irreplaceable jewels taken from the Louvre in a brazen broad daylight theft, but experts caution it could be past the point of recovery to get them back.

In Paris on Sunday, robbers entered by force the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight precious artifacts before escaping on scooters in a bold robbery that took about under ten minutes.

International art investigator an expert in the field expressed his view he believes the artifacts could be "long gone", once separated into many fragments.

There is a strong chance the artifacts could be sold off for a small part of their true price and illegally transported from French territory, additional specialists indicated.

Who May Be Behind the Robbery

The perpetrators are experienced criminals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the fact they were through the museum of the Louvre in record time.

"As you might expect, for regular people, one doesn't just get up overnight planning, I should become a criminal, let's start with the world-famous museum," he noted.

"This likely isn't the first time they've done this," he continued. "They have done other burglaries. They feel certain and they believed, we could succeed with this, and took the chance."

In another sign the expertise of the group is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "proven effectiveness in cracking significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.

Authorities have indicated they suspect the heist is linked to a criminal organization.

Organised crime groups such as these typically have two main goals, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau explained. "Either to act for the benefit of a sponsor, or to secure valuable gems to conduct financial crimes."

Mr Brand thinks it seems highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts intact, and he said stealing-to-order for an individual buyer is something that mainly exists in movies.

"Nobody wants to touch an artifact this recognizable," he elaborated. "You can't display it publicly, you can't bequeath it to your children, you cannot sell it."

Estimated £10m Value

Mr Brand believes the objects are likely broken down and separated, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the precious stones divided into smaller stones that will be virtually impossible to connect to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, who presents the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and previously served as Vogue magazine's jewellery editor for many years, told the BBC the perpetrators had "specifically chosen" the most important treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "magnificent flawless stones" will probably be removed from their settings and sold, she explained, with the exception of the crown from the historical figure which features less valuable pieces set in it and proved to be "too recognizable to possess," she continued.

This could explain the reason it was abandoned during the escape, together with one other item, and found by authorities.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which have a very large value, specialists confirm.

Even though the pieces are considered being priceless, Ms Woolton expects them to be sold for a fraction of their worth.

"They'll likely end up to buyers who are able to take possession," she said. "Many people will seek for these items – they will take what they can get."

What specific amount might they bring financially upon being marketed? When asked about the potential value of the haul, Mr Brand said the cut-up parts may amount to "many millions."

The jewels and gold stolen could fetch as much as a significant sum (€11.52m; $13.4m), stated by a jewelry specialist, senior official of 77 Diamonds, an online jeweller.

He told the BBC the gang must have a trained specialist to extract the stones, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Less noticeable gems that were not easily identifiable might be marketed right away and although difficult to determine the exact price of every gem removed, the more significant gems could be worth around a significant amount per stone, he noted.

"Reports indicate no fewer than four comparable in size, thus totaling all those pieces up plus the gold, you are probably coming close to £10m," he stated.

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

There are hopes that the items might resurface undamaged eventually – yet this possibility are fading over time.

There is a precedent – a historical showcase at the V&A Museum includes an artifact taken decades ago which eventually returned in a sale several decades later.

What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked regarding the theft, expressing a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"There isn't always value gems as it symbolizes a question of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily carry positive associations among French people," a jewelry authority, head of heritage at established French company the historical business, said