Can France Get Back Its Invaluable Royal Gems – Or Has It Become Too Late?

Law enforcement in France are desperate to recover irreplaceable gemstones taken from the Louvre Museum in a brazen daytime heist, yet authorities have warned it might be impossible to save them.

Within the French capital over the weekend, thieves entered by force the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight valued items before escaping using scooters in a daring heist that took about just minutes.

International art investigator Arthur Brand stated publicly he suspects the artifacts are likely "dispersed", having been broken up into numerous components.

It is highly likely the pieces could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and taken out of French territory, other experts indicated.

Potential Suspects Behind the Theft

The thieves were professionals, Mr Brand believes, shown by the speed with which they got in and out of the building in record time.

"As you might expect, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide overnight planning, I will become a burglar, let's start with the world-famous museum," he noted.

"This isn't their initial robbery," he added. "They've committed other burglaries. They're self-assured and they calculated, we might get away with this plan, and proceeded."

Additionally demonstrating the skill of the thieves is treated as important, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in solving significant crimes" has been assigned with tracking them down.

Authorities have stated they think the heist is connected to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs of this type generally have two main goals, French prosecutor the prosecutor said. "Either to act working for a financier, or to secure expensive jewelry to conduct money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it would be impossible to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he explained commissioned theft for an individual buyer is something that mainly exists in Hollywood films.

"Nobody wants to touch an item so hot," he explained. "It cannot be shown to your friends, it cannot be passed to heirs, there's no market for it."

Potential £10m Value

The detective suggests the artifacts will be taken apart and disassembled, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the precious stones divided into less recognizable pieces that would be extremely difficult to connect to the museum theft.

Historical jewelry specialist a renowned expert, who presents the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, told the BBC the robbers had "carefully selected" the most important treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "impressively sized exquisite jewels" are expected to be extracted of their mountings and disposed of, she noted, with the exception of the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems mounted in it and was considered "too recognizable to handle," she explained.

This might account for the reason it was abandoned as they got away, together with one other item, and located by officials.

The royal crown which was stolen, contains extremely rare organic pearls which have a very large value, specialists confirm.

While the items are regarded as being beyond valuation, Ms Woolton anticipates they will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.

"They'll likely end up to individuals who is willing to acquire such items," she stated. "Authorities worldwide will search for these – the thieves will accept what they can get."

What specific amount could they fetch as payment if sold on? Regarding the possible worth of the loot, the expert indicated the dismantled components may amount to "multiple millions."

The jewels and taken gold may bring as much as ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; thirteen million dollars), according to an industry expert, senior official of an established company, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the perpetrators must have an experienced professional to extract the stones, and an expert gem cutter to change the larger recognisable stones.

Smaller stones that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed quickly and despite challenges to estimate the exact price of every gem stolen, the more significant gems may amount to around a significant amount for individual pieces, he explained.

"Reports indicate a minimum of four comparable in size, therefore combining all of those together with the gold, one could estimate approaching £10m," he concluded.

"The jewelry and luxury goods trade has buyers and numerous purchasers exist on the fringes that won't inquire regarding sources."

There are hopes that the artifacts could reappear in original condition in the future – yet this possibility are diminishing as the days pass.

There is a precedent – a historical showcase at the cultural institution displays an artifact stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in a sale several decades later.

Without doubt is many in France are extremely upset by the Louvre heist, expressing a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"There isn't always value gems because it's a question of authority, and this isn't typically carry positive associations in France," Alexandre Leger, director of historical collections at French jeweller the historical business, explained