Will France Retrieve Its Priceless Royal Gems – Or Has It Become Too Late?

Law enforcement in France are urgently trying to retrieve irreplaceable jewels taken from the Louvre Museum in a audacious daylight robbery, although specialists are concerned it may already be impossible to get them back.

At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, thieves gained access to the most popular museum globally, taking eight valued items before escaping using scooters in a daring heist that was completed in under ten minutes.

International art investigator Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the artifacts may already be "already dismantled", having been broken up into numerous components.

There is a strong chance the artifacts will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from French territory, additional specialists indicated.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The perpetrators acted professionally, according to the expert, shown by the fact they were through the museum of the museum so quickly.

"Realistically speaking, for an average individual, one doesn't just get up overnight thinking, I should become a thief, let's start with the Louvre," he said.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he said. "They have done other burglaries. They are confident and they believed, we could succeed with this plan, and proceeded."

As further evidence the professionalism of the thieves is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in solving significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.

Authorities have stated they think the heist is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Organised crime groups of this type generally have two objectives, French prosecutor the prosecutor explained. "Either they operate on behalf of a financier, or to obtain valuable gems to perform money laundering operations."

The detective suggests it would be extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he said targeted robbery for a private collector represents a situation that mainly exists in movies.

"Few people wish to touch a piece so hot," he stated. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, it cannot be passed to your children, you cannot sell it."

Estimated £10m Price Tag

Mr Brand believes the objects will be taken apart and separated, including the gold and silver melted down and the gems divided into less recognizable pieces that will be virtually impossible to connect to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist Carol Woolton, host of the digital series focusing on gemstones and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, stated the perpetrators had "cherry-picked" the most significant jewels from the institution's artifacts.

The "beautiful large flawless stones" would likely be dug out from the jewelry pieces and sold, she explained, except for the tiara belonging to the French empress which contains smaller gems set in it and was "too recognizable to keep," she added.

This potentially clarifies the reason it was abandoned during the escape, in addition to one other item, and located by officials.

The royal crown that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.

While the items are considered being beyond valuation, the expert believes they will be disposed of for a small percentage of their value.

"They'll likely end up to buyers who are able to handle these," she stated. "Many people will seek for these – they will take whatever price is offered."

The precise value would they generate financially if sold on? Concerning the potential value of the haul, the detective indicated the separated elements might value "many millions."

The jewels and taken gold might achieve as much as ten million pounds (millions in euros; $13.4m), according to a jewelry specialist, chief executive of a prominent jeweler, an online jeweller.

The expert explained the thieves will require a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to change the larger recognisable stones.

Smaller stones that were not easily identifiable could be sold right away and despite challenges to determine the exact price of all the stones removed, the larger ones may amount to approximately half a million pounds each, he explained.

"Reports indicate at least four comparable in size, so adding each of them along with the gold, one could estimate reaching £10m," he concluded.

"The diamond and precious stone industry has buyers and plenty of customers operate on the fringes that avoid questioning about origins."

Hope persists that the items might resurface intact in the future – yet this possibility are diminishing as the days pass.

Similar cases have occurred – a historical showcase at the London museum includes a piece of jewelry stolen in 1948 before reappearing in an auction many years after.

Definitely includes the French public are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, having felt a personal connection toward the treasures.

"French people don't always value gems because it's a question of privilege, and which doesn't always carry positive associations among French people," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at established French company the historical business, stated

Chelsea Gibson
Chelsea Gibson

A passionate Dutch food blogger and home cook, sharing traditional recipes and modern twists on classic dishes.