🔗 Share this article

French authorities are making every effort to recover extremely valuable treasures stolen from the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery, but experts are concerned it may already be too late to get them back.

In Paris over the weekend, robbers entered by force the world's most-visited museum, taking eight precious artifacts before escaping via motor scooters in a daring heist that took about eight minutes.

International art investigator Arthur Brand stated publicly he believes the stolen items could be "long gone", after being taken apart into hundreds of parts.

There is a strong chance the pieces may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from the country, other experts have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Theft

The perpetrators acted professionally, Mr Brand believes, as demonstrated by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the Louvre in record time.

"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, people don't suddenly decide overnight believing, I'm going to become a criminal, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he noted.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he continued. "They've carried out things before. They are confident and they believed, it might work out with this, and proceeded."

Additionally demonstrating the skill of the thieves is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in cracking significant crimes" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Authorities have said they think the theft relates to an organised crime network.

Organised crime groups such as these usually pursue two objectives, legal official Laure Beccuau said. "Either to act for the benefit of a sponsor, or to secure valuable gems to conduct illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it seems extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he noted commissioned theft for a specific client is a scenario that only happens in fictional stories.

"No one desires to touch an item so hot," he elaborated. "You cannot show it to acquaintances, you can't bequeath it to your children, it cannot be sold."

Estimated £10m Value

The expert thinks the artifacts will be taken apart and disassembled, including the gold and precious metals liquefied and the precious stones divided into smaller components that could be virtually impossible to track back to the Louvre robbery.

Gemstone expert a renowned expert, who presents the digital series about historical jewelry and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for 20 years, told the BBC the robbers had "carefully selected" the most important jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "beautiful large exquisite jewels" would likely be removed of their mountings and marketed, she said, excluding the crown from the French empress which contains smaller gems set in it and was considered "too hot to keep," she added.

This potentially clarifies why they left it behind as they got away, along with one other item, and found by authorities.

The imperial headpiece which was stolen, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which command enormous prices, experts say.

While the items have been described as being priceless, Ms Woolton expects them could be marketed for a minimal part of their true price.

"They're destined to buyers who are prepared to acquire such items," she explained. "Authorities worldwide will search for the stolen goods – they will take any amount available."

How much exactly could they fetch as payment if sold on? Concerning the possible worth of the loot, the expert stated the separated elements may amount to "several million."

The gems and taken gold may bring approximately a significant sum (millions in euros; thirteen million dollars), stated by an industry expert, chief executive of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the thieves would need a skilled expert to remove the gems, and an expert gem cutter to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Less noticeable gems that were harder to trace might be marketed immediately and despite challenges to tell the specific worth of all the stones stolen, the larger ones may amount to about half a million pounds for individual pieces, he said.

"Reports indicate at least four comparable in size, so adding each of them together with the precious metal, it's likely coming close to ten million," he concluded.

"The jewelry and gemstone market is active and plenty of customers operate within gray markets that avoid questioning regarding sources."

There are hopes that the artifacts might resurface intact eventually – yet this possibility are diminishing over time.

Historical examples exist – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum displays a piece of jewelry previously stolen before reappearing in an auction much later.

Without doubt are numerous French citizens feel profoundly disturbed by the Louvre heist, having felt a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily appreciate jewelry because it's an issue of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation in France," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at established French company the historical business, explained