🔗 Share this article

Law enforcement in France are urgently trying to retrieve priceless treasures robbed from the Louvre in a daring daytime heist, but experts are concerned it might be impossible to save them.

Within the French capital over the weekend, robbers gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, taking eight precious artifacts then fleeing on scooters in a audacious theft that took about under ten minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand expressed his view he suspects the artifacts may already be "dispersed", once separated into numerous components.

Experts suggest the pieces may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from French territory, additional specialists indicated.

Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery

The thieves were professionals, Mr Brand believes, as demonstrated by the way they managed in and out of the building in record time.

"You know, as a normal person, people don't suddenly decide one day planning, I'm going to become a burglar, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he said. "They've committed previous crimes. They're self-assured and they thought, we could succeed with this plan, and proceeded."

In another sign the professionalism of the group is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "strong track record in cracking significant crimes" has been assigned with finding them.

Law enforcement have indicated they suspect the robbery is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Sophisticated gangs of this type usually pursue two main goals, legal official the prosecutor explained. "Either to act working for a sponsor, or to secure valuable gems to perform illegal financial activities."

Mr Brand thinks it seems highly unlikely to market the jewels intact, and he explained targeted robbery for a private collector is a scenario that only happens in fictional stories.

"Few people wish to handle an artifact so identifiable," he stated. "It cannot be shown to your friends, you can't bequeath it to your children, it cannot be sold."

Estimated £10m Price Tag

The detective suggests the stolen items will be dismantled and separated, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the jewels re-cut into smaller components that could be nearly impossible to track back to the Louvre robbery.

Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, host of the digital series focusing on gemstones and previously served as Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, explained the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most significant gemstones from the museum's holdings.

The "beautiful large perfect gems" are expected to be removed from their settings and sold, she said, with the exception of the headpiece of the historical figure which has smaller stones incorporated within it and proved to be "too recognizable to keep," she explained.

This could explain why they left it behind while fleeing, together with one other item, and recovered by police.

The royal crown that was taken, has rare natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, specialists confirm.

Even though the pieces have been described as having immeasurable worth, the historian expects them to be sold for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to someone who are prepared to handle these," she explained. "Authorities worldwide will search for these items – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."

What specific amount might they bring financially upon being marketed? Concerning the estimated price of the haul, the detective said the cut-up parts could be worth "several million."

The jewels and gold stolen may bring approximately ten million pounds (€11.52m; millions in US currency), stated by an industry expert, senior official of an established company, an online jeweller.

He told the BBC the perpetrators will require an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to change the more noticeable pieces.

Smaller stones that were not easily identifiable could be sold right away and despite challenges to tell the exact price of all the stones stolen, the bigger stones might value approximately £500,000 for individual pieces, he said.

"There are at least four of that size, so adding all those pieces together with the gold components, one could estimate reaching ten million," he said.

"The diamond and precious stone industry is active and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that won't inquire regarding sources."

Hope persists that the items might resurface undamaged eventually – but those hopes are fading as the days pass.

Similar cases have occurred – a historical showcase at the London museum includes an item of jewellery taken decades ago before reappearing in a public event many years after.

What is certain includes the French public are extremely upset by the Louvre heist, demonstrating an emotional attachment toward the treasures.

"We don't necessarily like jewellery as it symbolizes a matter concerning privilege, and this isn't typically receive favorable interpretation among French people," a heritage expert, director of historical collections at French jeweller the historical business, explained