🔗 Share this article

French authorities are making every effort to retrieve irreplaceable treasures taken from the Louvre in a daring daytime heist, although specialists caution it may already be too late to get them back.

In Paris over the weekend, thieves broke into the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight valued items then fleeing via motor scooters in a audacious theft that took about under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand expressed his view he suspects the artifacts are likely "already dismantled", having been broken up into many fragments.

There is a strong chance the artifacts could be sold off for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of French territory, other experts indicated.

Possible Culprits Behind the Heist

The perpetrators acted professionally, Mr Brand believes, evidenced by the speed with which they got through the museum of the Louvre so quickly.

"As you might expect, as a normal person, people don't suddenly decide one day planning, I should become a burglar, and begin with the world-famous museum," he said.

"This isn't their first heist," he continued. "They've committed other burglaries. They are confident and they thought, it might work out with this plan, and took the chance."

Additionally demonstrating the professionalism of the gang is considered significant, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in resolving major theft cases" has been given responsibility with finding them.

Authorities have indicated they believe the robbery is connected to an organised crime network.

Criminal organizations such as these generally have two objectives, legal official the prosecutor stated. "Either they operate on behalf of a client, or to secure expensive jewelry to conduct illegal financial activities."

The detective suggests it seems impossible to sell the items intact, and he explained stealing-to-order for a private collector is something that only happens in fictional stories.

"Few people wish to acquire a piece so hot," he elaborated. "You cannot show it publicly, it cannot be passed to heirs, there's no market for it."

Potential £10m Worth

The expert thinks the artifacts will be taken apart and disassembled, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the precious stones cut up into less recognizable pieces that will be virtually impossible to connect to the Paris heist.

Historical jewelry specialist Carol Woolton, who presents the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and previously served as the prestigious publication's jewellery editor for many years, told the BBC the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most valuable jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "magnificent perfect gems" are expected to be dug out from their settings and disposed of, she said, excluding the headpiece of the French empress which features less valuable pieces set in it and was "too hot to handle," she added.

This might account for why they left it behind as they got away, together with another piece, and found by authorities.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, contains extremely rare organic pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items have been described as being priceless, the historian expects them will be disposed of for a fraction of their worth.

"They will go to individuals who are able to take possession," she stated. "Many people will seek for these items – they will take what they can get."

How much exactly would they generate financially if sold on? Concerning the potential value of the haul, the detective stated the dismantled components may amount to "many millions."

The jewels and gold stolen might achieve approximately ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; $13.4m), says a jewelry specialist, managing director of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the perpetrators will require a trained specialist to remove the gems, and a professional diamond cutter to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed quickly and despite challenges to determine the exact price of every gem stolen, the more significant gems could be worth around half a million pounds for individual pieces, he explained.

"There are a minimum of four of that size, therefore combining all of those together with the gold components, you are probably reaching £10m," he concluded.

"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and plenty of customers operate in less regulated areas that won't inquire about origins."

Hope persists that the stolen goods may be found undamaged in the future – although such expectations are diminishing as the days pass.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the London museum includes an item of jewellery stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in an auction much later.

What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked about the museum robbery, expressing a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"French people don't always appreciate jewelry because it's an issue of power, and that doesn't necessarily carry positive associations within French culture," Alexandre Leger, head of heritage at Parisian jewelry house Maison Vever, explained