Will France Retrieve Its Invaluable Historic Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?

Law enforcement in France are urgently trying to recover extremely valuable treasures taken from the Louvre in a audacious broad daylight theft, yet authorities are concerned it might be impossible to get them back.

Within the French capital over the weekend, thieves gained access to the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight precious artifacts before escaping on scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately eight minutes.

Dutch art detective an expert in the field expressed his view he believes the artifacts are likely "dispersed", after being taken apart into numerous components.

There is a strong chance the pieces could be sold off for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of France, other experts have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Theft

The thieves are experienced criminals, Mr Brand believes, shown by the speed with which they got in and out of the building so quickly.

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

"This isn't their initial robbery," he said. "They've carried out previous crimes. They feel certain and they thought, we could succeed with this plan, and went for it."

In another sign the professionalism of the group is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "proven effectiveness in solving high-profile robberies" has been given responsibility with finding them.

Law enforcement have said they suspect the theft is connected to a criminal organization.

Organised crime groups of this type usually pursue two main goals, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated. "Either to act working for a client, or to acquire valuable gems to perform money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it would be highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he said targeted robbery for a specific client represents a situation that typically occurs in Hollywood films.

"Few people wish to acquire an artifact this recognizable," he explained. "You can't display it publicly, you can't bequeath it to your children, it cannot be sold."

Possible £10m Price Tag

The expert thinks the artifacts are likely broken down and disassembled, with the gold and silver melted down and the jewels re-cut into smaller components that will be virtually impossible to trace back to the museum theft.

Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, host of the podcast focusing on gemstones and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for 20 years, told the BBC the thieves had "carefully selected" the most significant treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "magnificent flawless stones" will probably be dug out from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she said, with the exception of the headpiece of the French empress which has smaller stones incorporated within it and was considered "too dangerous to possess," she explained.

This might account for the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, along with a second artifact, and found by authorities.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which have a very large value, experts say.

Even though the pieces are considered being priceless, Ms Woolton anticipates they will be disposed of for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to buyers who are prepared to acquire such items," she said. "Authorities worldwide will search for the stolen goods – they will take what they can get."

What specific amount could they fetch in money if sold on? When asked about the estimated price of the haul, the expert stated the cut-up parts could be worth "several million."

The jewels and taken gold may bring up to ten million pounds (millions in euros; thirteen million dollars), according to a jewelry specialist, chief executive of an established company, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the perpetrators must have a trained specialist to extract the stones, and a skilled stone worker to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Smaller stones that were harder to trace could be sold immediately and while it was hard to determine the specific worth of all the stones removed, the more significant gems might value approximately £500,000 each, he explained.

"There are no fewer than four comparable in size, so adding all of those along with the gold, one could estimate reaching £10m," he said.

"The diamond and precious stone industry is active and plenty of customers operate within gray markets that avoid questioning regarding sources."

There are hopes that the items may be found intact in the future – yet this possibility are fading over time.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the cultural institution displays a piece of jewelry stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in a sale much later.

Definitely includes the French public are extremely upset about the museum robbery, having felt an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily value gems because it's an issue of privilege, and which doesn't always carry positive associations in France," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house Maison Vever, stated