Will France Get Back Its Priceless Crown Jewels – Or Has It Become Too Late?

Police in France are making every effort to recover priceless jewels stolen from the Paris museum in a brazen broad daylight theft, yet authorities caution it could be impossible to save them.

In Paris over the weekend, thieves gained access to the most popular museum globally, taking eight valued items and getting away using scooters in a audacious theft that took about under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective an expert in the field stated publicly he feared the stolen items could be "long gone", after being taken apart into numerous components.

There is a strong chance the stolen jewels could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France, other experts have said.

Potential Suspects Behind the Heist

The thieves were professionals, Mr Brand believes, evidenced by the fact they were through the museum of the building so quickly.

"As you might expect, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up one day planning, I will become a burglar, and begin with the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've committed things before. They're self-assured and they calculated, it might work out with this plan, and proceeded."

In another sign the expertise of the group is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in solving significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.

Police officials have indicated they believe the heist is connected to a criminal organization.

Organised crime groups like these usually pursue two objectives, legal official a senior official said. "Either to act working for a client, or to secure expensive jewelry to perform illegal financial activities."

Mr Brand thinks it seems highly unlikely to market the jewels as complete pieces, and he explained stealing-to-order for an individual buyer is a scenario that mainly exists in movies.

"Few people wish to touch a piece so hot," he explained. "It cannot be shown publicly, you can't bequeath it to your children, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Value

The expert thinks the stolen items are likely broken down and broken up, with the gold and silver components melted and the jewels re-cut into less recognizable pieces that could be nearly impossible to connect to the Louvre robbery.

Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, host of the podcast about historical jewelry and was Vogue magazine's jewellery editor for 20 years, stated the robbers had "specifically chosen" the most important jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "beautiful large flawless stones" will probably be removed from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she noted, except for the crown from the historical figure which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and proved to be "too dangerous to possess," she added.

This might account for why it was dropped during the escape, along with one other item, and found by authorities.

The imperial headpiece that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which have a very large value, experts say.

Although the artifacts are regarded as having immeasurable worth, Ms Woolton believes they will be disposed of for a small percentage of their value.

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

The precise value would they generate as payment if sold on? When asked about the possible worth of the haul, Mr Brand said the separated elements could be worth "multiple millions."

The precious stones and removed precious metal could fetch as much as £10 million (€11.52m; $13.4m), stated by a jewelry specialist, chief executive of 77 Diamonds, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the thieves would need a trained specialist to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to change the larger recognisable stones.

Smaller stones that were harder to trace could be sold quickly and although difficult to tell the exact price of every gem stolen, the larger ones may amount to approximately half a million pounds each, he noted.

"There are a minimum of four of that size, therefore combining each of them up plus the gold, it's likely coming close to the estimated figure," he said.

"The gemstone and gemstone market is liquid and plenty of customers operate in less regulated areas that don't ask too many questions."

Hope persists that the stolen goods might resurface in original condition eventually – yet this possibility are fading as the days pass.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the London museum features a piece of jewelry taken decades ago which eventually returned in an auction many years after.

Definitely are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, demonstrating an emotional attachment toward the treasures.

"There isn't always appreciate jewelry since it represents a question of authority, and which doesn't always carry positive associations in France," a jewelry authority, director of historical collections at Parisian jewelry house Maison Vever, explained