Is France Able to Recover Its Priceless Royal Gems – Or Is It Too Late?

Law enforcement in France are desperate to recover irreplaceable treasures stolen from the Louvre in a daring daylight robbery, although specialists are concerned it could be impossible to recover them.

In Paris over the weekend, burglars gained access to the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight valued items before escaping using scooters in a daring heist that took about just minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand expressed his view he suspects the stolen items could be "dispersed", having been broken up into many fragments.

There is a strong chance the artifacts could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from French territory, other experts noted.

Potential Suspects Behind the Theft

The perpetrators are experienced criminals, Mr Brand believes, shown by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the Louvre in record time.

"You know, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide one day believing, I should become a burglar, choosing as first target the world-famous museum," he noted.

"This isn't their first heist," he said. "They've committed things before. They are confident and they thought, we might get away with this attempt, and went for it."

As further evidence the professionalism of the thieves is considered significant, an elite police team with a "high success rate in solving high-profile robberies" has been tasked with finding them.

Authorities have stated they think the theft is linked to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs like these usually pursue two objectives, legal official Laure Beccuau said. "Either they operate working for a financier, or to acquire expensive jewelry to conduct money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it seems highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he explained targeted robbery for a specific client is a scenario that mainly exists in fictional stories.

"No one desires to handle an item so identifiable," he elaborated. "You can't display it publicly, you can't bequeath it to your children, it cannot be sold."

Possible £10m Worth

The detective suggests the objects will be dismantled and separated, including the gold and silver components melted and the gems re-cut into less recognizable pieces that could be extremely difficult to track back to the Paris heist.

Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, creator of the audio program If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, stated the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most significant gemstones from the museum's holdings.

The "impressively sized perfect gems" will probably be dug out of their mountings and disposed of, she explained, with the exception of the crown from the historical figure which has smaller stones set in it and was considered "too dangerous to keep," she continued.

This might account for why it was dropped during the escape, together with another piece, and found by authorities.

Empress Eugenie's tiara that was taken, has rare natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.

While the items are considered being priceless, the expert anticipates they could be marketed for a fraction of their worth.

"They'll likely end up to buyers who is willing to acquire such items," she stated. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – the thieves will accept any amount available."

What specific amount could they fetch as payment upon being marketed? Regarding the possible worth of the stolen goods, the detective indicated the cut-up parts might value "several million."

The precious stones and removed precious metal may bring up to £10 million (over eleven million euros; $13.4m), according to a jewelry specialist, chief executive of an established company, an online jeweller.

He told the BBC the gang will require a trained specialist to remove the gems, and a skilled stone worker to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Less noticeable gems that were harder to trace would be disposed of immediately and while it was hard to estimate the specific worth of all the stones removed, the more significant gems could be worth approximately £500,000 each, he noted.

"We know there are no fewer than four comparable in size, thus totaling each of them along with the gold, you are probably coming close to the estimated figure," he stated.

"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that won't inquire regarding sources."

There are hopes that the items may be found undamaged one day – yet this possibility are narrowing over time.

Historical examples exist – a jewelry display at the V&A Museum features an item of jewellery taken decades ago before reappearing in an auction many years after.

Without doubt is many in France are deeply shocked about the museum robbery, expressing an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"French people don't always appreciate jewelry because it's an issue of authority, and this isn't typically carry positive associations among French people," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house Maison Vever, stated

Shane Smith
Shane Smith

A passionate environmental technologist and writer, dedicated to exploring how innovation can drive sustainability and positive change.