Can France Get Back Its Priceless Crown Jewels – Or Has It Become Too Late?
Law enforcement in France are making every effort to recover irreplaceable gemstones stolen from the Paris museum in a daring daylight robbery, yet authorities have warned it might be past the point of recovery to get them back.
Within the French capital on Sunday, robbers gained access to the world's most-visited museum, taking eight valued items and getting away on scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately eight minutes.
Expert art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he suspects the jewels could be "already dismantled", once separated into numerous components.
It is highly likely the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and taken out of French territory, other experts indicated.
Possible Culprits Behind the Theft
The group were professionals, according to the expert, evidenced by the way they managed inside and outside of the Louvre so quickly.
"Realistically speaking, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide one day thinking, I'm going to become a criminal, and begin with the Louvre," he said.
"This won't be their first heist," he said. "They've committed previous crimes. They're self-assured and they believed, it might work out with this plan, and went for it."
As further evidence the professionalism of the thieves is treated as important, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in solving significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.
Police officials have indicated they think the theft is connected to a criminal organization.
Organised crime groups such as these generally have two objectives, legal official a senior official stated. "Either to act on behalf of a sponsor, or to secure valuable gems to conduct financial crimes."
The detective suggests it seems impossible to market the jewels in their original form, and he explained stealing-to-order for a private collector is something that only happens in fictional stories.
"No one desires to handle an item this recognizable," he elaborated. "You cannot show it to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to your children, it cannot be sold."
Estimated £10m Value
The expert thinks the objects will be taken apart and disassembled, with the gold and silver melted down and the precious stones cut up into less recognizable pieces that could be virtually impossible to trace back to the Paris heist.
Gemstone expert a renowned expert, creator of the digital series focusing on gemstones and was the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, explained the thieves had "specifically chosen" the most valuable treasures from the institution's artifacts.
The "impressively sized exquisite jewels" will probably be extracted from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she explained, except for the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which features less valuable pieces set in it and was considered "too hot to keep," she explained.
This could explain why they left it behind as they got away, together with a second artifact, and recovered by police.
Empress Eugenie's tiara that disappeared, has rare authentic pearls which have a very large value, experts say.
Although the artifacts are considered being beyond valuation, the historian expects them will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.
"They'll likely end up to individuals who are able to handle these," she said. "Authorities worldwide will search for these items – the thieves will accept what they can get."
What specific amount could they fetch as payment when disposed of? When asked about the estimated price of the loot, Mr Brand indicated the separated elements may amount to "several million."
The jewels and removed precious metal might achieve up to ten million pounds (€11.52m; millions in US currency), says an industry expert, managing director of an established company, an internet-based gem dealer.
He stated the gang will require a trained specialist to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to change the more noticeable pieces.
Minor components that were not easily identifiable would be disposed of quickly and while it was hard to determine the specific worth of all the stones removed, the larger ones may amount to approximately a significant amount each, he explained.
"There are at least four comparable in size, therefore combining all those pieces together with the precious metal, it's likely reaching the estimated figure," he said.
"The jewelry and gemstone market has buyers and plenty of customers operate on the fringes that avoid questioning too many questions."
Some optimism remains that the stolen goods may be found in original condition eventually – but those hopes are diminishing over time.
There is a precedent – a historical showcase at the V&A Museum displays an item of jewellery taken decades ago which eventually returned in a public event several decades later.
What is certain is many in France feel profoundly disturbed regarding the theft, having felt a cultural bond toward the treasures.
"There isn't always appreciate jewelry since it represents a question of authority, and this isn't typically receive favorable interpretation within French culture," Alexandre Leger, curatorial leader at established French company the prestigious firm, said