Will France Retrieve Its Precious Royal Gems – Or Has It Become Too Late?
Police in France are urgently trying to locate priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery, but experts are concerned it might be impossible to save them.
At the heart of Paris on Sunday, thieves gained access to the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight precious artifacts before escaping using scooters in a audacious theft that was completed in under ten minutes.
Expert art detective a renowned specialist stated publicly he believes the stolen items could be "long gone", after being taken apart into numerous components.
It is highly likely the stolen jewels could be sold off for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of French territory, several authorities indicated.
Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery
The perpetrators were professionals, Mr Brand believes, shown by the fact they were through the museum of the building in record time.
"You know, as a normal person, you don't wake up in the morning believing, I will become a burglar, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he said.
"This isn't their initial robbery," he said. "They've committed other burglaries. They are confident and they calculated, we might get away with this, and went for it."
Additionally demonstrating the professionalism of the group is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in resolving significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.
Police officials have said they believe the heist is connected to a criminal organization.
Sophisticated gangs of this type typically have two objectives, legal official the prosecutor explained. "Either to act on behalf of a financier, or to secure valuable gems to perform financial crimes."
The expert believes it seems highly unlikely to sell the items intact, and he explained commissioned theft for a specific client is a scenario that mainly exists in Hollywood films.
"Few people wish to touch an artifact so hot," he stated. "You can't display it to your friends, you cannot leave it to family, it cannot be sold."
Estimated £10m Worth
Mr Brand believes the artifacts will be dismantled and separated, with the gold and silver components melted and the jewels divided into less recognizable pieces that will be virtually impossible to trace back to the museum theft.
Historical jewelry specialist a renowned expert, host of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and previously served as the prestigious publication's jewellery editor for 20 years, stated the thieves had "carefully selected" the most important treasures from the institution's artifacts.
The "beautiful large exquisite jewels" are expected to be dug out from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she said, with the exception of the tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie which has smaller stones mounted in it and was "too hot to possess," she added.
This could explain the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, along with another piece, and located by officials.
The imperial headpiece which was stolen, features exceptionally uncommon authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, specialists confirm.
Even though the pieces are regarded as being beyond valuation, the historian anticipates they will be disposed of for a small percentage of their value.
"They will go to individuals who are prepared to acquire such items," she explained. "Many people will seek for these – they'll settle for what they can get."
How much exactly could they fetch as payment when disposed of? Regarding the potential value of the loot, Mr Brand said the dismantled components may amount to "multiple millions."
The gems and gold stolen could fetch up to £10 million (€11.52m; millions in US currency), stated by Tobias Kormind, senior official of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.
He stated the thieves must have an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to change the more noticeable pieces.
Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of right away and despite challenges to determine the exact price of all the stones stolen, the more significant gems could be worth around £500,000 per stone, he explained.
"We know there are at least four that large, thus totaling each of them together with the precious metal, you are probably approaching £10m," he said.
"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that avoid questioning regarding sources."
There are hopes that the artifacts might resurface in original condition one day – yet this possibility are narrowing with each passing day.
Similar cases have occurred – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum displays an artifact taken decades ago which eventually returned in an auction many years after.
Without doubt are numerous French citizens are extremely upset about the museum robbery, demonstrating a cultural bond toward the treasures.
"French people don't always like jewellery because it's a question of power, and which doesn't always carry positive associations among French people," a jewelry authority, director of historical collections at established French company Maison Vever, explained