Will France Retrieve Its Invaluable Crown Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?
French authorities are desperate to recover extremely valuable treasures taken from the Louvre in a audacious daylight robbery, although specialists have warned it might be impossible to save them.
Within the French capital on Sunday, robbers broke into the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight precious artifacts before escaping on scooters in a audacious theft that was completed in just minutes.
International art investigator a renowned specialist stated publicly he believes the artifacts could be "already dismantled", having been broken up into many fragments.
Experts suggest the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and taken out of the country, other experts have said.
Possible Culprits Behind the Theft
The thieves were professionals, according to the expert, evidenced by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the Louvre so quickly.
"You know, for an average individual, you don't wake up one day believing, I should become a thief, and begin with the world-famous museum," he said.
"This won't be the first time they've done this," he said. "They've carried out other burglaries. They feel certain and they believed, we could succeed with this attempt, and took the chance."
In another sign the skill of the gang is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in resolving high-profile robberies" has been tasked with locating the perpetrators.
Police officials have indicated they believe the robbery relates to an organised crime network.
Organised crime groups of this type typically have two main goals, French prosecutor a senior official explained. "Either to act for the benefit of a client, or to secure precious stones to perform money laundering operations."
Mr Brand thinks it would be extremely difficult to sell the items as complete pieces, and he noted commissioned theft for an individual buyer represents a situation that only happens in movies.
"No one desires to acquire an artifact so hot," he explained. "You cannot show it publicly, you cannot leave it to heirs, it cannot be sold."
Estimated £10m Value
The detective suggests the objects are likely broken down and broken up, with the gold and silver components melted and the jewels cut up into smaller components that would be extremely difficult to track back to the Paris heist.
Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, creator of the podcast about historical jewelry and was the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for many years, told the BBC the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most important jewels from the Louvre's collection.
The "impressively sized flawless stones" will probably be extracted of their mountings and sold, she noted, with the exception of the headpiece of the historical figure which features less valuable pieces incorporated within it and proved to be "too dangerous to keep," she continued.
This potentially clarifies why they left it behind during the escape, along with a second artifact, and found by authorities.
The royal crown that was taken, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.
While the items are considered being priceless, the expert believes they could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.
"They're destined to buyers who are prepared to acquire such items," she said. "Many people will seek for these – the thieves will accept what they can get."
What specific amount might they bring financially if sold on? Regarding the potential value of the haul, the expert said the separated elements may amount to "multiple millions."
The precious stones and removed precious metal might achieve up to £10 million (€11.52m; $13.4m), according to a jewelry specialist, managing director of a prominent jeweler, a digital jewelry retailer.
He told the BBC the gang would need a skilled expert to extract the stones, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the larger recognisable stones.
Less noticeable gems that were harder to trace might be marketed immediately and although difficult to tell the precise value of all the stones removed, the bigger stones may amount to approximately half a million pounds for individual pieces, he explained.
"Reports indicate at least four comparable in size, thus totaling each of them along with the gold components, one could estimate approaching the estimated figure," he stated.
"The jewelry and gemstone market is active and numerous purchasers exist within gray markets that won't inquire about origins."
Hope persists that the artifacts may be found undamaged in the future – but those hopes are diminishing as the days pass.
Similar cases have occurred – a historical showcase at the London museum includes an item of jewellery taken decades ago which eventually returned in a sale much later.
What is certain includes the French public are deeply shocked regarding the theft, having felt an emotional attachment to the jewels.
"We don't necessarily appreciate jewelry as it symbolizes a question of power, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation in France," Alexandre Leger, curatorial leader at French jeweller the prestigious firm, explained