Is France Able to Get Back Its Precious Historic Jewels – Or Has It Become Too Late?

French authorities are urgently trying to retrieve priceless jewels robbed from the Paris museum in a brazen broad daylight theft, but experts are concerned it might be too late to save them.

Within the French capital on Sunday, burglars entered by force the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight valued items and getting away on scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective an expert in the field expressed his view he feared the stolen items could be "long gone", once separated into many fragments.

There is a strong chance the artifacts will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of France, additional specialists noted.

Who May Be Behind the Theft

The thieves acted professionally, as the detective stated, shown by the way they managed in and out of the museum so quickly.

"You know, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up overnight believing, I should become a thief, choosing as first target the Louvre," he said.

"This likely isn't the first time they've done this," he added. "They've carried out things before. They are confident and they believed, it might work out with this, and went for it."

Additionally demonstrating the skill of the gang is treated as important, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in resolving significant crimes" has been assigned with tracking them down.

Law enforcement have said they believe the theft is connected to an organised crime network.

Organised crime groups such as these typically have two main goals, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau explained. "Either to act on behalf of a client, or to acquire precious stones to conduct illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it is extremely difficult to sell the items as complete pieces, and he said targeted robbery for a specific client is something that typically occurs in Hollywood films.

"Nobody wants to touch an item so hot," he stated. "You cannot show it to acquaintances, it cannot be passed to heirs, there's no market for it."

Estimated £10m Value

The expert thinks the stolen items are likely broken down and disassembled, along with gold elements and precious metals liquefied and the gems divided into less recognizable pieces that would be extremely difficult to trace back to the Louvre robbery.

Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, host of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and was Vogue magazine's jewelry specialist for 20 years, told the BBC the thieves had "specifically chosen" the most significant gemstones from the institution's artifacts.

The "beautiful large perfect gems" will probably be extracted from their settings and disposed of, she noted, except for the headpiece of the historical figure which has smaller stones mounted in it and was "too dangerous to keep," she explained.

This could explain why they left it behind while fleeing, in addition to another piece, and found by authorities.

The imperial headpiece which was stolen, features exceptionally uncommon authentic pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.

Although the artifacts are considered being beyond valuation, Ms Woolton expects them to be sold for a fraction of their worth.

"They will go to individuals who are able to handle these," she stated. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – the thieves will accept what they can get."

What specific amount might they bring in money upon being marketed? When asked about the possible worth of the loot, Mr Brand indicated the cut-up parts may amount to "many millions."

The jewels and taken gold may bring approximately ten million pounds (€11.52m; $13.4m), says an industry expert, managing director of a prominent jeweler, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the thieves would need a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Less noticeable gems that were not easily identifiable could be sold immediately and while it was hard to estimate the specific worth of each piece removed, the larger ones may amount to approximately £500,000 for individual pieces, he said.

"There are a minimum of four comparable in size, so adding all of those up plus the precious metal, you are probably coming close to the estimated figure," he said.

"The gemstone and luxury goods trade is liquid and plenty of customers operate within gray markets that won't inquire regarding sources."

There are hopes that the items might resurface undamaged eventually – although such expectations are fading over time.

Historical examples exist – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution includes a piece of jewelry stolen in 1948 that later resurfaced in a sale much later.

Without doubt are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, expressing a cultural bond toward the treasures.

"There isn't always value gems as it symbolizes a question of authority, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation within French culture," a heritage expert, director of historical collections at French jeweller the historical business, said