Is France Able to Retrieve Its Invaluable Crown Jewels – Or Has It Become Too Late?
Police in France are desperate to recover priceless jewels robbed from the Louvre Museum in a audacious daytime heist, but experts caution it could be impossible to recover them.
Within the French capital on Sunday, thieves entered by force the most popular museum globally, stealing eight cherished pieces then fleeing on scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately just minutes.
Expert art detective a renowned specialist expressed his view he feared the jewels could be "long gone", after being taken apart into many fragments.
Experts suggest the stolen jewels could be sold off for a mere percentage of their value and smuggled out of the country, additional specialists indicated.
Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery
The group were professionals, according to the expert, shown by the fact they were in and out of the Louvre so quickly.
"You know, for regular people, you don't wake up overnight planning, I'm going to become a thief, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he noted.
"This isn't their first heist," he added. "They've committed previous crimes. They feel certain and they thought, we could succeed with this, and went for it."
In another sign the expertise of the group is treated as important, a specialist police unit with a "proven effectiveness in resolving major theft cases" has been given responsibility with finding them.
Law enforcement have said they think the robbery is linked to a sophisticated gang.
Criminal organizations of this type generally have two objectives, French prosecutor the prosecutor stated. "Either to act working for a sponsor, or to acquire precious stones to carry out illegal financial activities."
The detective suggests it is highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he noted commissioned theft for a specific client represents a situation that typically occurs in fictional stories.
"No one desires to touch an item so identifiable," he explained. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to your children, it cannot be sold."
Possible £10m Price Tag
Mr Brand believes the stolen items are likely broken down and broken up, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the gems cut up into less recognizable pieces that would be nearly impossible to trace back to the Paris heist.
Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, host of the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for many years, told the BBC the thieves had "carefully selected" the most significant jewels from the institution's artifacts.
The "magnificent exquisite jewels" are expected to be removed from their settings and sold, she noted, except for the crown from the French empress which features less valuable pieces incorporated within it and proved to be "too hot to keep," she continued.
This could explain why it was dropped as they got away, along with another piece, and found by authorities.
The imperial headpiece that was taken, contains extremely rare organic pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.
Although the artifacts are considered being priceless, Ms Woolton believes they to be sold for a fraction of their worth.
"They'll likely end up to individuals who are prepared to acquire such items," she said. "Authorities worldwide will search for these – the thieves will accept whatever price is offered."
The precise value might they bring in money upon being marketed? Regarding the estimated price of the loot, the detective indicated the cut-up parts might value "several million."
The jewels and taken gold might achieve approximately ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), stated by a jewelry specialist, senior official of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.
He told the BBC the perpetrators would need an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to alter the bigger identifiable gems.
Less noticeable gems that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed immediately and although difficult to estimate the precise value of every gem taken, the larger ones may amount to approximately £500,000 per stone, he explained.
"Reports indicate at least four that large, so adding all of those up plus the precious metal, it's likely reaching £10m," he stated.
"The jewelry and precious stone industry is active and there are many buyers within gray markets that don't ask regarding sources."
Some optimism remains that the artifacts might resurface in original condition in the future – but those hopes are diminishing as the days pass.
Similar cases have occurred – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution includes an artifact previously stolen before reappearing in an auction much later.
What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, having felt a cultural bond to the jewels.
"There isn't always appreciate jewelry because it's a matter concerning authority, and that doesn't necessarily have a good connotation among French people," a jewelry authority, curatorial leader at established French company Maison Vever, stated