Can France Retrieve Its Precious Crown Jewels – Or Has It Become Too Late?

Law enforcement in France are making every effort to recover priceless jewels robbed from the Paris museum in a brazen broad daylight theft, although specialists have warned it could be impossible to get them back.

Within the French capital this past Sunday, thieves gained access to the most popular museum globally, making off with eight cherished pieces and getting away using scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately just minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist expressed his view he feared the stolen items could be "long gone", once separated into hundreds of parts.

Experts suggest the pieces may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and smuggled out of French territory, several authorities noted.

Possible Culprits Behind the Heist

The thieves are experienced criminals, according to the expert, evidenced by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the building with such efficiency.

"You know, for an average individual, one doesn't just get up in the morning planning, I will become a criminal, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This won't be the first time they've done this," he added. "They've carried out things before. They are confident and they calculated, we might get away with this plan, and proceeded."

Additionally demonstrating the skill of the thieves is treated as important, an elite police team with a "high success rate in resolving high-profile robberies" has been given responsibility with locating the perpetrators.

Law enforcement have said they suspect the robbery is connected to an organised crime network.

Organised crime groups such as these typically have two main goals, legal official a senior official said. "Either they operate on behalf of a sponsor, or to acquire valuable gems to conduct money laundering operations."

The expert believes it is extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he noted stealing-to-order for a private collector is a scenario that only happens in fictional stories.

"No one desires to touch an item so hot," he elaborated. "You cannot show it publicly, you cannot leave it to your children, it cannot be sold."

Possible £10m Worth

The expert thinks the objects will be taken apart and separated, along with gold elements and precious metals liquefied and the gems re-cut into smaller stones that would be nearly impossible to trace back to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, who presents the digital series focusing on gemstones and was Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for 20 years, explained the thieves had "specifically chosen" the most valuable jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "magnificent flawless stones" would likely be removed of their mountings and disposed of, she said, excluding the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which has smaller stones mounted in it and proved to be "too hot to handle," she continued.

This potentially clarifies the reason it was abandoned during the escape, in addition to another piece, and recovered by police.

The royal crown which was stolen, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.

Although the artifacts are regarded as being beyond valuation, the expert anticipates they will be disposed of for a small percentage of their value.

"They will go to individuals who is willing to handle these," she said. "Authorities worldwide will search for the stolen goods – they'll settle for what they can get."

The precise value might they bring in money if sold on? Concerning the potential value of the stolen goods, Mr Brand stated the cut-up parts may amount to "several million."

The precious stones and gold stolen could fetch as much as £10 million (millions in euros; millions in US currency), stated by Tobias Kormind, senior official of an established company, an online jeweller.

He stated the thieves will require an experienced professional to remove the gems, and a skilled stone worker to alter the more noticeable pieces.

Less noticeable gems that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed right away and while it was hard to determine the exact price of each piece removed, the bigger stones might value approximately a significant amount each, he said.

"There are at least four comparable in size, therefore combining all of those up plus the gold components, one could estimate approaching the estimated figure," he said.

"The jewelry and luxury goods trade is active and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that won't inquire too many questions."

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

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution features an item of jewellery stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in an auction much later.

What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked about the museum robbery, having felt a cultural bond toward the treasures.

"There isn't always like jewellery as it symbolizes an issue of privilege, and this isn't typically carry positive associations within French culture," a jewelry authority, head of heritage at established French company the historical business, said

Thomas Jennings
Thomas Jennings

A diversity consultant with over a decade of experience in corporate inclusion initiatives and public speaking.