Is France Able to Recover Its Invaluable Historic Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?
Law enforcement in France are making every effort to recover irreplaceable treasures stolen from the Paris museum in a audacious daylight robbery, although specialists have warned it might be past the point of recovery to get them back.
In Paris on Sunday, robbers gained access to the most popular museum globally, making off with eight valued items before escaping via motor scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately eight minutes.
International art investigator Arthur Brand told the BBC he suspects the artifacts are likely "long gone", having been broken up into hundreds of parts.
Experts suggest the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of the country, additional specialists indicated.
Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery
The group are experienced criminals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the speed with which they got through the museum of the museum so quickly.
"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, you don't wake up overnight thinking, I should become a criminal, let's start with the Louvre," he said.
"This won't be their initial robbery," he said. "They've carried out other burglaries. They feel certain and they thought, we could succeed with this, and went for it."
Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the thieves is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "proven effectiveness in solving high-profile robberies" has been given responsibility with tracking them down.
Police officials have stated they suspect the heist is linked to a criminal organization.
Sophisticated gangs of this type typically have two main goals, Paris prosecutor a senior official stated. "Either to act for the benefit of a client, or to acquire expensive jewelry to perform illegal financial activities."
The expert believes it seems highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he explained commissioned theft for a private collector is something that only happens in movies.
"Few people wish to handle an artifact this recognizable," he stated. "You cannot show it to acquaintances, it cannot be passed to your children, there's no market for it."
Potential £10m Price Tag
Mr Brand believes the artifacts are likely broken down and broken up, including the gold and silver melted down and the jewels divided into less recognizable pieces that would be extremely difficult to connect to the museum theft.
Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, creator of the audio program focusing on gemstones and was Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for 20 years, stated the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most valuable jewels from the museum's holdings.
The "impressively sized perfect gems" would likely be dug out from the jewelry pieces and disposed of, she said, with the exception of the tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie which has smaller stones mounted in it and proved to be "too hot to keep," she continued.
This might account for why it was dropped during the escape, together with a second artifact, and found by authorities.
The imperial headpiece that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.
While the items have been described as having immeasurable worth, the expert expects them will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.
"They will go to individuals who are prepared to take possession," she stated. "Authorities worldwide will search for these items – they will take any amount available."
The precise value would they generate financially when disposed of? Regarding the possible worth of the stolen goods, Mr Brand said the cut-up parts might value "many millions."
The jewels and taken gold could fetch up to a significant sum (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), stated by an industry expert, chief executive of a prominent jeweler, an online jeweller.
He stated the thieves would need an experienced professional to extract the stones, and a skilled stone worker to change the bigger identifiable gems.
Less noticeable gems that were harder to trace might be marketed quickly and despite challenges to determine the exact price of each piece taken, the larger ones may amount to approximately a significant amount each, he explained.
"Reports indicate no fewer than four comparable in size, so adding all of those along with the precious metal, one could estimate approaching £10m," he said.
"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that avoid questioning about origins."
Hope persists that the artifacts might resurface intact eventually – but those hopes are fading over time.
There is a precedent – a jewelry display at the cultural institution features a piece of jewelry taken decades ago before reappearing in an auction much later.
What is certain includes the French public feel profoundly disturbed regarding the theft, having felt an emotional attachment with the artifacts.
"There isn't always appreciate jewelry as it symbolizes a question of authority, and that doesn't necessarily carry positive associations within French culture," Alexandre Leger, head of heritage at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, stated