Can France Get Back Its Invaluable Historic Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?
French authorities are making every effort to recover irreplaceable jewels taken from the Louvre in a audacious daylight robbery, but experts have warned it might be impossible to get them back.
At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, thieves gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight valued items and getting away via motor scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately eight minutes.
Expert art detective Arthur Brand expressed his view he believes the artifacts may already be "long gone", once separated into hundreds of parts.
There is a strong chance the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from France, additional specialists have said.
Who May Be Behind the Theft
The perpetrators were professionals, Mr Brand believes, as demonstrated by the fact they were inside and outside of the Louvre in record time.
"Realistically speaking, for regular people, you don't wake up one day thinking, I will become a criminal, and begin with the world-famous museum," he said.
"This won't be their first heist," he said. "They've carried out things before. They are confident and they thought, we might get away with this attempt, and proceeded."
Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the group is considered significant, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in solving major theft cases" has been tasked with locating the perpetrators.
Authorities have indicated they think the robbery is linked to a criminal organization.
Criminal organizations like these typically have two main goals, Paris prosecutor the prosecutor said. "Either to act for the benefit of a client, or to obtain precious stones to carry out money laundering operations."
The detective suggests it is highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he noted stealing-to-order for a specific client is something that typically occurs in fictional stories.
"Nobody wants to handle a piece this recognizable," he explained. "You can't display it to your friends, it cannot be passed to heirs, there's no market for it."
Estimated £10m Value
The expert thinks the artifacts will be dismantled and broken up, with the gold and silver melted down and the jewels re-cut into less recognizable pieces that would be nearly impossible to connect to the Louvre robbery.
Jewellery historian a renowned expert, creator of the podcast about historical jewelry and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, told the BBC the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most significant treasures from the Louvre's collection.
The "impressively sized perfect gems" are expected to be extracted of their mountings and disposed of, she said, except for the crown from Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and proved to be "too dangerous to keep," she explained.
This might account for why it was dropped during the escape, together with one other item, and found by authorities.
Empress Eugenie's tiara which was stolen, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.
Although the artifacts have been described as being beyond valuation, Ms Woolton anticipates they will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.
"They'll likely end up to buyers who are prepared to acquire such items," she explained. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – they will take any amount available."
The precise value would they generate as payment if sold on? Regarding the possible worth of the haul, Mr Brand indicated the dismantled components might value "many millions."
The precious stones and taken gold may bring as much as £10 million (€11.52m; thirteen million dollars), stated by an industry expert, chief executive of an established company, an internet-based gem dealer.
The expert explained the perpetrators would need a trained specialist to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to alter the larger recognisable stones.
Smaller stones that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of quickly and while it was hard to estimate the precise value of all the stones taken, the bigger stones could be worth around half a million pounds each, he said.
"We know there are a minimum of four of that size, so adding all of those together with the gold, you are probably reaching the estimated figure," he stated.
"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and there are many buyers on the fringes that don't ask too many questions."
Some optimism remains that the items might resurface undamaged one day – although such expectations are narrowing as the days pass.
Similar cases have occurred – a historical showcase at the V&A Museum features an item of jewellery previously stolen that later resurfaced in a public event many years after.
What is certain includes the French public are deeply shocked regarding the theft, demonstrating an emotional attachment to the jewels.
"There isn't always value gems since it represents a question of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily carry positive associations among French people," Alexandre Leger, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, stated