Will France Recover Its Priceless Historic Jewels – Or Has It Become Too Late?
Police in France are urgently trying to recover priceless gemstones robbed from the Paris museum in a audacious daytime heist, although specialists are concerned it may already be past the point of recovery to get them back.
At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, robbers gained access to the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight valued items and getting away using scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately just minutes.
International art investigator a renowned specialist expressed his view he feared the jewels could be "already dismantled", having been broken up into hundreds of parts.
There is a strong chance the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and smuggled out of France, several authorities indicated.
Potential Suspects Behind the Heist
The perpetrators were professionals, Mr Brand believes, as demonstrated by the speed with which they got in and out of the museum so quickly.
"As you might expect, for an average individual, you don't wake up overnight believing, I will become a burglar, and begin with the world-famous museum," he noted.
"This likely isn't their first heist," he continued. "They have done previous crimes. They're self-assured and they believed, we could succeed with this, and went for it."
As further evidence the expertise of the gang is treated as important, an elite police team with a "proven effectiveness in solving significant crimes" has been given responsibility with tracking them down.
Authorities have said they suspect the robbery relates to a sophisticated gang.
Sophisticated gangs such as these generally have two main goals, French prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated. "Either to act on behalf of a sponsor, or to obtain precious stones to conduct money laundering operations."
The expert believes it is highly unlikely to sell the items intact, and he explained stealing-to-order for a private collector is something that typically occurs in movies.
"Few people wish to touch an artifact this recognizable," he elaborated. "You can't display it to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to family, it cannot be sold."
Estimated £10m Value
Mr Brand believes the objects will be taken apart and broken up, along with gold elements and precious metals liquefied and the gems divided into smaller components that could be virtually impossible to connect to the museum theft.
Historical jewelry specialist Carol Woolton, creator of the digital series about historical jewelry and previously served as the prestigious publication's jewelry specialist for many years, stated the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most valuable jewels from the Louvre's collection.
The "impressively sized exquisite jewels" would likely be removed from their settings and sold, she said, excluding the tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and proved to be "too recognizable to handle," she explained.
This might account for why they left it behind while fleeing, along with a second artifact, and recovered by police.
The royal crown that was taken, contains extremely rare organic pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.
Although the artifacts have been described as having immeasurable worth, the expert believes they to be sold for a minimal part of their true price.
"They're destined to buyers who are prepared to acquire such items," she stated. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."
What specific amount could they fetch financially if sold on? When asked about the estimated price of the loot, the expert stated the cut-up parts may amount to "several million."
The precious stones and removed precious metal might achieve approximately ten million pounds (millions in euros; $13.4m), according to Tobias Kormind, senior official of a prominent jeweler, an online jeweller.
He stated the thieves would need a trained specialist to extract the stones, and an expert gem cutter to modify the more noticeable pieces.
Less noticeable gems that were harder to trace might be marketed immediately and despite challenges to tell the exact price of all the stones removed, the more significant gems could be worth around a significant amount per stone, he said.
"We know there are a minimum of four comparable in size, therefore combining all those pieces together with the gold components, one could estimate reaching ten million," he concluded.
"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and there are many buyers within gray markets that avoid questioning too many questions."
There are hopes that the stolen goods may be found in original condition one day – but those hopes are diminishing as the days pass.
Similar cases have occurred – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum includes an artifact previously stolen which eventually returned in a public event many years after.
Without doubt includes the French public are extremely upset about the museum robbery, having felt an emotional attachment with the artifacts.
"There isn't always appreciate jewelry because it's a matter concerning power, and which doesn't always receive favorable interpretation among French people," a jewelry authority, curatorial leader at French jeweller the historical business, stated