Can France Recover Its Priceless Crown Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?
Police in France are urgently trying to locate priceless gemstones taken from the Louvre Museum in a audacious daylight robbery, but experts have warned it may already be too late to save them.
At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, thieves broke into the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight cherished pieces and getting away using scooters in a audacious theft that was completed in just minutes.
Expert art detective an expert in the field expressed his view he suspects the jewels may already be "dispersed", after being taken apart into numerous components.
Experts suggest the artifacts may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and smuggled out of French territory, additional specialists indicated.
Potential Suspects Behind the Theft
The thieves were professionals, as the detective stated, shown by the way they managed in and out of the museum with such efficiency.
"You know, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide in the morning thinking, I will become a thief, choosing as first target the Louvre Museum," he said.
"This likely isn't the first time they've done this," he added. "They've committed other burglaries. They are confident and they calculated, it might work out with this, and proceeded."
Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the gang is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in solving significant crimes" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.
Police officials have indicated they believe the robbery relates to a criminal organization.
Criminal organizations like these usually pursue two primary purposes, legal official a senior official explained. "Either they operate for the benefit of a financier, or to obtain valuable gems to perform money laundering operations."
The expert believes it would be highly unlikely to sell the items in their original form, and he explained stealing-to-order for a specific client is something that only happens in fictional stories.
"Few people wish to handle an artifact so hot," he elaborated. "You can't display it to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to family, you cannot sell it."
Estimated £10m Value
The detective suggests the stolen items are likely broken down and disassembled, along with gold elements and silver components melted and the jewels divided into smaller stones that will be virtually impossible to trace back to the Louvre robbery.
Jewellery historian an authority in the field, host of the audio program If Jewels Could Talk and was the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for 20 years, explained the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most valuable treasures from the museum's holdings.
The "magnificent perfect gems" are expected to be removed from their settings and disposed of, she explained, except for the tiara belonging to the French empress which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and was considered "too recognizable to keep," she continued.
This potentially clarifies the reason it was abandoned as they got away, in addition to a second artifact, and found by authorities.
The royal crown that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.
While the items are regarded as being priceless, the historian believes they will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.
"They'll likely end up to individuals who is willing to acquire such items," she said. "Many people will seek for these – the thieves will accept any amount available."
What specific amount would they generate as payment when disposed of? Regarding the potential value of the stolen goods, the expert stated the cut-up parts could be worth "many millions."
The precious stones and removed precious metal might achieve up to ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; $13.4m), stated by an industry expert, senior official of an established company, an online jeweller.
He stated the thieves must have a trained specialist to remove the gems, and a professional diamond cutter to alter the bigger identifiable gems.
Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed right away and while it was hard to tell the precise value of all the stones stolen, the larger ones might value around £500,000 per stone, he said.
"There are a minimum of four comparable in size, thus totaling all of those up plus the gold components, one could estimate approaching £10m," he concluded.
"The jewelry and luxury goods trade has buyers and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that won't inquire about origins."
Some optimism remains that the stolen goods might resurface in original condition in the future – yet this possibility are narrowing over time.
Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the London museum displays an artifact stolen in 1948 before reappearing in a sale much later.
What is certain are numerous French citizens are extremely upset about the museum robbery, expressing a cultural bond with the artifacts.
"There isn't always appreciate jewelry as it symbolizes a matter concerning power, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation in France," Alexandre Leger, director of historical collections at French jeweller Maison Vever, stated
