Can France Recover Its Invaluable Historic Jewels – Or Is It Too Late?
French authorities are making every effort to retrieve priceless gemstones robbed from the Paris museum in a audacious broad daylight theft, yet authorities caution it may already be impossible to save them.
At the heart of Paris over the weekend, robbers gained access to the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight cherished pieces before escaping on scooters in a audacious theft that lasted approximately under ten minutes.
International art investigator Arthur Brand expressed his view he suspects the stolen items are likely "already dismantled", having been broken up into numerous components.
It is highly likely the artifacts may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from the country, several authorities indicated.
Possible Culprits Behind the Theft
The thieves acted professionally, Mr Brand believes, shown by the way they managed through the museum of the building in record time.
"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up overnight planning, I should become a burglar, choosing as first target the world-famous museum," he explained.
"This isn't the first time they've done this," he said. "They've carried out things before. They feel certain and they calculated, we might get away with this attempt, and proceeded."
As further evidence the expertise of the thieves is treated as important, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in solving major theft cases" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.
Authorities have indicated they believe the heist is connected to an organised crime network.
Criminal organizations of this type generally have two objectives, Paris prosecutor a senior official said. "Either they operate working for a client, or to secure precious stones to perform money laundering operations."
The expert believes it seems extremely difficult to sell the items intact, and he said commissioned theft for a private collector is a scenario that typically occurs in Hollywood films.
"No one desires to touch a piece so identifiable," he explained. "You can't display it to your friends, it cannot be passed to your children, there's no market for it."
Estimated £10m Worth
The expert thinks the artifacts will be taken apart and separated, including the gold and silver components melted and the jewels divided into smaller stones that could be nearly impossible to connect to the museum theft.
Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, creator of the audio program If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, told the BBC the thieves had "specifically chosen" the most significant gemstones from the museum's holdings.
The "impressively sized perfect gems" will probably be extracted from their settings and disposed of, she noted, except for the crown from Empress Eugénie which has smaller stones incorporated within it and proved to be "too recognizable to possess," she explained.
This potentially clarifies why it was dropped while fleeing, in addition to a second artifact, and located by officials.
The royal crown that disappeared, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which command enormous prices, experts say.
Even though the pieces are regarded as being priceless, Ms Woolton believes they will be disposed of for a fraction of their worth.
"They're destined to individuals who are able to acquire such items," she explained. "Authorities worldwide will search for the stolen goods – they will take any amount available."
How much exactly could they fetch in money upon being marketed? When asked about the possible worth of the stolen goods, the expert indicated the separated elements might value "multiple millions."
The precious stones and taken gold may bring up to ten million pounds (€11.52m; thirteen million dollars), stated by Tobias Kormind, senior official of a prominent jeweler, an online jeweller.
The expert explained the thieves must have a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to change the bigger identifiable gems.
Less noticeable gems that couldn't be easily recognized could be sold quickly and while it was hard to tell the specific worth of all the stones removed, the bigger stones could be worth approximately £500,000 per stone, he said.
"Reports indicate at least four comparable in size, thus totaling all of those together with the gold, you are probably reaching £10m," he said.
"The diamond and gemstone market is active and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that don't ask regarding sources."
There are hopes that the artifacts might resurface undamaged eventually – yet this possibility are narrowing with each passing day.
Historical examples exist – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum includes an artifact taken decades ago before reappearing in an auction much later.
Without doubt is many in France are extremely upset regarding the theft, having felt an emotional attachment toward the treasures.
"French people don't always value gems as it symbolizes a question of authority, and this isn't typically receive favorable interpretation among French people," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, stated