Can France Retrieve Its Priceless Crown Jewels — or Is It Too Late?

French authorities are racing against time to recover eight priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum in a bold daylight heist that lasted barely eight minutes. The robbers, who fled on scooters, demonstrated the precision and confidence of seasoned professionals. Experts fear the jewels, including Empress Eugénie’s tiara adorned with rare natural pearls, may already be dismantled and lost forever.

Art detective Arthur Brand believes the thieves, likely linked to an organized crime network, targeted the items for their gold and gemstone value rather than artistic significance. He warns that the jewels might already be melted down or cut into smaller, untraceable pieces to avoid detection. “Nobody wants to touch a piece so hot,” Brand told the BBC, adding that such high-profile items are impossible to sell intact.

Authorities have deployed a specialist police unit known for solving major robberies, with forensic teams analyzing evidence left at the scene. Investigators suspect the motive involves either fulfilling an order for a private buyer or using the gems for money laundering operations.

Jewelry expert Carol Woolton noted that the robbers “cherry-picked” the most valuable gemstones, likely worth up to £10 million after being broken up and sold through underground markets. Despite faint hopes of recovery, history offers a glimmer of optimism — similar stolen pieces have resurfaced decades later at auctions.

For many in France, the theft is deeply personal. “It’s as if someone stole the Mona Lisa from us,” said Alexandre Leger of Maison Vever, reflecting the national sense of loss and disbelief.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/20/politics/trump-no-kings-protests-vance-cia-analysis