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French authorities are desperate to locate irreplaceable gemstones stolen from the Louvre in a audacious daylight robbery, but experts caution it could be past the point of recovery to save them.

In Paris this past Sunday, thieves gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight cherished pieces then fleeing using scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately just minutes.

Expert art detective a renowned specialist expressed his view he feared the jewels could be "dispersed", after being taken apart into many fragments.

There is a strong chance the stolen jewels will be sold for a small part of their true price and illegally transported from French territory, several authorities noted.

Who May Be Behind the Robbery

The group are experienced criminals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the way they managed through the museum of the Louvre so quickly.

"You know, for regular people, one doesn't just get up in the morning believing, I should become a thief, let's start with the Louvre," he noted.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've committed things before. They are confident and they believed, it might work out with this attempt, and went for it."

As further evidence the professionalism of the thieves is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "strong track record in solving significant crimes" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Authorities have indicated they think the theft relates to a criminal organization.

Criminal organizations of this type generally have two objectives, French prosecutor the prosecutor said. "Either they operate working for a sponsor, or to obtain expensive jewelry to perform illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it seems highly unlikely to sell the items intact, and he explained stealing-to-order for a specific client is something that typically occurs in Hollywood films.

"Nobody wants to acquire an artifact this recognizable," he elaborated. "You cannot show it to your friends, you can't bequeath it to family, there's no market for it."

Potential £10m Value

The expert thinks the stolen items are likely broken down and disassembled, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the jewels re-cut into smaller components that will be nearly impossible to connect to the Paris heist.

Jewellery historian an authority in the field, who presents the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the prestigious publication's gemstone expert for two decades, explained the robbers had "carefully selected" the most significant jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "beautiful large flawless stones" will probably be extracted of their mountings and marketed, she noted, excluding the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and proved to be "too recognizable to handle," she added.

This might account for why they left it behind during the escape, along with one other item, and found by authorities.

The royal crown that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.

While the items are regarded as being beyond valuation, the historian anticipates they will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.

"They will go to buyers who is willing to acquire such items," she said. "Everyone will be looking for the stolen goods – the thieves will accept any amount available."

How much exactly might they bring financially when disposed of? Concerning the estimated price of the loot, Mr Brand stated the cut-up parts may amount to "multiple millions."

The jewels and gold stolen could fetch as much as ten million pounds (millions in euros; millions in US currency), says Tobias Kormind, chief executive of an established company, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the perpetrators would need a skilled expert to remove the gems, and an expert gem cutter to modify the bigger identifiable gems.

Minor components that were harder to trace might be marketed right away and while it was hard to estimate the exact price of every gem taken, the larger ones might value about a significant amount for individual pieces, he noted.

"There are at least four comparable in size, so adding all those pieces up plus the gold components, you are probably reaching £10m," he stated.

"The diamond and luxury goods trade is liquid and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that won't inquire too many questions."

There are hopes that the artifacts might resurface in original condition one day – although such expectations are fading with each passing day.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the cultural institution features an artifact previously stolen before reappearing in a sale many years after.

Definitely is many in France are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, having felt a personal connection toward the treasures.

"We don't necessarily appreciate jewelry as it symbolizes an issue of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily have a good connotation among French people," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at established French company the prestigious firm, stated