A shocking daylight robbery at Paris’s Louvre Museum has left France stunned. Thieves stole priceless royal jewelry worth about €88 million (over $102 million) in a swift and daring heist that lasted less than 10 minutes. Authorities and art experts fear that the jewels, part of France’s royal heritage, may never be recovered.
The robbery took place on Sunday morning at the museum’s Apollo Gallery, home to some of France’s most treasured artifacts. The Louvre reopened on Wednesday, but the gallery where the theft occurred remains closed as investigations continue.
Race Between Robbers and Authorities
According to officials, both the French government and the robbers are now racing against time — the thieves to sell the stolen jewelry and the authorities to retrieve it before it disappears into the black market.
Each stolen piece represented the pinnacle of 19th-century “haute joaillerie” (fine jewelry). They were not just luxury items but historical and political symbols of France’s royal legacy.
“For the royals, they were more than decoration; for the public, they were France’s cultural heritage; and for the nation itself, they were political statements of wealth, power, and cultural significance,” reported The Associated Press.
What Was Stolen from Louvre Museum?
- The robbers stole eight royal jewelry pieces, including two crowns and several necklaces and earrings.
- One of the stolen crowns was gifted to Empress Eugenie by Emperor Napoleon III in 1853 to mark their wedding. It featured over 200 pearls and nearly 2,000 diamonds.
- Another stolen crown, a sapphire-and-diamond diadem, was among the most admired pieces in the collection.
- Other missing items include a necklace and earrings worn by Queen Marie-Amelie and an emerald-and-diamond necklace given by Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria, in 1810.
- A diamond-encrusted reliquary brooch and a large bodice bow once worn by Empress Eugenie were also taken.
- The thieves damaged but left behind a ninth item — a massive crown adorned with gold eagles, 1,354 diamonds, and 56 emeralds, also worn by Empress Eugenie.
How the Louvre Robbery Happened?
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, four people executed the heist with military precision.
Two of the suspects parked a truck with an extendable ladder outside the museum’s Apollo Gallery, while the other two entered through a window.
Surveillance footage revealed that two men wearing bright yellow jackets entered the gallery at 9:34 am and exited by 9:38 am — escaping within just four minutes.
They fled on motorbikes driven by their accomplices, vanishing into the Paris streets before police could respond.
Authorities have recovered fingerprints and other forensic evidence from the scene and are examining CCTV footage for leads.
What the Thieves Left Behind?
Out of the 23 items in the crown jewel collection, 15 were left untouched. Among the surviving treasures is the “Regent Diamond” — a plum-sized white diamond considered one of the largest and purest in Europe.
Experts Fear the Jewels May Be Lost Forever
As the French government scrambles to recover the artifacts, experts warn that the stolen jewels might already be dismantled. Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, said, “It is extremely unlikely these jewels will ever be retrieved and seen again.”
He added, “If these gems are broken up and sold off, they will, in effect, vanish from history and be lost to the world forever.”
The heist has reignited debates about museum security and the protection of national treasures. As investigators continue their search, the world watches anxiously — hoping that these priceless jewels, symbols of France’s royal past, can be saved before they disappear forever.
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