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Law enforcement in France are urgently trying to retrieve irreplaceable gemstones robbed from the Louvre in a daring daylight robbery, yet authorities have warned it may already be past the point of recovery to recover them.

Within the French capital over the weekend, thieves gained access to the most popular museum globally, stealing eight valued items then fleeing using scooters in a audacious theft that took about eight minutes.

International art investigator a renowned specialist stated publicly he feared the stolen items are likely "long gone", after being taken apart into hundreds of parts.

It is highly likely the artifacts will be sold for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of the country, several authorities noted.

Who May Be Behind the Robbery

The thieves are experienced criminals, as the detective stated, shown by the way they managed in and out of the museum so quickly.

"As you might expect, as a normal person, you don't wake up overnight thinking, I will become a criminal, choosing as first target the world-famous museum," he noted.

"This won't be the first time they've done this," he said. "They have done previous crimes. They're self-assured and they believed, we could succeed with this attempt, and took the chance."

As further evidence the expertise of the gang is considered significant, a dedicated task force with a "proven effectiveness in resolving major theft cases" has been tasked with tracking them down.

Authorities have indicated they suspect the robbery is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Criminal organizations such as these typically have two primary purposes, legal official Laure Beccuau explained. "Either to act working for a client, or to acquire precious stones to perform money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it would be impossible to sell the items intact, and he explained stealing-to-order for a specific client represents a situation that typically occurs in fictional stories.

"Few people wish to touch a piece so identifiable," he explained. "You can't display it publicly, you can't bequeath it to heirs, you cannot sell it."

Potential £10m Price Tag

The expert thinks the stolen items will be taken apart and broken up, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the gems re-cut into smaller stones that would be extremely difficult to trace back to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist a renowned expert, host of the digital series focusing on gemstones and previously served as Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for many years, explained the robbers had "specifically chosen" the most valuable jewels from the institution's artifacts.

The "impressively sized exquisite jewels" will probably be removed of their mountings and disposed of, she noted, with the exception of the crown from the historical figure which contains smaller gems mounted in it and was "too recognizable to possess," she explained.

This might account for why it was dropped during the escape, along with another piece, and recovered by police.

The imperial headpiece that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.

While the items are considered being priceless, the expert believes they could be marketed for a minimal part of their true price.

"They'll likely end up to individuals who are able to handle these," she stated. "Many people will seek for these – they'll settle for what they can get."

How much exactly would they generate in money when disposed of? Concerning the possible worth of the haul, Mr Brand said the cut-up parts may amount to "several million."

The precious stones and gold stolen could fetch approximately a significant sum (€11.52m; $13.4m), stated by a jewelry specialist, senior official of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the gang will require a trained specialist to extract the stones, and a skilled stone worker to modify the bigger identifiable gems.

Smaller stones that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of immediately and despite challenges to determine the exact price of all the stones stolen, the larger ones might value approximately a significant amount per stone, he said.

"Reports indicate at least four that large, so adding each of them up plus the gold, one could estimate coming close to the estimated figure," he stated.

"The gemstone and precious stone industry is active and numerous purchasers exist within gray markets that avoid questioning regarding sources."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts might resurface undamaged in the future – yet this possibility are fading as the days pass.

Historical examples exist – a historical showcase at the V&A Museum features a piece of jewelry previously stolen that later resurfaced in a public event several decades later.

Definitely includes the French public are deeply shocked regarding the theft, having felt an emotional attachment to the jewels.

"There isn't always value gems as it symbolizes a question of authority, and that doesn't necessarily carry positive associations in France," a jewelry authority, head of heritage at Parisian jewelry house the historical business, explained