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Police in France are urgently trying to retrieve extremely valuable gemstones taken from the Louvre in a daring broad daylight theft, although specialists have warned it could be past the point of recovery to save them.

In Paris on Sunday, thieves broke into the most popular museum globally, taking eight cherished pieces and getting away via motor scooters in a audacious theft that took about under ten minutes.

International art investigator a renowned specialist expressed his view he suspects the jewels could be "long gone", having been broken up into hundreds of parts.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels will be sold for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of French territory, additional specialists noted.

Who May Be Behind the Theft

The perpetrators are experienced criminals, according to the expert, evidenced by the way they managed in and out of the building in record time.

"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, you don't wake up overnight thinking, I should become a burglar, choosing as first target the Louvre Museum," he said.

"This isn't their initial robbery," he said. "They've carried out previous crimes. They're self-assured and they calculated, we could succeed with this, and took the chance."

Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the gang is treated as important, an elite police team with a "strong track record in cracking major theft cases" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Police officials have stated they believe the robbery is linked to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs of this type generally have two objectives, French prosecutor a senior official stated. "Either they operate working for a sponsor, or to secure expensive jewelry to perform illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it would be extremely difficult to market the jewels in their original form, and he said targeted robbery for an individual buyer represents a situation that only happens in movies.

"Few people wish to acquire a piece this recognizable," he stated. "It cannot be shown to your friends, it cannot be passed to your children, there's no market for it."

Estimated £10m Worth

Mr Brand believes the artifacts are likely broken down and disassembled, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the precious stones re-cut into less recognizable pieces that will be virtually impossible to trace back to the Paris heist.

Jewellery historian a renowned expert, who presents the audio program about historical jewelry and previously served as the prestigious publication's gemstone expert for 20 years, told the BBC the robbers had "specifically chosen" the most important treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "beautiful large exquisite jewels" would likely be dug out from the jewelry pieces and disposed of, she explained, excluding the headpiece of the French empress which has smaller stones set in it and was "too hot to handle," she explained.

This might account for why they left it behind during the escape, in addition to one other item, and recovered by police.

The royal crown that disappeared, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which have a very large value, authorities indicate.

Although the artifacts are considered having immeasurable worth, the expert believes they to be sold for a minimal part of their true price.

"They will go to someone who is willing to acquire such items," she stated. "Everyone will be looking for these items – they will take what they can get."

What specific amount would they generate as payment when disposed of? Concerning the possible worth of the loot, the expert stated the dismantled components might value "several million."

The jewels and taken gold may bring approximately a significant sum (over eleven million euros; thirteen million dollars), according to Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the thieves will require a skilled expert to remove the gems, and an expert gem cutter to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Smaller stones that were not easily identifiable would be disposed of immediately and while it was hard to estimate the exact price of every gem removed, the more significant gems may amount to about a significant amount for individual pieces, he said.

"Reports indicate at least four comparable in size, so adding all those pieces together with the gold, one could estimate approaching ten million," he stated.

"The jewelry and gemstone market is active and numerous purchasers exist within gray markets that won't inquire about origins."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts could reappear in original condition in the future – but those hopes are diminishing over time.

Historical examples exist – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum features a piece of jewelry taken decades ago which eventually returned in a sale several decades later.

Definitely is many in France feel profoundly disturbed by the Louvre heist, expressing a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"There isn't always appreciate jewelry since it represents a question of authority, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation in France," a jewelry authority, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, stated