The stolen items, including emerald and sapphire necklaces, diamond-studded crowns, brooches, and earrings, are unlikely to ever be recovered, experts warn.
The theft occurred in broad daylight at the museum’s Apollo Gallery on Sunday morning. Four suspects carried out the heist in just four minutes, using a cherry picker to access the gallery and fleeing on motorbikes. Authorities say the stolen items represent some of the finest examples of 19th-century haute joaillerie, many of which were once worn by French royalty, including Empress Eugenie and Queen Marie-Amelie.
Among the missing pieces are:
Two crowns, including one adorned with over 200 pearls and nearly 2,000 diamonds given by Napoleon III to Empress Eugenie.
A sapphire-and-diamond headpiece, an emerald necklace with matching earrings gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte, and a diamond-studded brooch and bodice bow.
One crown, heavily encrusted with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was abandoned and damaged during the theft. The remaining crown jewels collection now comprises 23 items, including the famous Regent diamond, one of Europe’s largest white diamonds.
Experts warn that the thieves will likely dismantle the pieces, selling the gems individually, making them almost impossible to trace. Tobias Kormind, Managing Director of 77 Diamonds, said: “If these gems are broken up and sold off, they will vanish from history and be lost to the world forever.”
The Louvre, which reopened on Wednesday, has kept the Apollo Gallery closed while around 100 investigators continue the search. The heist has reignited concerns about the museum’s security, which has faced previous incidents, including a 2024 protest and strikes that disrupted operations.
French officials and cultural figures have described the theft as a national embarrassment, highlighting the historical and emotional significance of the lost treasures.
