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Police in France are desperate to retrieve irreplaceable gemstones robbed from the Louvre Museum in a brazen broad daylight theft, yet authorities have warned it may already be past the point of recovery to get them back.

In Paris on Sunday, robbers entered by force the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight cherished pieces before escaping using scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist told the BBC he suspects the jewels are likely "already dismantled", having been broken up into numerous components.

Experts suggest the pieces may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of French territory, other experts noted.

Possible Culprits Behind the Theft

The thieves were professionals, as the detective stated, as demonstrated by the way they managed in and out of the Louvre with such efficiency.

"Realistically speaking, for regular people, you don't wake up one day thinking, I should become a thief, choosing as first target the Louvre," he explained.

"This isn't their first heist," he added. "They've committed previous crimes. They are confident and they thought, it might work out with this attempt, and went for it."

In another sign the expertise of the group is considered significant, an elite police team with a "high success rate in solving major theft cases" has been tasked with locating the perpetrators.

Authorities have stated they believe the theft is connected to a criminal organization.

Organised crime groups like these typically have two objectives, Paris prosecutor the prosecutor said. "Either they operate on behalf of a client, or to acquire valuable gems to perform money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it seems impossible to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he noted commissioned theft for an individual buyer represents a situation that only happens in fictional stories.

"No one desires to handle an artifact so hot," he stated. "You can't display it to acquaintances, you can't bequeath it to your children, there's no market for it."

Potential £10m Value

The detective suggests the objects will be taken apart and disassembled, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the gems re-cut into less recognizable pieces that will be nearly impossible to connect to the Paris heist.

Jewellery historian a renowned expert, who presents the digital series about historical jewelry and previously served as Vogue magazine's jewelry specialist for two decades, stated the perpetrators had "cherry-picked" the most valuable gemstones from the institution's artifacts.

The "magnificent exquisite jewels" will probably be removed from their settings and marketed, she explained, excluding the crown from the French empress which has smaller stones set in it and proved to be "too recognizable to possess," she continued.

This potentially clarifies the reason it was abandoned during the escape, along with another piece, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, contains extremely rare natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, specialists confirm.

Even though the pieces have been described as being beyond valuation, the expert believes they to be sold for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to someone who is willing to take possession," she said. "Authorities worldwide will search for these items – they'll settle for what they can get."

The precise value would they generate financially upon being marketed? When asked about the estimated price of the stolen goods, the expert indicated the cut-up parts could be worth "many millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen may bring approximately a significant sum (€11.52m; millions in US currency), according to Tobias Kormind, senior official of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the thieves would need a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to modify the bigger identifiable gems.

Less noticeable gems that were not easily identifiable might be marketed quickly and although difficult to tell the exact price of every gem removed, the more significant gems may amount to approximately £500,000 per stone, he explained.

"There are a minimum of four comparable in size, so adding all of those up plus the gold, one could estimate approaching the estimated figure," he said.

"The jewelry and precious stone industry is liquid and plenty of customers operate in less regulated areas that won't inquire about origins."

Hope persists that the stolen goods could reappear undamaged eventually – although such expectations are diminishing as the days pass.

Historical examples exist – a historical showcase at the London museum features an item of jewellery previously stolen which eventually returned in a sale several decades later.

Definitely includes the French public are extremely upset by the Louvre heist, expressing a personal connection with the artifacts.

"There isn't always value gems because it's a matter concerning privilege, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation within French culture," a heritage expert, head of heritage at established French company the prestigious firm, explained