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Law enforcement in France are urgently trying to retrieve priceless jewels stolen from the Paris museum in a audacious broad daylight theft, but experts caution it may already be impossible to recover them.

Within the French capital on Sunday, burglars broke into the top tourist attraction worldwide, taking eight precious artifacts and getting away via motor scooters in a audacious theft that lasted approximately just minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand stated publicly he believes the stolen items are likely "dispersed", once separated into hundreds of parts.

Experts suggest the artifacts may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and taken out of France, several authorities noted.

Who May Be Behind the Theft

The group were professionals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the fact they were in and out of the museum so quickly.

"You know, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide one day thinking, I'm going to become a thief, and begin with the Louvre Museum," he noted.

"This isn't their initial robbery," he added. "They've carried out things before. They're self-assured and they calculated, it might work out with this, and went for it."

In another sign the expertise of the group is considered significant, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in cracking high-profile robberies" has been given responsibility with locating the perpetrators.

Authorities have said they believe the theft relates to a sophisticated gang.

Criminal organizations such as these usually pursue two objectives, French prosecutor Laure Beccuau said. "Either to act on behalf of a sponsor, or to acquire expensive jewelry to conduct illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it would be highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts as complete pieces, and he said stealing-to-order for a private collector represents a situation that only happens in fictional stories.

"Nobody wants to handle a piece this recognizable," he stated. "You cannot show it publicly, you cannot leave it to family, there's no market for it."

Potential £10m Value

Mr Brand believes the stolen items will be dismantled and disassembled, with the gold and precious metals liquefied and the jewels divided into smaller components that would be extremely difficult to trace back to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, who presents the digital series focusing on gemstones and was the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, explained the thieves had "cherry-picked" the most valuable jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "magnificent perfect gems" are expected to be dug out from the jewelry pieces and sold, she said, excluding the crown from the historical figure which contains smaller gems set in it and was considered "too dangerous to possess," she added.

This could explain why it was dropped while fleeing, in addition to another piece, and recovered by police.

The imperial headpiece that was taken, has rare organic pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items are considered being beyond valuation, the historian anticipates they could be marketed for a minimal part of their true price.

"They will go to someone who are able to acquire such items," she explained. "Authorities worldwide will search for these – they'll settle for any amount available."

How much exactly might they bring in money if sold on? Concerning the potential value of the haul, the expert said the separated elements could be worth "many millions."

The jewels and taken gold might achieve up to ten million pounds (€11.52m; thirteen million dollars), stated by an industry expert, senior official of an established company, a digital jewelry retailer.

He told the BBC the thieves must have a trained specialist to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to change the larger recognisable stones.

Minor components that were harder to trace could be sold quickly and despite challenges to tell the precise value of each piece taken, the more significant gems may amount to about half a million pounds for individual pieces, he noted.

"We know there are no fewer than four of that size, so adding each of them up plus the gold, one could estimate approaching £10m," he concluded.

"The gemstone and precious stone industry is active and there are many buyers within gray markets that won't inquire regarding sources."

Hope persists that the artifacts might resurface in original condition eventually – but those hopes are fading over time.

Historical examples exist – a jewelry display at the London museum features an item of jewellery previously stolen that later resurfaced in an auction many years after.

Definitely are numerous French citizens are extremely upset regarding the theft, expressing a personal connection to the jewels.

"There isn't always appreciate jewelry because it's an issue of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily carry positive associations in France," a jewelry authority, head of heritage at French jeweller Maison Vever, said