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French authorities are urgently trying to retrieve irreplaceable gemstones stolen from the Paris museum in a audacious daytime heist, yet authorities are concerned it may already be impossible to save them.

In Paris this past Sunday, burglars broke into the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight precious artifacts before escaping using scooters in a bold robbery that took about under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist stated publicly he believes the artifacts are likely "already dismantled", once separated into hundreds of parts.

It is highly likely the artifacts could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from the country, other experts have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery

The thieves are experienced criminals, according to the expert, shown by the fact they were in and out of the Louvre in record time.

"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up in the morning planning, I will become a burglar, and begin with the world-famous museum," he said.

"This won't be their first heist," he added. "They've carried out previous crimes. They are confident and they calculated, it might work out with this attempt, and proceeded."

As further evidence the skill of the thieves is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "proven effectiveness in resolving high-profile robberies" has been assigned with tracking them down.

Police officials have indicated they think the theft relates to a sophisticated gang.

Criminal organizations such as these typically have two primary purposes, legal official Laure Beccuau explained. "Either they operate on behalf of a sponsor, or to obtain valuable gems to conduct financial crimes."

Mr Brand thinks it would be extremely difficult to market the jewels as complete pieces, and he noted commissioned theft for a private collector represents a situation that mainly exists in Hollywood films.

"Few people wish to acquire a piece so hot," he stated. "You can't display it publicly, you can't bequeath it to family, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Price Tag

The detective suggests the stolen items are likely broken down and broken up, with the gold and silver components melted and the jewels cut up into smaller stones that could be extremely difficult to track back to the Paris heist.

Jewellery historian an authority in the field, host of the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for many years, explained the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most valuable gemstones from the institution's artifacts.

The "impressively sized exquisite jewels" would likely be dug out from the jewelry pieces and disposed of, she explained, with the exception of the crown from Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and proved to be "too recognizable to keep," she continued.

This could explain why it was dropped while fleeing, together with one other item, and recovered by police.

The royal crown that disappeared, has rare natural pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items are considered having immeasurable worth, the historian expects them to be sold for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to buyers who are able to acquire such items," she said. "Many people will seek for these – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."

How much exactly would they generate financially when disposed of? Regarding the possible worth of the stolen goods, Mr Brand stated the dismantled components could be worth "several million."

The precious stones and taken gold may bring approximately ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), says a jewelry specialist, chief executive of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

He told the BBC the perpetrators must have a trained specialist to remove the gems, and a skilled stone worker to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized could be sold immediately and despite challenges to estimate the precise value of every gem stolen, the bigger stones might value about a significant amount each, he said.

"Reports indicate a minimum of four that large, thus totaling all of those together with the gold, you are probably approaching £10m," he said.

"The gemstone and luxury goods trade has buyers and there are many buyers within gray markets that avoid questioning about origins."

There are hopes that the items could reappear in original condition in the future – but those hopes are fading over time.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the V&A Museum displays an artifact taken decades ago which eventually returned in an auction several decades later.

Definitely are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, demonstrating a personal connection with the artifacts.

"French people don't always like jewellery as it symbolizes a question of privilege, and which doesn't always have a good connotation within French culture," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at French jeweller the prestigious firm, said