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Police in France are urgently trying to recover irreplaceable jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum in a audacious daylight robbery, although specialists are concerned it might be past the point of recovery to recover them.

At the heart of Paris on Sunday, thieves gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, taking eight cherished pieces and getting away using scooters in a audacious theft that lasted approximately eight minutes.

Expert art detective an expert in the field stated publicly he suspects the artifacts are likely "long gone", having been broken up into hundreds of parts.

There is a strong chance the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from French territory, several authorities indicated.

Potential Suspects Behind the Theft

The thieves acted professionally, according to the expert, shown by the fact they were in and out of the museum so quickly.

"You know, as a normal person, you don't wake up overnight planning, I should become a burglar, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he noted.

"This won't be the first time they've done this," he added. "They've committed things before. They are confident and they believed, it might work out with this plan, and went for it."

Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the thieves is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "proven effectiveness in solving significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.

Police officials have indicated they believe the heist is linked to a criminal organization.

Organised crime groups like these generally have two primary purposes, French prosecutor a senior official said. "Either they operate working for a sponsor, or to obtain precious stones to perform financial crimes."

The detective suggests it seems extremely difficult to market the jewels as complete pieces, and he said stealing-to-order for a specific client represents a situation that typically occurs in fictional stories.

"No one desires to acquire an item this recognizable," he stated. "You cannot show it to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to family, there's no market for it."

Possible £10m Worth

Mr Brand believes the stolen items will be dismantled and broken up, along with gold elements and precious metals liquefied and the gems cut up into less recognizable pieces that will be nearly impossible to track back to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, creator of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, explained the robbers had "carefully selected" the most significant gemstones from the Louvre's collection.

The "magnificent exquisite jewels" would likely be dug out from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she noted, except for the tiara belonging to the historical figure which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and was "too dangerous to handle," she added.

This could explain the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, in addition to one other item, and found by authorities.

Empress Eugenie's tiara that was taken, contains extremely rare organic pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.

Even though the pieces have been described as being beyond valuation, the expert expects them could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They will go to someone who are prepared to take possession," she explained. "Many people will seek for these items – the thieves will accept what they can get."

The precise value might they bring as payment if sold on? Concerning the possible worth of the haul, the expert said the separated elements could be worth "many millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen may bring as much as ten million pounds (€11.52m; $13.4m), says an industry expert, managing director of an established company, an online jeweller.

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

Less noticeable gems that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed immediately and despite challenges to estimate the specific worth of all the stones removed, the larger ones might value approximately a significant amount each, he said.

"We know there are no fewer than four comparable in size, so adding all of those up plus the gold, you are probably approaching the estimated figure," he said.

"The gemstone and luxury goods trade has buyers and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that avoid questioning about origins."

Hope persists that the stolen goods might resurface in original condition in the future – although such expectations are fading as the days pass.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the London museum displays an artifact previously stolen which eventually returned in a public event many years after.

Without doubt includes the French public feel profoundly disturbed regarding the theft, having felt a cultural bond to the jewels.

"There isn't always value gems since it represents a matter concerning authority, and which doesn't always carry positive associations among French people," a heritage expert, director of historical collections at French jeweller Maison Vever, said