While the whole of Paris is still reeling from the robbery that shook the Louvre on Sunday morning, and from the news that continues to pour in, the statements of a former specialist investigator are casting a pall over the situation. For Janpiet Callens, who for many years tracked down art trafficking as part of a dedicated unit in Belgium, the chances of ever seeing these pieces again are very slim, according to an interview given to the Belgian media 7sur7.
Pieces so valuable they can’t be sold
On Sunday morning, four thieves broke into the Louvre’s famous Galerie d’Apollon, where the royal gems are kept, by climbing a simple ladder. While the three most famous diamonds (the Regent, the Sancy and the Hydrangea) are out of danger, the thieves took eight other treasures. These included the necklace from Marie-Amélie ‘s and Hortense’s set , set with sapphires and diamonds, and additional items from Marie-Amélie’s and Hortense’s sets… According to the French Ministry of Culture, the Louvre acquired Empress Eugénie’s large bodice knot in 2008 for 6.72 million euros. A colossal sum… As for Empress Eugénie’s sumptuous crown (1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds), it was found damaged near the museum.
These jewels, described everywhere as “priceless”, are worth more than just their metal and stones: they are above all markers of history, and it is this very fame that complicates any resale, and therefore any hope of recovering them. And what undermines any hope of intact reconstitution is that, according to the specialists, a jewel that is too well known becomes virtually unmarketable in its current state. It’s too photographed, too identifiable… And the fact that the heist was widely covered in the media doesn’t help matters.
“These pieces will probably be dismantled”.
In the wake of the Louvre burglary, the experts warn of the likely consequences. “These pieces will probably be dismantled,” explains Janpiet Callens. For the thieves, the most realistic option would indeed be to decompose and transform the jewels, by melting down the metals, reassembling the stones, and dispersing the elements in order to erase all traceability. However, we must not rule out the option of a robbery to order, or a possible ransom demand by the thieves, even if this seems unlikely at the moment.