Paris, October 22, 2025 — In what experts are calling one of the most shocking art crimes of the century, priceless jewels once belonging to France’s royal family were stolen in a daring four-minute heist inside the Louvre Museum. Authorities now fear the $102 million treasure may never be recovered.
The stolen collection includes two royal crowns, a sapphire necklace, a pair of emerald earrings, two brooches, and an emerald necklace — masterpieces of 19th-century haute joaillerie that once symbolized France’s royal power and elegance. Beyond their staggering market value, the pieces carried immense historical and cultural significance, having survived the 1887 royal auction that sold off most of France’s crown jewels.
The Louvre reopened on Wednesday following the Sunday morning heist, but the Apollo Gallery, where the theft took place, remains sealed as forensic teams scour for clues. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that the jewels’ total monetary worth is around $102 million, though their historic value is considered irreplaceable.
Security experts believe the thieves were highly trained professionals who executed the operation with precision — likely aided by inside knowledge of the museum’s layout and timing. Despite intense investigations involving Interpol and French security agencies, authorities admit that such jewels are almost impossible to resell or display publicly, leading to fears that they may have already been dismantled or smuggled abroad.
The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of museum security standards in France, already shaken by previous cultural heritage thefts.
“These aren’t just jewels,” said one French historian. “They are fragments of our national identity — and losing them is like losing a piece of history itself.”
Source: Associated Press / NDTV World