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Law enforcement in France are making every effort to recover priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum in a brazen broad daylight theft, yet authorities caution it could be past the point of recovery to recover them.

In Paris this past Sunday, burglars entered by force the top tourist attraction worldwide, taking eight cherished pieces then fleeing via motor scooters in a daring heist that was completed in eight minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist told the BBC he feared the artifacts are likely "long gone", once separated into numerous components.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of the country, other experts have said.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The thieves were professionals, according to the expert, evidenced by the fact they were inside and outside of the building so quickly.

"As you might expect, for an average individual, you don't wake up in the morning believing, I will become a criminal, choosing as first target the world-famous museum," he explained.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he continued. "They've carried out previous crimes. They are confident and they thought, we could succeed with this plan, and took the chance."

In another sign the skill of the group is treated as important, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in resolving major theft cases" has been given responsibility with locating the perpetrators.

Police officials have stated they believe the theft relates to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs such as these typically have two main goals, Paris prosecutor a senior official said. "Either they operate working for a sponsor, or to obtain expensive jewelry to carry out money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it would be highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he noted targeted robbery for a private collector is a scenario that mainly exists in movies.

"Nobody wants to touch an item this recognizable," he stated. "You can't display it publicly, it cannot be passed to your children, you cannot sell it."

Estimated £10m Value

The expert thinks the stolen items will be taken apart and disassembled, including the gold and silver melted down and the jewels re-cut into less recognizable pieces that will be extremely difficult to track back to the Paris heist.

Historical jewelry specialist Carol Woolton, host of the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and was the prestigious publication's gemstone expert for 20 years, explained the thieves had "carefully selected" the most valuable treasures from the Louvre's collection.

The "magnificent exquisite jewels" would likely be dug out from their settings and marketed, she said, except for the crown from the historical figure which has smaller stones mounted in it and proved to be "too dangerous to handle," she explained.

This might account for the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, together with a second artifact, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece which was stolen, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.

Even though the pieces are considered having immeasurable worth, the expert expects them could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to individuals who are able to take possession," she stated. "Authorities worldwide will search for these items – they will take any amount available."

The precise value could they fetch as payment upon being marketed? When asked about the potential value of the haul, Mr Brand stated the separated elements may amount to "several million."

The precious stones and taken gold might achieve as much as £10 million (millions in euros; $13.4m), says a jewelry specialist, managing director of an established company, an online jeweller.

He stated the thieves will require an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to change the more noticeable pieces.

Minor components that were not easily identifiable could be sold immediately and although difficult to tell the exact price of all the stones taken, the larger ones could be worth around £500,000 for individual pieces, he noted.

"Reports indicate a minimum of four that large, so adding each of them along with the gold, you are probably reaching £10m," he stated.

"The jewelry and luxury goods trade has buyers and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that won't inquire too many questions."

Hope persists that the items may be found in original condition in the future – although such expectations are diminishing over time.

Historical examples exist – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution displays a piece of jewelry taken decades ago that later resurfaced in an auction many years after.

What is certain includes the French public feel profoundly disturbed by the Louvre heist, having felt a cultural bond to the jewels.

"French people don't always value gems since it represents an issue of power, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation among French people," a heritage expert, director of historical collections at established French company the historical business, stated