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Police in France are desperate to recover priceless gemstones taken from the Louvre in a audacious broad daylight theft, but experts have warned it might be impossible to save them.

At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, robbers gained access to the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight cherished pieces before escaping using scooters in a audacious theft that took about just minutes.

International art investigator an expert in the field expressed his view he believes the stolen items are likely "long gone", after being taken apart into hundreds of parts.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of French territory, additional specialists indicated.

Possible Culprits Behind the Heist

The thieves acted professionally, as the detective stated, shown by the way they managed in and out of the Louvre in record time.

"As you might expect, as a normal person, people don't suddenly decide in the morning believing, I should become a criminal, and begin with the Louvre," he noted.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he added. "They've committed other burglaries. They feel certain and they calculated, it might work out with this, and took the chance."

As further evidence the professionalism of the group is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "proven effectiveness in resolving high-profile robberies" has been given responsibility with tracking them down.

Police officials have stated they think the heist relates to a sophisticated gang.

Sophisticated gangs like these typically have two objectives, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said. "Either to act for the benefit of a sponsor, or to secure expensive jewelry to conduct illegal financial activities."

The detective suggests it is impossible to sell the items in their original form, and he noted commissioned theft for a private collector represents a situation that typically occurs in movies.

"No one desires to acquire an item this recognizable," he explained. "It cannot be shown publicly, you can't bequeath it to your children, there's no market for it."

Possible £10m Price Tag

The detective suggests the stolen items will be taken apart and disassembled, including the gold and silver melted down and the precious stones re-cut into less recognizable pieces that could be virtually impossible to track back to the museum theft.

Jewellery historian an authority in the field, host of the podcast about historical jewelry and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, explained the perpetrators had "carefully selected" the most significant treasures from the institution's artifacts.

The "magnificent perfect gems" are expected to be dug out from their settings and sold, she noted, excluding the headpiece of the French empress which features less valuable pieces incorporated within it and was "too hot to keep," she added.

This might account for the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, in addition to one other item, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.

Although the artifacts are regarded as having immeasurable worth, the expert expects them will be disposed of for a fraction of their worth.

"They'll likely end up to someone who is willing to acquire such items," she stated. "Many people will seek for these items – they'll settle for any amount available."

The precise value could they fetch financially upon being marketed? Concerning the potential value of the haul, the expert stated the dismantled components could be worth "multiple millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen could fetch approximately ten million pounds (€11.52m; thirteen million dollars), according to a jewelry specialist, senior official of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the thieves must have an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Minor components that were harder to trace could be sold right away and although difficult to tell the specific worth of each piece taken, the larger ones could be worth around a significant amount for individual pieces, he noted.

"There are no fewer than four that large, so adding each of them up plus the gold, one could estimate reaching ten million," he said.

"The diamond and gemstone market is active and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that avoid questioning too many questions."

Hope persists that the stolen goods might resurface in original condition one day – but those hopes are diminishing over time.

There is a precedent – a historical showcase at the cultural institution displays a piece of jewelry previously stolen before reappearing in an auction several decades later.

Definitely are numerous French citizens feel profoundly disturbed regarding the theft, having felt an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily appreciate jewelry since it represents an issue of authority, and this isn't typically receive favorable interpretation in France," a jewelry authority, head of heritage at French jeweller Maison Vever, said