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Police in France are desperate to retrieve extremely valuable treasures stolen from the Louvre Museum in a brazen broad daylight theft, yet authorities caution it could be past the point of recovery to get them back.

Within the French capital on Sunday, thieves broke into the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight valued items and getting away on scooters in a bold robbery that took about under ten minutes.

International art investigator a renowned specialist told the BBC he believes the artifacts may already be "already dismantled", once separated into numerous components.

Experts suggest the artifacts could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from the country, other experts indicated.

Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery

The group are experienced criminals, according to the expert, evidenced by the way they managed inside and outside of the Louvre in record time.

"You know, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up in the morning thinking, I will become a burglar, and begin with the Louvre Museum," he said.

"This isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've committed things before. They are confident and they thought, it might work out with this, and went for it."

Additionally demonstrating the skill of the group is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "high success rate in solving high-profile robberies" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

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

Sophisticated gangs like these typically have two objectives, French prosecutor the prosecutor explained. "Either they operate on behalf of a client, or to acquire precious stones to conduct money laundering operations."

The detective suggests it is highly unlikely to market the jewels as complete pieces, and he said targeted robbery for a specific client is something that typically occurs in movies.

"Few people wish to touch an item so hot," he explained. "It cannot be shown publicly, you cannot leave it to heirs, it cannot be sold."

Potential £10m Value

The detective suggests the artifacts will be dismantled and separated, along with gold elements and precious metals liquefied and the jewels cut up into smaller components that could be extremely difficult to track back to the Louvre robbery.

Gemstone expert a renowned expert, who presents the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and was the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for two decades, explained the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most important treasures from the Louvre's collection.

The "beautiful large exquisite jewels" would likely be removed from their settings and disposed of, she said, excluding the headpiece of the French empress which contains smaller gems set in it and proved to be "too dangerous to possess," she added.

This could explain why they left it behind as they got away, along with another piece, and recovered by police.

The royal crown that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.

Although the artifacts are regarded as having immeasurable worth, the historian believes they will be disposed of for a fraction of their worth.

"They'll likely end up to buyers who are prepared to handle these," she stated. "Authorities worldwide will search for the stolen goods – the thieves will accept any amount available."

The precise value might they bring financially upon being marketed? Regarding the estimated price of the stolen goods, the expert said the separated elements could be worth "multiple millions."

The jewels and gold stolen could fetch approximately ten million pounds (millions in euros; thirteen million dollars), stated by a jewelry specialist, managing director of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

He told the BBC the perpetrators must have a skilled expert to remove the gems, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Less noticeable gems that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed right away and despite challenges to estimate the specific worth of every gem removed, the bigger stones might value around a significant amount for individual pieces, he noted.

"There are at least four comparable in size, so adding each of them together with the precious metal, it's likely approaching the estimated figure," he stated.

"The gemstone and precious stone industry has buyers and plenty of customers operate on the fringes that won't inquire regarding sources."

Hope persists that the artifacts might resurface undamaged eventually – although such expectations are narrowing over time.

Historical examples exist – a jewelry display at the London museum includes a piece of jewelry taken decades ago that later resurfaced in a public event many years after.

What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, having felt a personal connection toward the treasures.

"There isn't always value gems since it represents a question of privilege, and which doesn't always receive favorable interpretation among French people," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, stated