Louvre museum heist: From tiara to Napoleon’s emerald wedding gift set — what ‘priceless’ jewels were stolen in Paris

Within a matter of four to seven minutes, thieves stole eight pieces of jewelry, which officials described as ‘incalculable’ value, from the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday. The daylight heist, which was orchestrated about 30 minutes after the opening, is among the highest-profile museum thefts in living memory.

Taking advantage of ongoing renovations, the thieves, disguised in workers' vests, broke into the museum before escaping swiftly on scooters on Sunday morning between 09:30 and 09:40 local time, stealing France’s historic collection of crown jewels.

They stole eight items in total, which, according to the officials, include: a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a matching set linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense; an emerald necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife; a reliquary brooch; Empress Eugénie’s diadem; and her large corsage-bow brooch.

The thieves also tried to steal the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife to Napoleon III, however, they abandoned it after the guards confronted them. This heavily adorned crown with 1,354 diamonds, 1,136 rose-cut diamonds, and 56 emeralds was later found outside the museum, French authorities said. It was reportedly recovered and broken.

Everything you should know about the stolen pieces?

The French authorities have described the stolen pieces as ‘priceless’ and ‘of immeasurable heritage value’. Culture Minister Rachida Dati told French news outlet TF1 that the robbery was 'very professional'. Here’s a detailed view of the from the Louvre museum.

Tiara of Empress Eugénie

Among the prized possessions stolen from the Louvre museum was an exquisite diadem that belonged to Empress Eugénie. This piece features 212 pearls, 1,998 diamonds, and 992 rose-cut diamonds.

Empress Eugénie bow

Another treasured jewelry is the bow adorned with 2,438 diamonds and 196 rose-cut diamonds. The bow features bejeweled tassels and is the centerpiece of a belt; however, the museum website says there is no imagery of the finished item.

Empress Eugénie brooch

A prized 19th-century imperial ensemble stolen from Louvre museum is the diamond brooch of the Empress. Called a reliquary brooch, this piece is adorned with diamonds; however, despite its name, it does not contain a relic.

Sapphire set (tiara, necklace, and earring)

The thieves also stole pieces from the Sapphire set, linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. The stolen pieces were a tiara embellished with 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1,083 diamonds. The necklace stolen from the set has 8 sapphires, numerous diamonds, in an intricate gold setting. The thieves also stole one of the earrings. The stolen set is originally part of a larger set with brooches, a comb, and bracelets. This set is described by the website Louvre as a ‘precious testimony to Parisian jewelry.’

Napoleonʼs emerald wedding gift set

Among the most exquisite pieces stolen are parts of Napoleonʼs emerald wedding gift set, which was added to the Louvre’s collection in 2004. This was given by Napoleon to his second wife, Marie Louise, during their marriage in 1810. The necklace has 32 emeralds and 1,138 diamonds. The set also includes emerald and diamond earrings, which were stolen.

What’s happening now?

The forensic teams are examining the site of the crime and adjoining access points while a full inventory is taken, the authorities said. So, will they be able to recover the stolen jewels? The recovery could be difficult. “It’s unlikely these jewels will ever be seen again. Professional crews often break down and re-cut large, recognizable stones to evade detection, effectively erasing their provenance,” Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, told AP.



Meanwhile, the authorities are still looking for answers about how many people took part in the theft and whether they had inside assistance. The authorities are looking at CCTV footage, inspecting the basket lift the thieves used to get to the gallery, and the staff, who were on the site, are being interviewed.