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Law enforcement in France are urgently trying to recover priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre in a daring daytime heist, yet authorities are concerned it might be impossible to save them.

At the heart of Paris over the weekend, robbers entered by force the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight precious artifacts and getting away via motor scooters in a audacious theft that lasted approximately under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the stolen items may already be "long gone", having been broken up into many fragments.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels could be sold off for a small part of their true price and taken out of French territory, several authorities noted.

Possible Culprits Behind the Heist

The perpetrators acted professionally, Mr Brand believes, evidenced by the speed with which they got through the museum of the museum with such efficiency.

"You know, as a normal person, you don't wake up in the morning planning, I will become a thief, choosing as first target the Louvre," he said.

"This likely isn't the first time they've done this," he continued. "They've committed other burglaries. They are confident and they believed, it might work out with this plan, and took the chance."

Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the gang is being taken seriously, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in resolving significant crimes" has been assigned with finding them.

Police officials have said they think the robbery is linked to an organised crime network.

Criminal organizations of this type typically have two primary purposes, Paris prosecutor a senior official said. "Either they operate for the benefit of a sponsor, or to obtain valuable gems to carry out illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it seems highly unlikely to sell the items as complete pieces, and he explained targeted robbery for a private collector is a scenario that only happens in fictional stories.

"Few people wish to acquire a piece so identifiable," he explained. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to your children, you cannot sell it."

Estimated £10m Value

Mr Brand believes the objects will be dismantled and broken up, including the gold and silver melted down and the gems cut up into less recognizable pieces that could be extremely difficult to trace back to the museum theft.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, host of the podcast about historical jewelry and was Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for many years, told the BBC the thieves had "cherry-picked" the most important treasures from the Louvre's collection.

The "beautiful large flawless stones" will probably be dug out from their settings and marketed, she noted, with the exception of the tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems set in it and was "too recognizable to keep," she continued.

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

The royal crown that disappeared, features exceptionally uncommon authentic pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items have been described as being priceless, the expert believes they will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price.

"They're destined to individuals who are prepared to take possession," she explained. "Authorities worldwide will search for these – they will take whatever price is offered."

The precise value would they generate as payment upon being marketed? Regarding the possible worth of the haul, Mr Brand said the dismantled components might value "multiple millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen might achieve up to ten million pounds (millions in euros; millions in US currency), stated by an industry expert, managing director of a prominent jeweler, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the perpetrators must have a skilled expert to extract the stones, and an expert gem cutter to alter the larger recognisable stones.

Less noticeable gems that were harder to trace could be sold quickly and while it was hard to determine the specific worth of every gem taken, the more significant gems could be worth about a significant amount each, he said.

"We know there are a minimum of four that large, so adding each of them up plus the gold components, it's likely coming close to ten million," he concluded.

"The jewelry and precious stone industry has buyers and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that avoid questioning regarding sources."

There are hopes that the stolen goods might resurface undamaged in the future – but those hopes are diminishing over time.

Historical examples exist – a historical showcase at the cultural institution features an item of jewellery stolen in 1948 before reappearing in an auction several decades later.

Definitely are numerous French citizens feel profoundly disturbed by the Louvre heist, expressing a cultural bond toward the treasures.

"We don't necessarily value gems because it's a question of authority, and which doesn't always have a good connotation within French culture," a jewelry authority, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house Maison Vever, explained