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Law enforcement in France are desperate to recover irreplaceable jewels taken from the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery, yet authorities are concerned it may already be impossible to get them back.

At the heart of Paris on Sunday, robbers entered by force the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight precious artifacts then fleeing via motor scooters in a audacious theft that lasted approximately just minutes.

International art investigator Arthur Brand stated publicly he feared the artifacts could be "already dismantled", having been broken up into numerous components.

It is highly likely the artifacts will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from the country, several authorities have said.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The group were professionals, according to the expert, shown by the speed with which they got in and out of the museum with such efficiency.

"You know, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide in the morning thinking, I will become a thief, choosing as first target the Louvre," he noted.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he added. "They've carried out previous crimes. They feel certain and they calculated, we could succeed with this attempt, and took the chance."

In another sign the expertise of the thieves is treated as important, an elite police team with a "high success rate in resolving major theft cases" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Law enforcement have said they believe the robbery is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Criminal organizations like these generally have two main goals, French prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated. "Either to act on behalf of a client, or to obtain precious stones to conduct money laundering operations."

The expert believes it is extremely difficult to market the jewels as complete pieces, and he noted stealing-to-order for a private collector is a scenario that only happens in movies.

"Nobody wants to acquire an item so hot," he explained. "You cannot show it publicly, you cannot leave it to your children, there's no market for it."

Possible £10m Worth

The detective suggests the artifacts will be dismantled and broken up, with the gold and silver components melted and the precious stones re-cut into smaller stones that would be nearly impossible to track back to the Paris heist.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, host of the podcast about historical jewelry and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for 20 years, explained the thieves had "cherry-picked" the most valuable treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "impressively sized perfect gems" would likely be dug out from their settings and sold, she explained, with the exception of the headpiece of the French empress which contains smaller gems mounted in it and proved to be "too hot to handle," she added.

This might account for why it was dropped while fleeing, in addition to a second artifact, and recovered by police.

The royal crown that disappeared, has rare natural pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items are considered being beyond valuation, Ms Woolton anticipates they to be sold for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to buyers who are able to take possession," she said. "Everyone will be looking for these – the thieves will accept whatever price is offered."

The precise value could they fetch as payment if sold on? Concerning the possible worth of the loot, the detective stated the separated elements could be worth "many millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen could fetch up to ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), according to a jewelry specialist, chief executive of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the gang must have an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to modify the bigger identifiable gems.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed right away and although difficult to tell the specific worth of all the stones removed, the larger ones may amount to around £500,000 for individual pieces, he explained.

"We know there are at least four of that size, therefore combining all those pieces along with the gold, it's likely approaching ten million," he said.

"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and plenty of customers operate within gray markets that won't inquire too many questions."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts may be found intact in the future – although such expectations are fading over time.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum includes an item of jewellery previously stolen before reappearing in an auction several decades later.

What is certain includes the French public feel profoundly disturbed regarding the theft, having felt a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily value gems as it symbolizes a question of authority, and which doesn't always have a good connotation within French culture," a jewelry authority, head of heritage at established French company the prestigious firm, said