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French authorities are urgently trying to locate irreplaceable gemstones stolen from the Paris museum in a brazen daylight robbery, yet authorities caution it may already be past the point of recovery to save them.

In Paris on Sunday, thieves entered by force the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight valued items then fleeing using scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately just minutes.

Expert art detective an expert in the field told the BBC he suspects the jewels may already be "long gone", once separated into numerous components.

There is a strong chance the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a fraction of their worth and taken out of France, additional specialists indicated.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The group were professionals, according to the expert, as demonstrated by the way they managed inside and outside of the Louvre so quickly.

"As you might expect, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up overnight believing, I'm going to become a thief, and begin with the Louvre Museum," he explained.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he said. "They have done previous crimes. They feel certain and they believed, it might work out with this, and took the chance."

Additionally demonstrating the professionalism of the gang is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "strong track record in cracking high-profile robberies" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Authorities have indicated they suspect the theft is linked to an organised crime network.

Organised crime groups such as these generally have two primary purposes, Paris prosecutor the prosecutor explained. "Either they operate on behalf of a client, or to obtain valuable gems to perform money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it seems extremely difficult to market the jewels intact, and he explained stealing-to-order for an individual buyer is something that typically occurs in movies.

"No one desires to touch an artifact so identifiable," he elaborated. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, it cannot be passed to heirs, it cannot be sold."

Possible £10m Value

The expert thinks the objects will be taken apart and broken up, including the gold and silver components melted and the jewels divided into smaller stones that could be nearly impossible to trace back to the museum theft.

Gemstone expert an authority in the field, creator of the digital series If Jewels Could Talk and previously served as Vogue magazine's gemstone expert for 20 years, explained the perpetrators had "cherry-picked" the most important treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "impressively sized perfect gems" would likely be removed of their mountings and disposed of, she explained, except for the crown from Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and was "too recognizable to keep," she continued.

This might account for why they left it behind during the escape, along with a second artifact, and located by officials.

The royal crown that was taken, contains extremely rare organic pearls which are incredibly valuable, specialists confirm.

While the items are considered being beyond valuation, the expert believes they to be sold for a fraction of their worth.

"They're destined to individuals who is willing to take possession," she said. "Everyone will be looking for these – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."

How much exactly would they generate as payment if sold on? Regarding the possible worth of the haul, the detective said the cut-up parts may amount to "multiple millions."

The gems and taken gold could fetch approximately a significant sum (millions in euros; thirteen million dollars), says Tobias Kormind, chief executive of an established company, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the gang must have an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to modify the bigger identifiable gems.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of immediately and although difficult to estimate the specific worth of all the stones taken, the bigger stones could be worth approximately half a million pounds each, he said.

"We know there are at least four of that size, therefore combining all of those up plus the gold components, you are probably coming close to the estimated figure," he said.

"The diamond and gemstone market has buyers and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that don't ask too many questions."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts may be found in original condition one day – but those hopes are diminishing over time.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the London museum features an artifact taken decades ago before reappearing in a public event several decades later.

What is certain includes the French public are extremely upset regarding the theft, expressing a personal connection toward the treasures.

"We don't necessarily like jewellery since it represents an issue of power, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation within French culture," a heritage expert, head of heritage at French jeweller the historical business, said