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French authorities are urgently trying to retrieve irreplaceable jewels stolen from the Louvre in a audacious daytime heist, but experts are concerned it may already be past the point of recovery to save them.

In Paris this past Sunday, thieves gained access to the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight valued items and getting away on scooters in a audacious theft that took about eight minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist stated publicly he feared the artifacts could be "dispersed", after being taken apart into hundreds of parts.

It is highly likely the pieces could be sold off for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from French territory, several authorities have said.

Who May Be Behind the Theft

The group are experienced criminals, according to the expert, as demonstrated by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the building with such efficiency.

"You know, for regular people, one doesn't just get up overnight planning, I'm going to become a criminal, and begin with the Louvre Museum," he noted.

"This isn't their first heist," he said. "They have done things before. They are confident and they thought, we could succeed with this plan, and proceeded."

In another sign the expertise of the group is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in resolving high-profile robberies" has been tasked with locating the perpetrators.

Authorities have said they believe the theft is linked to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs like these typically have two main goals, Paris prosecutor the prosecutor explained. "Either to act for the benefit of a sponsor, or to obtain valuable gems to perform financial crimes."

The detective suggests it would be extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he noted commissioned theft for an individual buyer represents a situation that mainly exists in movies.

"Nobody wants to handle an item so hot," he stated. "It cannot be shown publicly, it cannot be passed to family, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Worth

The expert thinks the objects are likely broken down and separated, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the precious stones re-cut into less recognizable pieces that could be virtually impossible to trace back to the museum theft.

Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, creator of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the prestigious publication's jewelry specialist for many years, stated the thieves had "cherry-picked" the most significant jewels from the institution's artifacts.

The "beautiful large flawless stones" will probably be extracted of their mountings and disposed of, she noted, except for the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and was considered "too recognizable to handle," she continued.

This potentially clarifies why they left it behind as they got away, together with one other item, and located by officials.

The royal crown which was stolen, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, authorities indicate.

Although the artifacts are regarded as being priceless, the expert anticipates they to be sold for a minimal part of their true price.

"They're destined to someone who are able to handle these," she explained. "Many people will seek for these items – the thieves will accept whatever price is offered."

What specific amount might they bring financially upon being marketed? When asked about the potential value of the haul, the expert said the separated elements could be worth "multiple millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen could fetch approximately £10 million (over eleven million euros; thirteen million dollars), stated by a jewelry specialist, senior official of an established company, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the perpetrators must have a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to change the bigger identifiable gems.

Minor components that were not easily identifiable would be disposed of quickly and despite challenges to estimate the exact price of each piece removed, the bigger stones might value about a significant amount each, he explained.

"Reports indicate a minimum of four of that size, thus totaling all those pieces together with the gold components, you are probably coming close to £10m," he said.

"The jewelry and precious stone industry is active and numerous purchasers exist within gray markets that won't inquire too many questions."

There are hopes that the artifacts could reappear undamaged one day – although such expectations are fading as the days pass.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the V&A Museum features an artifact stolen in 1948 before reappearing in a sale many years after.

Definitely is many in France feel profoundly disturbed by the Louvre heist, demonstrating a personal connection toward the treasures.

"French people don't always like jewellery as it symbolizes a matter concerning power, and which doesn't always have a good connotation in France," a jewelry authority, curatorial leader at French jeweller Maison Vever, explained