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French authorities are desperate to recover extremely valuable treasures taken from the Louvre in a brazen daytime heist, although specialists have warned it could be too late to get them back.

In Paris on Sunday, thieves broke into the top tourist attraction worldwide, stealing eight precious artifacts and getting away via motor scooters in a daring heist that was completed in under ten minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand stated publicly he feared the artifacts may already be "long gone", having been broken up into hundreds of parts.

Experts suggest the pieces could be sold off for a small part of their true price and illegally transported from the country, several authorities have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Robbery

The perpetrators were professionals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the fact they were through the museum of the Louvre with such efficiency.

"As you might expect, for an average individual, you don't wake up overnight believing, I will become a criminal, let's start with the Louvre Museum," he noted.

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

Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the group is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "strong track record in cracking significant crimes" has been given responsibility with locating the perpetrators.

Law enforcement have stated they think the heist relates to a criminal organization.

Organised crime groups of this type generally have two primary purposes, legal official Laure Beccuau stated. "Either to act for the benefit of a financier, or to acquire expensive jewelry to perform illegal financial activities."

The detective suggests it would be highly unlikely to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he explained targeted robbery for a specific client is something that mainly exists in Hollywood films.

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

Potential £10m Price Tag

The detective suggests the objects will be dismantled and separated, including the gold and precious metals liquefied and the jewels divided into smaller components that would be extremely difficult to trace back to the museum theft.

Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, host of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the prestigious publication's jewelry specialist for two decades, explained the robbers had "specifically chosen" the most significant jewels from the institution's artifacts.

The "impressively sized flawless stones" are expected to be extracted from the jewelry pieces and disposed of, she explained, excluding the headpiece of the French empress which features less valuable pieces set in it and proved to be "too hot to handle," she continued.

This potentially clarifies the reason it was abandoned during the escape, in addition to another piece, and located by officials.

The royal crown which was stolen, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.

While the items have been described as being beyond valuation, the expert anticipates they could be marketed for a fraction of their worth.

"They're destined to buyers who is willing to take possession," she said. "Many people will seek for these items – the thieves will accept whatever price is offered."

The precise value could they fetch in money if sold on? When asked about the possible worth of the haul, Mr Brand said the dismantled components might value "many millions."

The jewels and removed precious metal could fetch up to a significant sum (over eleven million euros; thirteen million dollars), stated by a jewelry specialist, chief executive of a prominent jeweler, a digital jewelry retailer.

The expert explained the gang must have an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to change the more noticeable pieces.

Smaller stones that were harder to trace would be disposed of right away and while it was hard to estimate the specific worth of all the stones stolen, the larger ones might value approximately a significant amount each, he said.

"We know there are a minimum of four of that size, so adding each of them up plus the precious metal, you are probably coming close to ten million," he said.

"The gemstone and gemstone market is liquid and plenty of customers operate within gray markets that avoid questioning too many questions."

There are hopes that the stolen goods may be found undamaged one day – although such expectations are narrowing over time.

There is a precedent – a historical showcase at the London museum displays an artifact stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in an auction many years after.

What is certain includes the French public feel profoundly disturbed about the museum robbery, demonstrating an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"There isn't always appreciate jewelry as it symbolizes a matter concerning authority, and which doesn't always carry positive associations in France," Alexandre Leger, director of historical collections at French jeweller the historical business, stated