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Law enforcement in France are desperate to recover extremely valuable gemstones taken from the Paris museum in a audacious daytime heist, although specialists caution it might be too late to recover them.

In Paris on Sunday, thieves broke into the world's most-visited museum, making off with eight precious artifacts before escaping on scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately eight minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand expressed his view he suspects the jewels could be "dispersed", having been broken up into numerous components.

Experts suggest the artifacts could be sold off for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from France, several authorities noted.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The thieves are experienced criminals, Mr Brand believes, evidenced by the way they managed inside and outside of the building with such efficiency.

"You know, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up in the morning planning, I'm going to become a criminal, and begin with the Louvre," he explained.

"This isn't the first time they've done this," he continued. "They've carried out other burglaries. They're self-assured and they believed, we might get away with this, and took the chance."

In another sign the professionalism of the thieves is treated as important, a specialist police unit with a "proven effectiveness in solving high-profile robberies" has been assigned with tracking them down.

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

Criminal organizations like these usually pursue two objectives, Paris prosecutor a senior official said. "Either they operate for the benefit of a financier, or to acquire valuable gems to carry out financial crimes."

The detective suggests it seems extremely difficult to market the jewels in their original form, and he explained stealing-to-order for a private collector is something that only happens in movies.

"No one desires to acquire an item this recognizable," he elaborated. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, you can't bequeath it to your children, you cannot sell it."

Estimated £10m Value

The expert thinks the artifacts will be taken apart and separated, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the gems cut up into less recognizable pieces that could be nearly impossible to connect to the Paris heist.

Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, host of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for two decades, stated the robbers had "carefully selected" the most significant jewels from the museum's holdings.

The "beautiful large exquisite jewels" will probably be extracted of their mountings and marketed, she noted, excluding the crown from the French empress which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and proved to be "too recognizable to possess," she explained.

This might account for the reason it was abandoned while fleeing, together with one other item, and recovered by police.

Empress Eugenie's tiara that disappeared, contains extremely rare natural pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items have been described as being beyond valuation, the expert expects them could be marketed for a minimal part of their true price.

"They're destined to individuals who are able to handle these," she stated. "Authorities worldwide will search for these – the thieves will accept any amount available."

How much exactly would they generate as payment when disposed of? Concerning the potential value of the haul, Mr Brand said the separated elements may amount to "many millions."

The precious stones and gold stolen may bring as much as a significant sum (€11.52m; $13.4m), stated by Tobias Kormind, managing director of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the gang will require an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to change the more noticeable pieces.

Minor components that were harder to trace would be disposed of quickly and although difficult to estimate the exact price of every gem stolen, the larger ones could be worth approximately a significant amount each, he noted.

"There are a minimum of four of that size, therefore combining all of those up plus the gold components, it's likely approaching ten million," he stated.

"The gemstone and luxury goods trade is active and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that won't inquire about origins."

There are hopes that the stolen goods could reappear intact in the future – although such expectations are diminishing as the days pass.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the cultural institution displays an item of jewellery taken decades ago that later resurfaced in a sale many years after.

What is certain are numerous French citizens are deeply shocked regarding the theft, demonstrating an emotional attachment to the jewels.

"French people don't always like jewellery since it represents an issue of authority, and which doesn't always have a good connotation among French people," a heritage expert, head of heritage at French jeweller the historical business, explained