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Law enforcement in France are desperate to locate extremely valuable jewels taken from the Louvre in a audacious daytime heist, but experts have warned it may already be past the point of recovery to save them.

Within the French capital over the weekend, burglars entered by force the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight valued items then fleeing via motor scooters in a daring heist that lasted approximately under ten minutes.

International art investigator Arthur Brand expressed his view he feared the jewels are likely "long gone", after being taken apart into hundreds of parts.

There is a strong chance the artifacts will be sold for a fraction of their worth and illegally transported from France, several authorities have said.

Who May Be Behind the Heist

The perpetrators were professionals, as the detective stated, as demonstrated by the speed with which they got in and out of the museum with such efficiency.

"As you might expect, for regular people, one doesn't just get up one day thinking, 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 said. "They have done previous crimes. They're self-assured and they thought, we could succeed with this attempt, and went for it."

Additionally demonstrating the expertise of the thieves is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in solving significant crimes" has been assigned with locating the perpetrators.

Police officials have indicated they think the theft is linked to an organised crime network.

Criminal organizations of this type typically have two primary purposes, French prosecutor a senior official stated. "Either they operate working for a client, or to obtain expensive jewelry to conduct money laundering operations."

Mr Brand thinks it is impossible 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 touch a piece so identifiable," he explained. "It cannot be shown to your friends, you cannot leave it to family, it cannot be sold."

Potential £10m Value

The detective suggests the artifacts will be dismantled and separated, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the jewels divided into less recognizable pieces that would be nearly impossible to connect to the Louvre robbery.

Jewellery historian a renowned expert, who presents the audio program focusing on gemstones and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, stated the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most important treasures from the museum's holdings.

The "magnificent flawless stones" would likely be extracted from their settings and disposed of, she noted, with the exception of the tiara belonging to the French empress which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and proved to be "too dangerous to possess," she added.

This could explain the reason it was abandoned as they got away, together with one other item, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, contains extremely rare organic pearls which command enormous prices, experts say.

Even though the pieces are considered being priceless, Ms Woolton believes they could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to someone who is willing to take possession," she said. "Everyone will be looking for the stolen goods – the thieves will accept any amount available."

How much exactly would they generate as payment if sold on? When asked about the potential value of the loot, Mr Brand said the cut-up parts could be worth "multiple millions."

The jewels and taken gold may bring approximately ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; $13.4m), according to Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, an online jeweller.

He told the BBC the thieves would need an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to alter the more noticeable pieces.

Smaller stones that couldn't be easily recognized could be sold right away and despite challenges to tell the specific worth of all the stones taken, the more significant gems could be worth around £500,000 for individual pieces, he noted.

"Reports indicate no fewer than four of that size, so adding all of those together with the gold, it's likely reaching ten million," he concluded.

"The diamond and luxury goods trade is liquid and plenty of customers operate on the fringes that avoid questioning too many questions."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts may be found undamaged eventually – yet this possibility are narrowing as the days pass.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the London museum includes an item of jewellery stolen in 1948 that later resurfaced in an auction several decades later.

What is certain is many in France feel profoundly disturbed about the museum robbery, demonstrating an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"French people don't always appreciate jewelry since it represents a matter concerning privilege, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation within French culture," Alexandre Leger, director of historical collections at established French company the historical business, said