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Law enforcement in France are desperate to retrieve extremely valuable jewels taken from the Louvre Museum in a daring daytime heist, although specialists are concerned it could be too late to save them.

In Paris this past Sunday, burglars entered by force the most popular museum globally, taking eight cherished pieces then fleeing using scooters in a audacious theft that lasted approximately just minutes.

Expert art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the jewels are likely "dispersed", once separated into many fragments.

There is a strong chance the pieces could be sold off for a fraction of their worth and taken out of the country, other experts indicated.

Who May Be Behind the Theft

The perpetrators were professionals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the speed with which they got through the museum of the museum in record time.

"You know, for an average individual, one doesn't just get up in the morning thinking, I will become a criminal, let's start with the Louvre," he said.

"This won't be their first heist," he added. "They've carried out other burglaries. They're self-assured and they believed, it might work out with this plan, and went for it."

As further evidence the professionalism of the group is treated as important, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in cracking significant crimes" has been assigned with finding them.

Law enforcement have indicated they believe the heist is linked to an organised crime network.

Organised crime groups of this type typically have two primary purposes, legal official the prosecutor explained. "Either to act working for a sponsor, or to obtain valuable gems to carry out money laundering operations."

The detective suggests it is extremely difficult to dispose of the artifacts in their original form, and he noted commissioned theft for a private collector is something that typically occurs in Hollywood films.

"Few people wish to acquire a piece this recognizable," he elaborated. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, it cannot be passed to heirs, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Value

The detective suggests the artifacts will be taken apart and separated, with the gold and silver components melted and the precious stones re-cut into smaller components that would be extremely difficult to track back to the museum theft.

Jewellery historian an authority in the field, who presents the podcast focusing on gemstones and was the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for two decades, stated the thieves had "cherry-picked" the most valuable gemstones from the museum's holdings.

The "impressively sized flawless stones" will probably be dug out from their settings and disposed of, she noted, except for the crown from Empress Eugénie which features less valuable pieces incorporated within it and was "too hot to handle," she continued.

This could explain why they left it behind while fleeing, along with one other item, and found by authorities.

The royal crown that disappeared, has rare authentic pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.

While the items are considered having immeasurable worth, the expert expects them to be sold for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to someone who are prepared to handle these," she stated. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."

The precise value might they bring as payment if sold on? Regarding the possible worth of the haul, Mr Brand said the cut-up parts could be worth "several million."

The gems and taken gold may bring as much as £10 million (over eleven million euros; thirteen million dollars), says an industry expert, senior official of 77 Diamonds, an online jeweller.

The expert explained the perpetrators would need a skilled expert to remove the gems, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Minor components that were not easily identifiable would be disposed of right away and despite challenges to estimate the specific worth of each piece stolen, the more significant gems might value approximately a significant amount for individual pieces, he noted.

"We know there are at least four comparable in size, thus totaling all of those along with the gold, one could estimate approaching the estimated figure," he concluded.

"The gemstone and luxury goods trade is active and there are many buyers within gray markets that won't inquire about origins."

Hope persists that the stolen goods could reappear intact one day – but those hopes are fading as the days pass.

There is a precedent – a jewelry display at the V&A Museum features an artifact previously stolen before reappearing in an auction much later.

Without doubt is many in France feel profoundly disturbed about the museum robbery, having felt an emotional attachment toward the treasures.

"We don't necessarily value gems because it's a matter concerning power, and which doesn't always have a good connotation among French people," Alexandre Leger, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, said