A millimeter-sized blow to the heart of the most visited museum on the planet has put France on edge: a group of hooded men stole several jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum in an assault executed with surgical speed in the famous Apollo Gallery.
According to authorities, the robbery occurred around 9:30 and lasted only seven minutes; the assailants acted No injuries and an exceptional closure of the museum the rest of the day to preserve evidence.
assault timeline
The criminals took advantage of a construction area on the side of the Seine to access the first floor with a lifting platform and break a window with a grinder, opening direct access to the Apollo Gallery.
Once inside, they opened specific display cases and took the selected pieces with obvious efficiency, minimizing their exposure time and avoiding the use of violence against the public.
The escape was made on two motorcycles; on the way, a crown belonging to Empress Eugenie fell to the ground and was found nearby, so It was recovered with damage.
The internal protocol was immediately triggered: alarms were activated, the affected area was evacuated and the law enforcement forces were notified, who opened investigations for organized gang robbery.
Stolen pieces and characteristics
The official tally puts the stolen jewels at nine, of which one (the crown of Empress Eugenie) has been recovered. Among the remaining jewels are historical dressings linked to the 19th century.
- Diadem from the dressing of Queen Maria Amelia and Queen Hortense.
- Necklace from the sapphire dressing of Queen Maria Amelia and Queen Hortense.
- Sapphire earring studs of Queen Maria Amelia and Queen Hortense.
- Emerald necklace from Maria Luisa's dressing.
- Pair of emerald earrings from MarÃa Luisa's outfit.
- Clip called a reliquary brooch.
- Diadem of Empress Eugenie.
- Empress Eugenie's Large Corset Bow (Brooch).
The Crown of Empress Eugenie, a work attributed to Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier, brings together 1.353 diamonds and 56 emeralds; is the piece that has been found outside the museum and is being evaluated by specialists.
Among the stolen items from Empress Eugenie is also a tiara with 212 pearls (17 pear-shaped), 1.998 diamonds and 992 roses, a paradigmatic example of Second Empire goldsmithing.
The emerald necklace given by Napoleon to Marie Louise in 1810 stands out for its 32 emeralds (10 pear-shaped) and 1.138 diamonds; its execution is associated with the jeweler François-Régnault Nitot.
From the set of sapphires of Maria Amelia and Hortensia, the Louvre confirmed a tiara, a necklace and some earrings with 24 sapphires and 1.083 diamonds In total, pieces with a long history in the Orleans family.
What was saved
Among the emblematic pieces that were not affected are the large historic diamonds of the Apollo Gallery: Regent (140,64 carats), Sancy (55,23 carats) and the pink known as Hydrangea, which remain in custody at the museum.
Research and security
The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, and the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Núñez, have highlighted the high level of training of the group and have reaffirmed the priority of recovering the assets; the judicial police are exploring the trail of a organized command with prior recognition of the premises.
The case reopens the debate on the protection of heritage in large institutions: the Interior Ministry admits a certain fragility at sensitive points and protocol revisions have been announced, without losing sight of the fact that zero risk does not exist.
With the data available, the picture is clear: a quick operation, four authors, nine selected jewels of high historical value, a recovered crown and eight pieces still missing; the investigation continues while the Louvre strengthens its security, and experts assess the damage.
