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French authorities are desperate to retrieve priceless treasures robbed from the Louvre Museum in a daring daytime heist, but experts are concerned it might be impossible to save them.

Within the French capital on Sunday, burglars entered by force the world's most-visited museum, taking eight precious artifacts before escaping using scooters in a bold robbery that was completed in under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective an expert in the field stated publicly he feared the stolen items could be "already dismantled", having been broken up into numerous components.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and taken out of France, other experts have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Theft

The thieves are experienced criminals, according to the expert, as demonstrated by the fact they were through the museum of the museum in record time.

"As you might expect, for an average individual, one doesn't just get up in the morning thinking, I'm going to become a burglar, choosing as first target the Louvre Museum," he noted.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've committed things before. They're self-assured and they believed, it might work out with this, and took the chance."

As further evidence the expertise of the gang is being taken seriously, an elite police team with a "strong track record in solving high-profile robberies" has been given responsibility with tracking them down.

Authorities have said they believe the theft is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Criminal organizations like these usually pursue two primary purposes, legal official the prosecutor stated. "Either to act on behalf of a financier, or to obtain expensive jewelry to perform money laundering operations."

The expert believes it seems highly unlikely to sell the items intact, and he said stealing-to-order for a specific client represents a situation that only happens in fictional stories.

"Few people wish to touch a piece this recognizable," he explained. "You can't display it to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to heirs, you cannot sell it."

Estimated £10m Price Tag

The expert thinks the objects will be taken apart and broken up, along with gold elements and silver components melted and the precious stones re-cut into smaller stones that would be extremely difficult to trace back to the museum theft.

Historical jewelry specialist an authority in the field, creator of the digital series about historical jewelry and formerly worked as Vogue magazine's jewelry specialist for many years, told the BBC the thieves had "cherry-picked" the most important jewels from the institution's artifacts.

The "magnificent exquisite jewels" are expected to be dug out from their settings and disposed of, she said, with the exception of the headpiece of the historical figure which features less valuable pieces set in it and was considered "too dangerous to handle," she added.

This could explain why it was dropped as they got away, along with one other item, and found by authorities.

The royal crown which was stolen, has rare natural pearls which have a very large value, experts say.

Although the artifacts are regarded as being beyond valuation, Ms Woolton anticipates they to be sold for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to buyers who are prepared to handle these," she stated. "Many people will seek for these items – they will take any amount available."

The precise value could they fetch financially when disposed of? Regarding the possible worth of the haul, the detective indicated the dismantled components could be worth "several million."

The jewels and taken gold may bring up to ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), stated by Tobias Kormind, senior official of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

The expert explained the perpetrators will require a trained specialist to remove the gems, and an expert gem cutter to alter the more noticeable pieces.

Smaller stones that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of right away and despite challenges to determine the exact price of all the stones removed, the larger ones may amount to about £500,000 per stone, he noted.

"There are no fewer than four of that size, so adding all those pieces along with the gold components, you are probably approaching the estimated figure," he stated.

"The gemstone and gemstone market is liquid and numerous purchasers exist in less regulated areas that won't inquire too many questions."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts could reappear in original condition eventually – but those hopes are diminishing with each passing day.

Similar cases have occurred – a jewelry display at the cultural institution features an artifact previously stolen which eventually returned in a sale several decades later.

Definitely is many in France feel profoundly disturbed about the museum robbery, demonstrating a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"There isn't always value gems as it symbolizes a matter concerning authority, and which doesn't always receive favorable interpretation within French culture," Alexandre Leger, curatorial leader at French jeweller the historical business, stated