The Louvre is closed today as police investigate a heist targeting France’s crown jewels that took place in less than seven minutes on Sunday morning. The stolen jewels were priceless, featuring thousands of diamonds between them. As the most valuable and sought-after gems in the world, diamonds are often the first target in robberies of this kind.
Thieves climbed onto a first-floor balcony using a vehicle-mounted ladder, shortly after the world’s most visited museum opened its doors to the public, and used a battery-powered disc cutter to cut through the window leading into the gilded Galerie d’Apollon.
Once inside, they threatened security staff and smashed through glass cabinets taking eight items of priceless jewelry, described by France’s Interiors Minister Laurent Nuñez as “of immeasurable heritage value”.
Among the stolen items were a tiara and brooch belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III; an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from Empress Marie-Louise; a tiara, necklace and single earring from the sapphire set that belonged to Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense; and a brooch known as the “reliquary brooch”.
The thieves also attempted to steal an ornate gold crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, which features 1,354 diamonds, but it was found dropped near the entrance.
The crown is part of the French Crown Jewels, first established by King Francis I in 1530. The collection of orbs, crowns, sceptres, diadems and jewels, each priceless symbols of Royal and Imperial power, has been added to and worn over the centuries by the highest nobility including Napoleon III, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin, who adored diamonds.
The crime, which Culture Minister Rachida Dati believes was carried out by “seemingly very experienced” thieves, was over in less than seven minutes, with the perpetrators escaping on scooters with the jewels.
There have been a number of jewelry heists throughout history and this is one of the most significant robberies at the Louvre.
What was taken in the heist?
Empress Eugénie’s Diamond Bow Brooch
In 2008, the Louvre reportedly paid $10 million for this beautiful draped bow-shaped brooch, which was once worn on numerous occasions by Empress Eugénie. Formed of silver, gold and diamonds, the brooch was once the buckle of a diamond belt and was later repurposed into a brooch.
Crafted by jeweler François Kramer, the diamond belt made with 4,000 stones, was worn by Eugénie during a visit by Queen Victoria to the Palace of Versailles in the summer of 1855, and again in 1856 for the baptism of the Prince Imperial. She asked one of her own jewelers to transform it into a standalone brooch with cascading diamond tassels.
Empress Eugénie’s Requilary Brooch
Acquired by the Louvre in 1887, the reliquary brooch was originally owned by one of the most fashionable women of the time, Empress Eugénie. It is said to have been crafted by Paul-Alfred Bapst in 1855 especially for her. Comprising 94 diamonds, the brooch includes the 17th and 18th Mazarin diamonds, which were given to King Louis XIV by former chief minister Cardinal Mazarin in 1661, according to the museum.
Empress Maria-Louise’s Emerald Necklace and Earrings
Crafted by the jeweler François-Régnault Nitot, this necklace and earring set containing 32 emeralds and 1,138 diamonds was gifted by Napoleon to his second wife Maria-Louise of Austria for their wedding in March 1810.
After the set was sold to Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953, the emeralds were sold and replaced with turquoise stones.
Empress Eugénie’s Tiara
A diamond diadem headdress made for Empress Eugénie by jeweler Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier in 1853, features 212 pearls and 1,998 brilliant-cut diamonds according to the museum.
Queen Marie-Amélie’s Diamond and Sapphire Jewelry Set
Worn by the Queen Hortense de Beauharnais of Holland, Queen Marie-Amélie of the French, and Isabelle d’Orléans, Duchess of Guise, this set (including a tiara, necklace and earrings) was among the items taken by the thieves on Sunday.
The stolen jeweled headpiece features 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1,083 diamonds that can be detached and worn as brooches, according to the Louvre.
