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Police in France are desperate to recover priceless jewels taken from the Louvre Museum in a audacious broad daylight theft, although specialists are concerned it may already be too late to get them back.

In Paris on Sunday, robbers gained access to the most popular museum globally, taking eight cherished pieces and getting away on scooters in a bold robbery that lasted approximately eight minutes.

International art investigator an expert in the field expressed his view he suspects the jewels could be "long gone", once separated into hundreds of parts.

There is a strong chance the artifacts could be sold off for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from French territory, other experts indicated.

Possible Culprits Behind the Heist

The group acted professionally, as the detective stated, as demonstrated by the fact they were through the museum of the building in record time.

"You know, for an average individual, you don't wake up overnight planning, I will become a thief, choosing as first target the Louvre," he explained.

"This likely isn't the first time they've done this," he added. "They have done things before. They're self-assured and they thought, we might get away with this attempt, and took the chance."

In another sign the skill of the group is considered significant, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in solving high-profile robberies" has been tasked with finding them.

Police officials have indicated they suspect the heist is connected to a criminal organization.

Criminal organizations such as these usually pursue two main goals, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said. "Either to act for the benefit of a financier, or to obtain expensive jewelry to carry out money laundering operations."

The expert believes it is impossible to sell the items intact, and he explained commissioned theft for a specific client is a scenario that typically occurs in movies.

"No one desires to touch a piece this recognizable," he explained. "It cannot be shown to your friends, it cannot be passed to your children, there's no market for it."

Possible £10m Price Tag

The expert thinks the objects will be dismantled and broken up, including the gold and precious metals liquefied and the precious stones divided into smaller components that would be nearly impossible to track back to the museum theft.

Gemstone expert an authority in the field, host of the audio program focusing on gemstones and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for many years, explained the robbers had "specifically chosen" the most important treasures from the Louvre's collection.

The "impressively sized exquisite jewels" will probably be removed from their settings and disposed of, she said, with the exception of the crown from the historical figure which contains smaller gems incorporated within it and proved to be "too hot to possess," she explained.

This potentially clarifies why they left it behind as they got away, along with another piece, and located by officials.

The royal crown that was taken, contains extremely rare authentic pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

While the items have been described as being priceless, Ms Woolton anticipates they to be sold for a fraction of their worth.

"They will go to someone who is willing to take possession," she explained. "Everyone will be looking for these – the thieves will accept whatever price is offered."

The precise value would they generate in money if sold on? Concerning the potential value of the loot, the expert said the separated elements may amount to "several million."

The gems and taken gold might achieve approximately £10 million (over eleven million euros; millions in US currency), according to an industry expert, chief executive of a prominent jeweler, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the gang must have a trained specialist to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the larger recognisable stones.

Smaller stones that were harder to trace would be disposed of right away and while it was hard to estimate the precise value of all the stones removed, the larger ones may amount to about half a million pounds each, he noted.

"Reports indicate no fewer than four comparable in size, so adding all those pieces up plus the gold components, one could estimate coming close to the estimated figure," he said.

"The diamond and gemstone market is liquid and plenty of customers operate in less regulated areas that won't inquire regarding sources."

Some optimism remains that the artifacts could reappear undamaged one day – although such expectations are fading with each passing day.

Historical examples exist – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution displays an artifact taken decades ago that later resurfaced in a sale several decades later.

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

"French people don't always like jewellery as it symbolizes an issue of authority, and which doesn't always have a good connotation within French culture," Alexandre Leger, head of heritage at French jeweller the historical business, explained