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Police in France are urgently trying to recover priceless gemstones stolen from the Louvre in a audacious daytime heist, yet authorities caution it may already be too late to save them.

At the heart of Paris this past Sunday, robbers gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, stealing eight cherished pieces then fleeing via motor scooters in a daring heist that was completed in just minutes.

Dutch art detective an expert in the field told the BBC he feared the jewels are likely "already dismantled", once separated into many fragments.

Experts suggest the stolen jewels could be sold off for a mere percentage of their value and smuggled out of France, several authorities have said.

Potential Suspects Behind the Heist

The perpetrators were professionals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the fact they were in and out of the building with such efficiency.

"You know, for an average individual, people don't suddenly decide overnight believing, I should become a thief, and begin with the Louvre," he said.

"This likely isn't their first heist," he added. "They've carried out things before. They're self-assured and they thought, we could succeed with this attempt, and proceeded."

As further evidence the professionalism of the group is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in cracking significant crimes" has been assigned with tracking them down.

Authorities have stated they think the theft is linked to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs of this type typically have two objectives, legal official Laure Beccuau explained. "Either to act working for a financier, or to secure valuable gems to perform illegal financial activities."

The detective suggests it seems highly unlikely to market the jewels in their original form, and he noted commissioned theft for a specific client is something that only happens in movies.

"Nobody wants to handle an item this recognizable," he stated. "You can't display it to acquaintances, you can't bequeath it to family, it cannot be sold."

Possible £10m Price Tag

Mr Brand believes the stolen items are likely broken down and broken up, with the gold and silver melted down and the precious stones re-cut into smaller stones that would be nearly impossible to track back to the Louvre robbery.

Historical jewelry specialist a renowned expert, creator of the audio program about historical jewelry and was the famous fashion magazine's jewelry specialist for 20 years, stated the robbers had "carefully selected" the most significant gemstones from the institution's artifacts.

The "impressively sized flawless stones" will probably be extracted of their mountings and disposed of, she said, except for the headpiece of the historical figure which features less valuable pieces incorporated within it and was "too dangerous to handle," she explained.

This could explain the reason it was abandoned during the escape, together with one other item, and recovered by police.

The imperial headpiece which was stolen, has rare authentic pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

Although the artifacts are regarded as having immeasurable worth, the historian expects them could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They will go to buyers who is willing to take possession," she stated. "Many people will seek for these – the thieves will accept whatever price is offered."

What specific amount might they bring financially upon being marketed? Concerning the estimated price of the haul, the expert said the cut-up parts might value "several million."

The gems and taken gold might achieve approximately a significant sum (€11.52m; $13.4m), says an industry expert, managing director of an established company, an online jeweller.

The expert explained the gang must have a trained specialist to separate the jewels, and a skilled stone worker to modify the more noticeable pieces.

Minor components that were not easily identifiable might be marketed immediately and although difficult to estimate the specific worth of every gem removed, the bigger stones may amount to around a significant amount per stone, he noted.

"We know there are a minimum of four of that size, thus totaling all those pieces together with the gold components, one could estimate approaching the estimated figure," he said.

"The diamond and gemstone market has buyers and plenty of customers operate within gray markets that don't ask too many questions."

There are hopes that the items may be found intact one day – but those hopes are narrowing with each passing day.

There is a precedent – a historical showcase at the London museum displays an artifact stolen in 1948 which eventually returned in a sale many years after.

Without doubt is many in France are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, expressing an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily like jewellery since it represents a question of authority, and this isn't typically receive favorable interpretation within French culture," a jewelry authority, director of historical collections at established French company the historical business, explained