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Law enforcement in France are desperate to retrieve extremely valuable treasures taken from the Louvre Museum in a audacious daytime heist, yet authorities caution it may already be past the point of recovery to save them.

At the heart of Paris over the weekend, burglars gained access to the most popular museum globally, making off with eight cherished pieces then fleeing via motor scooters in a daring heist that was completed in eight minutes.

International art investigator an expert in the field expressed his view he feared the artifacts could be "dispersed", having been broken up into many fragments.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels will be sold for a mere percentage of their value and illegally transported from the country, several authorities have said.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The group are experienced criminals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the way they managed through the museum of the Louvre so quickly.

"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, one doesn't just get up in the morning planning, I should become a burglar, let's start with the world-famous museum," he noted.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've carried out previous crimes. They're self-assured and they believed, it might work out with this, and went for it."

In another sign the expertise of the group is treated as important, an elite police team with a "strong track record in solving major theft cases" has been tasked with finding them.

Authorities have indicated they suspect the theft is linked to an organised crime network.

Organised crime groups such as these usually pursue two objectives, French prosecutor a senior official stated. "Either they operate working for a client, or to acquire valuable gems to carry out illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it would be extremely difficult to market the jewels intact, and he said stealing-to-order for a private collector is something that typically occurs in Hollywood films.

"Nobody wants to handle an item so identifiable," he explained. "It cannot be shown to your friends, you cannot leave it to heirs, it cannot be sold."

Estimated £10m Price Tag

The expert thinks the stolen items will be taken apart and broken up, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the gems divided into less recognizable pieces that would be extremely difficult to connect to the museum theft.

Historical jewelry specialist Carol Woolton, creator of the podcast focusing on gemstones and previously served as the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, explained the robbers had "carefully selected" the most significant treasures from the institution's artifacts.

The "magnificent perfect gems" would likely be dug out of their mountings and sold, she said, except for the headpiece of the historical figure which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and proved to be "too hot to keep," she added.

This might account for why they left it behind as they got away, together with a second artifact, and located by officials.

Empress Eugenie's tiara that was taken, features exceptionally uncommon organic pearls which have a very large value, specialists confirm.

While the items are regarded as being priceless, the historian anticipates they could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They're destined to buyers who is willing to acquire such items," she explained. "Everyone will be looking for these – they'll settle for any amount available."

The precise value could they fetch financially when disposed of? Regarding the potential value of the stolen goods, the detective stated the separated elements might value "many millions."

The gems and taken gold might achieve approximately ten million pounds (€11.52m; millions in US currency), says Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, an internet-based gem dealer.

He told the BBC the gang will require an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and a professional diamond cutter to alter the bigger identifiable gems.

Smaller stones that were harder to trace would be disposed of right away and while it was hard to tell the exact price of all the stones taken, the larger ones could be worth around £500,000 for individual pieces, he explained.

"Reports indicate no fewer than four comparable in size, thus totaling each of them along with the precious metal, it's likely approaching £10m," he said.

"The diamond and gemstone market has buyers and there are many buyers in less regulated areas that don't ask too many questions."

Hope persists that the artifacts may be found in original condition in the future – but those hopes are narrowing with each passing day.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the London museum displays an item of jewellery previously stolen which eventually returned in an auction much later.

What is certain is many in France are deeply shocked by the Louvre heist, demonstrating a personal connection to the jewels.

"There isn't always appreciate jewelry because it's a matter concerning power, and which doesn't always receive favorable interpretation within French culture," a heritage expert, curatorial leader at French jeweller Maison Vever, explained