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Law enforcement in France are making every effort to recover extremely valuable treasures stolen from the Louvre Museum in a audacious daylight robbery, yet authorities caution it may already be too late to get them back.

At the heart of Paris on Sunday, robbers gained access to the world's most-visited museum, taking eight valued items then fleeing via motor scooters in a bold robbery that was completed in under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist stated publicly he suspects the stolen items may already be "already dismantled", once separated into numerous components.

It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France, several authorities have said.

Who May Be Behind the Theft

The thieves were professionals, as the detective stated, evidenced by the fact they were in and out of the Louvre so quickly.

"As you might expect, for an average individual, one doesn't just get up overnight thinking, I'm going to become a thief, and begin with the Louvre," he said.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he added. "They have done previous crimes. They are confident and they thought, we might get away with this plan, and took the chance."

As further evidence the expertise of the gang is treated as important, a specialist police unit with a "high success rate in solving major theft cases" has been given responsibility with finding them.

Law enforcement have said they suspect the robbery is connected to an organised crime network.

Sophisticated gangs such as these usually pursue two primary purposes, legal official Laure Beccuau stated. "Either they operate for the benefit of a sponsor, or to secure expensive jewelry to conduct illegal financial activities."

The expert believes it is extremely difficult to sell the items intact, and he explained commissioned theft for a private collector is a scenario that only happens in movies.

"No one desires to touch an item so hot," he elaborated. "You can't display it publicly, it cannot be passed to family, you cannot sell it."

Potential £10m Value

Mr Brand believes the objects are likely broken down and separated, including the gold and silver components melted and the jewels re-cut into smaller stones that could be virtually impossible to connect to the museum theft.

Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, host of the digital series about historical jewelry and previously served as Vogue magazine's jewelry specialist for two decades, told the BBC the robbers had "cherry-picked" the most important gemstones from the institution's artifacts.

The "impressively sized flawless stones" are expected to be dug out from their settings and sold, she noted, excluding the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which has smaller stones incorporated within it and proved to be "too dangerous to keep," she continued.

This could explain why it was dropped during the escape, together with one other item, and located by officials.

Empress Eugenie's tiara that disappeared, has rare natural pearls which command enormous prices, specialists confirm.

Although the artifacts are considered being priceless, the historian believes they could be marketed for a minimal part of their true price.

"They'll likely end up to individuals who is willing to acquire such items," she stated. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – they'll settle for whatever price is offered."

What specific amount could they fetch as payment if sold on? Concerning the possible worth of the stolen goods, Mr Brand said the separated elements could be worth "multiple millions."

The jewels and gold stolen could fetch as much as £10 million (€11.52m; thirteen million dollars), stated by an industry expert, senior official of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the perpetrators will require an experienced professional to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to modify the bigger identifiable gems.

Less noticeable gems that were not easily identifiable could be sold quickly and although difficult to tell the precise value of each piece removed, the bigger stones might value approximately half a million pounds each, he noted.

"There are no fewer than four comparable in size, therefore combining all of those up plus the gold components, you are probably approaching the estimated figure," he stated.

"The gemstone and luxury goods trade is active and there are many buyers within gray markets that don't ask too many questions."

Hope persists that the stolen goods may be found intact eventually – although such expectations are diminishing as the days pass.

There is a precedent – a jewelry display at the London museum features an item of jewellery previously stolen which eventually returned in a sale much later.

Without doubt is many in France are extremely upset by the Louvre heist, having felt a cultural bond to the jewels.

"French people don't always value gems because it's a question of privilege, and that doesn't necessarily receive favorable interpretation in France," a jewelry authority, director of historical collections at Parisian jewelry house the prestigious firm, said