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Police in France are urgently trying to retrieve irreplaceable treasures stolen from the Louvre in a daring broad daylight theft, although specialists are concerned it might be past the point of recovery to recover them.

Within the French capital on Sunday, robbers gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, stealing eight cherished pieces before escaping via motor scooters in a bold robbery that was completed in under ten minutes.

Dutch art detective a renowned specialist told the BBC he feared the artifacts could be "long gone", having been broken up into numerous components.

Experts suggest the pieces may be disposed of for a small part of their true price and smuggled out of the country, additional specialists have said.

Possible Culprits Behind the Theft

The perpetrators acted professionally, as the detective stated, evidenced by the speed with which they got through the museum of the Louvre with such efficiency.

"You know, for regular people, people don't suddenly decide overnight planning, I'm going to become a burglar, and begin with the world-famous museum," he explained.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he continued. "They've committed other burglaries. They're self-assured and they thought, it might work out with this attempt, and took the chance."

In another sign the professionalism of the gang is treated as important, an elite police team with a "proven effectiveness in resolving significant crimes" has been tasked with finding them.

Police officials have said they believe the robbery is linked to a sophisticated gang.

Organised crime groups like these typically have two main goals, legal official the prosecutor said. "Either to act for the benefit of a client, or to obtain valuable gems to conduct illegal financial activities."

Mr Brand thinks it would be highly unlikely to sell the items as complete pieces, and he explained targeted robbery for a private collector is a scenario that mainly exists in movies.

"Few people wish to acquire a piece this recognizable," he stated. "You can't display it publicly, you can't bequeath it to heirs, there's no market for it."

Estimated £10m Worth

The detective suggests the objects will be dismantled and separated, along with gold elements and silver melted down and the precious stones cut up into smaller stones that will be virtually impossible to trace back to the museum theft.

Gemstone expert Carol Woolton, creator of the podcast If Jewels Could Talk and was the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for 20 years, explained the perpetrators had "specifically chosen" the most valuable gemstones from the institution's artifacts.

The "beautiful large exquisite jewels" are expected to be removed from the jewelry pieces and sold, she noted, excluding the headpiece of Empress Eugénie which features less valuable pieces incorporated within it and proved to be "too dangerous to handle," she added.

This potentially clarifies why it was dropped while fleeing, together with a second artifact, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece that disappeared, features exceptionally uncommon natural pearls which are incredibly valuable, experts say.

Although the artifacts are regarded as being beyond valuation, Ms Woolton expects them will be disposed of for a small percentage of their value.

"They will go to buyers who is willing to take possession," she said. "Many people will seek for the stolen goods – they'll settle for any amount available."

The precise value could they fetch financially if sold on? When asked about the possible worth of the stolen goods, the expert said the cut-up parts may amount to "many millions."

The jewels and removed precious metal could fetch up to ten million pounds (millions in euros; millions in US currency), stated by an industry expert, senior official of an established company, a digital jewelry retailer.

He stated the thieves must have a skilled expert to separate the jewels, and an expert gem cutter to change the bigger identifiable gems.

Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized might be marketed quickly and while it was hard to tell the specific worth of every gem removed, the more significant gems might value around £500,000 for individual pieces, he said.

"Reports indicate at least four that large, thus totaling all those pieces up plus the gold components, it's likely reaching £10m," he said.

"The jewelry and precious stone industry is active and plenty of customers operate in less regulated areas that avoid questioning about origins."

Some optimism remains that the items might resurface in original condition eventually – although such expectations are narrowing with each passing day.

There is a precedent – the Cartier exhibition at the cultural institution displays a piece of jewelry taken decades ago before reappearing in an auction many years after.

What is certain is many in France are extremely upset about the museum robbery, demonstrating a cultural bond with the artifacts.

"We don't necessarily appreciate jewelry because it's a matter concerning authority, and this isn't typically carry positive associations among French people," a heritage expert, head of heritage at French jeweller the historical business, said