Louvre heist: Ministry reveals 8 royal jewels stolen by chainsaw-wielding robbers

The Ministry of Culture has revealed which eight priceless treasures the chainsaw-wielding robbers snatched from the Louvre.

Two high-security display cases in the Apollo Gallery of the museum were targeted. This specific display is home to the royal collection of gems and crown diamonds.

The eight items stolen were:

Tiara from the matching set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense

The stolen tiara which is part of a matching set. (Picture: Département des Objets d’art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes)

The tiara is composed of five articulated elements, each topped with a large sapphire.

There is a total of 24 sapphires, ten of which are very small, and one thousand eighty-three diamonds.

This tiara has been modified over time and was worn successively by Queen Hortense, Queen Marie-Amélie, and Isabelle of Orléans.

It remained in the Orléans family until 1985 but its origins remain mysterious. Both the commissioner and the maker are unknown, but this ensemble is a precious testament to Parisian jewellery.

Necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense

The stolen necklace which is part of a matching set. (Picture: Département des Objets d’art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes)

The necklace is composed of eight sapphires of varying sizes and 631 diamonds.

All the links of the necklace are articulated, revealing the great technical perfection of this ensemble.

Earring, from a pair of the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense

The stolen sapphire earrings that are part of the same set as the above tiara and necklace
(Picture: Musée du Louvre)

Each earring has a button composed of a small sapphire surrounded by diamonds, a pendant with a sapphire briolette surrounded by brilliants; fifty-nine diamonds.

Emerald necklace from the set of Marie-Louise

The emerald necklace was gifted to Marie-Louise by Napoleon for their wedding. (Picture: Musée du Louvre)

The complete set was presented by Napoleon to Marie-Louise on the occasion of their wedding, delivered at the end of March 1810.

It included a tiara, a necklace, a pair of earrings and a comb.

The necklace is composed of 32 emeralds, including 10 pear-shaped ones, 1,138 diamonds, including 874 brilliant-cut and 264 rose-cut.

There are ten large emeralds, alternately oval or lozenge-shaped, encircled by diamonds which are joined by palmettes setting a small round emerald.

Each of the large emeralds is suspended by a pear-shaped emerald encircled by diamonds. The central emerald (13.75 metric carats), oval in shape, is cut with eight sides.

Pair of emerald earrings from the set of Marie-Louise

Marie-Louise’s emerald earrings that are now missing after the Louvre robbery.(Picture: Département des Objets d’art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes)

These were a part of the wedding set gifted to Marie-Louise by Napoleon for their wedding.

The earrings feature two pear-shaped emeralds (45.20 carats), four other emeralds, and 108 diamonds.

The reliquary brooch

The reliquary brooch which has a total of 94 diamonds on it. (Picture: Département des Objets d’art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes)

The brooch is a rosette formed of seven diamonds surrounding a solitaire with a total of 94 diamonds. The reverse side is chiseled with scrolls and leaves.

Its style can be described as historicist.

Since the sale of the Crown Diamonds in 1887, the phrase ‘reliquary’ has been associated with the brooch – it is also engraved on the attachment pin.

Tiara of Empress Eugénie

The missing tiara of Empress Eugenie that adorns 212 pearls. (Picture: Département des Objets d’art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes)

The tiara is composed of seven stems of three large superimposed pearls alternating eight pelt-shaped cartouches, topped with a pear and diamond foliage.

In total, there are 212 pearls including 17 pears, 1998 diamonds and 992 roses.

Large bow corsage of Empress Eugénie (brooch)

The bow brooch was originally part of a belt worn by Empress Eugenie. (Picture: Département des Objets d’art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes)

The bow with two loops and folded sides is completed with two braids of unequal lengths finished with tassels of passementerie with articulated fringes.

A total of 2,438 diamonds and 196 roses.

This bow originally formed the center of a belt initially composed of more than 4,000 stones belonging to the Diamonds of the Crown, to be exhibited, among other sets, at the Universal Exhibition of 1855, and then to be worn by Empress Eugénie.

No drawing or photographic document of this belt has been found, although testimonies attest that Eugénie wore it at least twice: for the reception held at the Palace of Versailles for the visit of Queen Victoria on August 25, 1855, and then for the reception held at the Hôtel de Ville for the christening of the Prince Imperial on June 14, 1856.

However, by 1864, the sovereign had given up wearing this imposing jewel and wanted to keep only the bow as a bodice brooch, whose cascade of ribbons and tassels would descend to the waist.

The extremely skilful setting gave great flexibility to the bow and tassels, making the stones sparkle with the slightest movement.

The alarms on the two targeted display cases were triggered which is when five museum workers immediately intervened to apply security protocol, according to the press release.

The Ministry of Culture said in a statement: ‘Thanks to the professionalism and rapid response of the Louvre officers, the criminals were put to flight, leaving behind their equipment and one of the stolen objects, namely the crown of Empress Eugenie, the condition of which is under examination.

‘An attempt to set fire to the mechanical vehicle used by the criminals was prevented thanks to the intervention of a Louvre Museum officer.

‘The Minister of Culture would like to thank the Louvre Museum officers for their responsiveness and great professionalism.’

The four robbers who escaped with eight pieces of ‘priceless’ jewellery from the Louvre museum in Paris are still on the run.

The gang dressed in hi-vis jackets rode a basket lift up the Louvre ‘s facade, forced a window open before smashing into display cases and fleeing with priceless Napoleonic jewels.

The four-minute heist took place just after opening, with visitors already inside.

Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced police were now hunting four suspects from the gang who had apparently disguised themselves as construction workers.

The four men had their faces ‘covered’ and fled the iconic art gallery ‘on high-powered scooters,’ the magistrate told BFMTV.