Editor’s Note
The audacious theft of priceless Crown Jewels from the Louvre exposes more than a security failure; it highlights the opaque vulnerabilities of the global gem trade. As our report details, the lack of robust traceability for high-value stones creates a shadow market where such iconic treasures can seemingly vanish.
The Stolen Crown Jewels
Eight Crown Jewels were stolen from the Louvre on October 19, valued at 88 million euros. While the loot remains missing, gemologist and forensic expert Nathalie Abbou Vidal reveals the flaws in a market where the traceability of stones remains fragile.
Can the Origin of the Jewels Be Erased by Recutting?
“You can modify their cut and weight, which makes identification difficult. But you cannot remove the embedded impurities, which we call inclusions. They are part of the stone’s identity card. If a diamond dealer possesses the identity card of the stolen stones and finds one of them in their hands, they can recognize them.”
“For now, the Louvre has not made these cards public. Even I, without the card, would have difficulty detecting the origin of a stolen diamond, removed from its setting and recut on a ring, if it were presented to me for analysis.”
How is This Identity Card Established?
“Today, whenever a precious stone exceeds one carat and is intended for resale, evaluation in an accredited laboratory is almost mandatory. Only it can distinguish synthetic diamonds from natural diamonds, which sell for much more. It also allows for determining the country of origin.”
“Unfortunately, the French gemology laboratory informed me that the stones stolen from the Louvre had not been examined in laboratories. These analyses are expensive, and the state did not have them done.”
The Economic Disincentive to Recut
“Because I don’t see the economic interest. The value of the stones drops considerably if you dismantle the jewelry. These eight stolen jewels belong to the Crown Jewels of France and are marvels in their current state.”
“Look at the Empress Eugénie’s large corsage bow or the sapphire parure of Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense: it’s their overall beauty, more than the intrinsic value of the stones, that determines their price.”
“But who could possibly buy them? Large stones like those from the Louvre cannot be resold without laboratory authentication. A diamond dealer is responsible under the law: receiving stolen goods is punishable by a fine of 375,000 euros and five years in prison.”
“Furthermore, if you reduce the weight of the stones, you will cause them to lose a lot of value. But it’s true that some are priceless, like the pearls from Empress Eugénie’s diadem. They are natural, from the depths of the sea. You can no longer find such quality: the seas are too polluted, and natural pearls have been replaced by cultured pearls.”
Potential Motives and the Fate of the Jewels
“Yes, it’s possible. The stones could also be sold on a black market abroad. But I don’t know these channels. Personally, I would lean more towards a heist commissioned by a collector in search of extraordinary jewelry. Or by a country seeking to tarnish France’s image.”
“This theft has international significance. The whole world is mocking us. I have received interview requests from an American TV station and an Australian TV station. I prefer to imagine this hypothesis, which would preserve the jewels, rather than that of scoundrels who would recut the stones in shady little workshops…”
“Alas, it’s a possibility. When you take such great risks to steal the Crown Jewels, it implies careful planning. Today, I pray that they are found. This theft has shocked me deeply. I cried over it, as much as for the Notre-Dame fire. Because it touches the history of our country.”