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Necklace of Napoleon’s second wife, Marie-Louise. Photo: Collected |
In a daring daylight robbery that has shocked France and the global art community, thieves stole a collection of priceless royal jewels from the world-renowned Louvre Museum in Paris. The heist occurred on Sunday morning (October 19) inside the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon, a historic hall built in 1661 by King Louis XIV.
According to European media reports, the thieves escaped with at least eight to nine invaluable pieces of jewelry—each holding immense historical and cultural significance. The targeted gallery houses the crowns and personal ornaments of French monarchs, making it one of the most secure and symbolically important sections of the Louvre.
Stolen Royal Jewels
Among the stolen treasures is a rare emerald necklace gifted by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, Marie-Louise, on the occasion of their marriage in 1810. The necklace features 32 emeralds and 1,138 diamonds, along with a matching pair of earrings—one of which is also missing.
Another missing item is a sapphire tiara that once belonged to France’s last queen, Marie-Amélie. The tiara, adorned with 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1,083 diamonds, was part of a matching jewelry set that included a necklace and earrings—one of which has also disappeared.
Also stolen was an exquisite pearl tiara owned by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. This tiara contained 212 pearls and nearly 3,000 diamonds. In addition, a diamond-studded belt with 2,400 stones and a white diamond brooch from 1855 were taken.
Interestingly, only one crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was found discarded outside the museum. The crown, encrusted with 56 emeralds and 1,354 diamonds, is currently under forensic examination.
The Operation: A Seven-Minute Heist
Authorities say the heist was executed with precision and professional planning. Around 9:30 a.m., before the museum’s official opening, several intruders entered through a window near the Seine River—an area under renovation at the time. Using hydraulic ladders and glass-cutting tools, they breached the window and made their way directly to the Galerie d’Apollon.
The entire operation reportedly lasted only seven minutes. The thieves smashed display vitrines, grabbed selected jewels, and escaped swiftly on two-wheeled vehicles.
Investigation Underway
France’s Interior Ministry confirmed that a full forensic investigation is underway, and a detailed inventory of the stolen items is being compiled. “These artifacts possess inconceivable historical value,” said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, emphasizing that investigators are working “with utmost urgency.”
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the robbery on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “an attack on our heritage, which we cherish because it represents our history.” He vowed to recover the stolen artifacts and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati was the first to disclose the heist publicly via social media, describing it as “a heartbreaking loss for France and the world.”
Meanwhile, police have labeled the operation as the work of a highly skilled and organized criminal group. Despite immediate security lockdowns, the culprits remain at large, and the missing treasures have yet to be located.