France’s Ministry of Culture has confirmed the theft of eight historically invaluable 19th-century royal jewels from the Louvre Museum, dealing a significant blow to the nation’s cultural heritage amid fears they could be dismantled and disappear without a trace.
The priceless artifacts, once belonging to French royalty and imperial rulers, were stolen from two secure display cases within the museum’s renowned Apollo Gallery. The ministry confirmed the theft on October 20, 2025.
Art theft expert Anthony Amore cautioned that the true value of the items extends far beyond their monetary worth, representing an irreplaceable part of France’s national cultural heritage.
Mr. Amore, co-author of “Stealing Rembrandts: The Untold Stories of Notorious Art Heists,” expressed concern to Al Jazeera that unlike stolen paintings, these jewels could be broken down. Individual gems might then be sold, making them virtually impossible to trace back to their origin.
The stolen collection includes a crown and a sapphire necklace from the jewelry sets of Queens Marie Amelie and Hortense, along with a single sapphire earring from the same collection.
Also taken were an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings that belonged to Empress Marie-Louise, the consort of Emperor Napoleon I.
The thieves also made off with an ancient piece known as the “Reliquary brooch.”
Two significant items from Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, were also among the loot: her crown and another large brooch.