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French authorities are urgently trying to retrieve priceless gemstones stolen from the Louvre in a daring daylight robbery, but experts have warned it might be too late to get them back.

In Paris on Sunday, burglars gained access to the top tourist attraction worldwide, making off with eight cherished pieces then fleeing via motor scooters in a bold robbery that was completed in eight minutes.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the artifacts are likely "long gone", once separated into hundreds of parts.

It is highly likely the stolen jewels may be disposed of for a small part of their true price and illegally transported from French territory, several authorities indicated.

Potential Suspects Behind the Robbery

The group are experienced criminals, Mr Brand believes, shown by the speed with which they got inside and outside of the museum so quickly.

"Realistically speaking, as a normal person, people don't suddenly decide one day planning, I should become a thief, and begin with the Louvre," he explained.

"This likely isn't their initial robbery," he said. "They've carried out things before. They feel certain and they believed, we might get away with this, and proceeded."

As further evidence the expertise of the gang is being taken seriously, a dedicated task force with a "strong track record in resolving major theft cases" has been given responsibility with finding them.

Police officials have said they think the robbery relates to a criminal organization.

Criminal organizations like these typically have two primary purposes, Paris prosecutor the prosecutor stated. "Either to act for the benefit of a sponsor, or to obtain valuable gems to conduct financial crimes."

The detective suggests it is extremely difficult to sell the items intact, and he said commissioned theft for a private collector is a scenario that mainly exists in movies.

"No one desires to handle an artifact so hot," he explained. "It cannot be shown publicly, it cannot be passed to heirs, you cannot sell it."

Possible £10m Price Tag

Mr Brand believes the artifacts are likely broken down and separated, along with gold elements and silver components melted and the precious stones cut up into smaller components that will be nearly impossible to connect to the Louvre robbery.

Jewellery historian Carol Woolton, creator of the podcast focusing on gemstones and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's gemstone expert for two decades, stated the perpetrators had "cherry-picked" the most important treasures from the Louvre's collection.

The "beautiful large perfect gems" are expected to be extracted from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she said, with the exception of the crown from Empress Eugénie which contains smaller gems set in it and was considered "too hot to handle," she continued.

This could explain why they left it behind during the escape, along with a second artifact, and located by officials.

The imperial headpiece that was taken, has rare natural pearls which command enormous prices, authorities indicate.

While the items have been described as being priceless, the historian expects them could be marketed for a small percentage of their value.

"They will go to buyers who is willing to take possession," she said. "Everyone will be looking for the stolen goods – the thieves will accept any amount available."

What specific amount could they fetch as payment if sold on? Concerning the estimated price of the stolen goods, the detective said the separated elements could be worth "multiple millions."

The gems and taken gold might achieve approximately ten million pounds (over eleven million euros; $13.4m), says a jewelry specialist, managing director of a prominent jeweler, an internet-based gem dealer.

He stated the thieves must have a trained specialist to extract the stones, and an expert gem cutter to change the more noticeable pieces.

Less noticeable gems that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of right away and despite challenges to tell the exact price of each piece removed, the bigger stones may amount to around half a million pounds for individual pieces, he noted.

"Reports indicate a minimum of four of that size, thus totaling each of them along with the precious metal, you are probably coming close to ten million," he concluded.

"The gemstone and gemstone market has buyers and plenty of customers operate on the fringes that avoid questioning regarding sources."

There are hopes that the artifacts may be found intact one day – but those hopes are fading with each passing day.

Similar cases have occurred – a historical showcase at the V&A Museum features a piece of jewelry stolen in 1948 that later resurfaced in an auction several decades later.

Without doubt includes the French public are extremely upset by the Louvre heist, expressing an emotional attachment with the artifacts.

"French people don't always appreciate jewelry because it's an issue of authority, and which doesn't always carry positive associations within French culture," Alexandre Leger, curatorial leader at Parisian jewelry house the historical business, said