A manhunt is under way for the gang behind the daring daylight heist at Paris’ Louvre Museum, where eight priceless jewels were stolen on Oct 19.
The jewels have passed through the hands of some of the world’s richest and most infamous families, including a period when it belonged to one of America’s most famous socialites.
Here are the list of items that got snatched and why this heist has the internet spiralling:
1. The Diamond Tiara of Empress Eugénie
This tiara belonged to the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. It was decked out with nearly 2,000 diamonds.
2. The Iconic Diamond Bow Brooch
The antique diamond “bow brooch,” crafted by renowned jeweller François Kramer for Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was originally created as the buckle for a diamond belt comprising over 4,000 stones.
3. Marie-Louise’s Emerald Necklace
Napoleon himself gave this necklace to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, back in 1810. It had 32 emeralds and over 1,000 diamonds.
4. Marie-Louise’s Emerald Earrings
Matching the necklace were these stunning emerald earrings. Both disappeared in the heist.
5. Queen Marie-Amélie’s Sapphire Tiara
Royal sapphires? Check. Over a thousand diamonds? Double check. This one belonged to the last queen of France, Marie-Amélie and her family.
6. The Matching Sapphire Necklace
Part of the same set, this necklace had eight royal-blue sapphires, all surrounded by diamonds.
7. A Lone Sapphire Earring
Not a pair — the thieves took only one earring from the set, leaving its match behind.
8. The Reliquary Brooch
This piece was not just a brooch, but one designed to hold holy relics. It’s old, rare and sparkling with history.
Empress Eugénie’s Crown (Found but damaged)
During the escape, the thieves allegedly dropped this crown. The crown was worth millions, covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. It was found cracked but intact.
Why did this heist break the internet
It was not just a robbery but an art history chaos. The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa, got hit by what is being called one of the slickest museum thefts ever.
- The whole thing took less than seven minutes.
- The stolen items once sat on the heads and necks of literal royalty.
The museum is still closed while investigations were ongoing.