Louvre Jewel Thieves Face Tough Sell on the Black Market
Stolen high-value royal jewels from the Louvre are difficult to sell publicly, leaving black markets or dismantling as primary options.Summary
The royal jewelry stolen from the Louvre Museum, valued officially at about 15.5 billion yen (88 million euros), is now difficult to appraise because the high-profile theft makes the items impossible to sell or wear publicly. Thieves face a difficult path: either selling them on the black market at steep discounts or dismantling and melting down the gold and precious stones. However, Paris prosecutors noted that selling the approximately 9,000 individual gems would not recoup the full value. Experts suggest that stones might be recut to obscure their identity, though some speculate the theft might have been commissioned. Art crime specialists observe a trend where high-value jewelry, rather than paintings, is increasingly targeted in museum heists. Furthermore, stolen items can sometimes be used as 'bargaining chips' by criminal organizations. The French authorities are focused on recovering the jewels in their complete form.
(Source：Bloomberg.co.jp)