Louvre Jewel Heist Faces Slim Payday

Turning stolen glory into cash may prove elusive. After a brazen Louvre heist—thieves slipped in through a window, shattered antique glass and fled with nine pieces—the French government valued the haul at about $102 million, but only if intact. Paris jeweler Stephen Portier says ripping stones from their settings could slash value by 90%. With dealers on alert and minute stone “DNA” descriptions, fencing even tiny old-cut diamonds or large pearls is risky. The robbers dropped Empress Eugenie’s crown; why they tried at all, Portier says, is a “good question.”

Reviewed by JQJO team

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