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| This image is all over the internet without a credit. I don’t claim ownership and will remove it if the owner requested it. The next 5 photos are from Getty Images. |
Well I didn’t plan to write another jewelry blog so soon, but the theft of the French Crown Jewels in the Apollo Gallery from the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning around 9:30 am is horrific to history and jewelry buffs, too horrific to ignore! The 8 pieces taken are priceless and irreplaceable. If not found before the supreme greed of criminals melt the treasured historical pieces down to remove their precious gemstones to sell on the black market, it would be a forever loss to the public. To humanity. To history. Am I overstating their loss? I think not! Oh please providence, a divine miracle, save them!!!Here is a closer look at the individual pieces missing:
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| The Emerald necklace and earrings made for Marie Louise, the 2nd wife of Napoleon Bonaparte (1804 -1814) |
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| The Pearl Tiara of Empress Eugénie, consort of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French (1852 - 1870) |
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| Known as the Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily Sapphire set, the tiara, necklace and an earring were stolen. They were also worn by Hortense of Beauharnais, who was the daughter of Josephine, the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte and the wife of Louis Bonaparte, making her the Queen of Holland. |
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Empress Eugénie’s Diamond Bow Brooch. Originally, it was the centerpiece of a belt composed of over 4,000 diamonds. |
According to the PBS News Hour, the hoist occurred in 4 minutes while tourists were also in the Apollo Gallery. Since the robbers knew where to place their ladder to climp up to and break a window before entering the Apollo Gallery, it would surprise no one if the theft turns out to be planned by an insider. I have no doubt the criminals will be caught. Sadly the fate of the French Crown Jewels is less certain. French Senator Nathalie Goulet stated that recovering the stolen crown jewels is unlikely. Speaking to the BBC, Goulet cited organized crime's involvement and predicted the pieces will be dismantled and sold to launder money. Other scenarios are being considered. If a collector paid professional thives to steal the crown jewels there’s hope they’ll remain in tact.
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A positive note: The criminals took but dropped the Crown of Empress Eugénie outside the Louvre where it was found damaged and will be repaired.
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| Empress Eugénie’s Reliquary Brooch, made by Alfred Bapst in 1855, was also later recovered. |
❤️🩹Dear France, we feel your pain.❤️🩹
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