In an audacious raid on Sunday, thieves stole eight items of jewelry of what officials described as “incalculable” value from the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The gang targeted the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, which contains France’s historic collection of crown jewels.
The thieves also tried to steal the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife to Napoleon III, which features eight gold eagles, 1,354 diamonds, 1,136 rose-cut diamonds and 56 emeralds, but they left it behind after guards interrupted the raid.
These are the stolen items.
Tiara of Empress Eugénie
Empress Eugénie’s crown was displayed along with several other of her possessions such as this tiara, which features 212 pearls, 1,998 diamonds and 992 rose-cut diamonds.
Empress Eugénie decorative bow
The Empress also wore this glittering decorative bow featuring jeweled tassels. It was described as the centerpiece of a belt, although the Louvre’s website says there is no imagery of the finished item. The bow includes 2,438 diamonds and 196 rose-cut diamonds.
Empress Eugénie brooch
Other items in the Louvre that belonged to the Empress are diamond brooches, among them this piece from 1855. It is called a reliquary brooch, although the Louvre says that the diamond-clad item does not contain any spaces to house a holy relic.
Sapphire, tiara, necklace and earring
The Louvre says it is not known who commissioned or created a series of sapphire items kept in the gallery, which date from the early 19th century and were worn by, among others, Queen Hortense, wife of Louis Bonaparte and Queen Marie-Amélie, wife of Louis Philippe I.
The set includes this tiara featuring 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1,083 diamonds, as well as a necklace that includes eight sapphires, surrounded by diamonds in intricate gold settings, and a pair of sapphire earrings. Only one of the earrings was taken in the robbery, the French culture ministry said in a news release.
The set also originally included three brooches, a comb and two bracelets, and is a “precious testimony to Parisian jewelry,” the Louvre says on its website.
Parts of Napoleon’s emerald wedding gift set
This emerald and diamond necklace joined the Louvre’s collection only in 2004. It was originally given by Napoleon to Marie Louise, his second wife, for their marriage in 1810.
The necklace includes 32 emeralds, both pearl and lozenge shaped, as well as 1,138 diamonds.
The Louvre says that Napoleon ordered two sets of sumptuous jewelry to celebrate the marriage, including another set featuring opal and diamonds.
The Louvre’s set also includes a pair of emerald and diamond earrings, which the thieves also stole.
Alex Marshall is a Times reporter covering European culture. He is based in London.
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