The morning in Paris began as usual - baguettes smelled, taxi drivers were nervous, and tourists tried to take photos by the pyramid, using the museum's facade as a backdrop for their "I was here" selfies. At 9:30, about half an hour after opening, four people staged the shortest art tour in history - a visit to the Galerie d'Apollon followed by a swift departure.
To say it was audacious would be an understatement. Imagine people in workwear who look like they forgot to take a break with a construction subcontractor, yet confidently know where the most shiny little things are kept. According to eyewitnesses, it took them just a few minutes to inventory the exhibition and disappear, leaving more questions than answers.
Some journalists that same day wrote about a "four-minute robbery," others about a "seven-minute treasure walk." In this article, we will stick to the arithmetic mean and call this event "seven and a bit," because seven sounds more dramatic, and "and a bit" sounds more humane.
Chronology of the Audacious Robbery of the Louvre on October 19, 2025
09:00 - The Louvre Museum opened, visitors began entering through the glass pyramid. Everything looked like a normal day.09:30 - A group of four people arrived from the direction of the Seine embankment. Two of them, in yellow vests, posed as municipal workers. They used a lift - a truck with a crane (parked on the Seine embankment near the main entrance, 180 meters from it, as part of restoration work on the building's facade).
09:32 - The lift was extended to a second-floor window of the Denon wing. The thieves entered through the window leading into the "Galerie d'Apollon" hall, cutting the glass with a construction tool.
09:33-09:37 - Within minutes, they smashed display cases and stole nine pieces of 19th-century jewelry art — diadems, necklaces, earrings, and brooches of the imperial family. The alarm went off, but the guards did not have time to react.
09:38 - The thieves descended via the lift, where two accomplices on scooters met them.
09:40 - The group disappeared along the Quai François Mitterrand, heading towards the south of Paris.
09:44 - Along the way, one of the bags fell or was discarded: this is where the crown of Empress Eugénie, damaged from the impact, was later found.
09:45 - The museum blocked entrances, evacuation began.
10:10 - The first police units arrived on the scene.
Later that day, museum staff and experts began assessing the damage, and by evening, Interpol had already listed the stolen items in its database of stolen works of art.
What Was Stolen
| No. | Item | Description | Value (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diadem from the sapphire set of Marie-Amélie / Hortense de Beauharnais | An elegant tiara, inlaid with sapphires and diamonds. Worn at the court of Louis-Philippe. One of the symbols of the 19th-century French monarchy. | 10,000,000 – 18,000,000 |
| 2 | Necklace from the same sapphire set | A necklace with eight large sapphires and 631 diamonds. One of the jewels of the "Galerie d'Apollon" exhibition. | 18,000,000 – 30,000,000 |
| 3 | Earrings from the Marie-Amélie / Hortense set | Drop earrings with sapphires and diamonds, forming a set with the necklace and diadem. | 1,000,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 4 | Emerald necklace of Marie-Louise (wife of Napoleon I) | An antique necklace with emeralds, belonging to Empress Marie-Louise. One of the most valuable exhibits. | 18,000,000 – 30,000,000 |
| 5 | Earrings from the emerald set of Marie-Louise | A pair of earrings from the emerald set, made by masters at the court of Napoleon I. | 1,000,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 6 | Tiara of Eugénie de Montijo (Empress of France) | Empress Eugénie's tiara, adorned with pearls and diamonds, considered one of the most famous in France. | 30,000,000 – 45,000,000 |
| 7 | Bow brooch of Eugénie | A brooch made of white gold and diamonds, shaped like a bow. Worn together with the tiara. | 1,000,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 8 | Crown of Empress Eugénie (damaged) | A crown with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. Found damaged on the street after the thieves' escape. | 8,000,000 – 15,000,000 |
| 9 | Small jewelry elements | Smaller insert jewelry, buttons, and brooches, whose catalog numbers have not yet been published. | 5,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
Note: Figures are approximate and based on public estimates from experts and the prosecutor; historical and cultural value is significantly higher.
What Damage Did the Robbers Cause?
The prosecutor's office and media in recent days cite a total estimate of the stolen goods at around $100–102 million, which roughly coincides with estimates in the range of €88–102 million (varies due to USD/EUR exchange rate and source). We have distributed this amount among the items, considering: the rarity of the stones (large sapphires, many diamonds), historical importance (belonging to empresses/queens), and reports of damage (e.g., Eugénie's crown found damaged). Historical/cultural value is often priceless and not fully reflected in the monetary estimate - hence the wide ranges.Escape Route Scheme
The criminals' route ran from the southern Denon wing to the Seine embankment, then along the Quai François Mitterrand, where their trail is lost in the streets towards the southern districts of Paris. The spot where the bag with Empress Eugénie's crown fell was found along the way.Reaction and Investigation
Interpol and French police have launched an international investigation. Art crime specialists have been involved. The Louvre temporarily closed several halls.The museum director testified in parliament, explaining why the alarm and patrols failed to react in time.
Painter Louis Hersent. Queen of France Marie-Amélie (wife of King Louis-Philippe). The painting clearly shows items from Queen Hortense's parure (necklace and earrings), which were stolen in 2025 (Source: Wikipedia):
The French Ministry of Culture called this event "an attack on national heritage".
Consequences for the Museum System
Immediately after the robbery, France announced a review of the security systems of all major museums. The Louvre began installing new sensors and thermal cameras.The global museum community expressed support, noting that such audacious raids show the vulnerability of even the most protected collections.
The stolen jewelry remains internationally wanted. Their total value is estimated at approximately 100 million US dollars.
Summary
On October 19, 2025, the Louvre became the scene of the most high-profile theft of the last decade. In less than seven minutes, thieves made off with symbols of the French crown, leaving behind only broken glass and a question: how could priceless relics disappear in the heart of Paris?We can only hope that the story will end with the masterpieces returning to where they belong - in the Galerie d'Apollon.
Related news: Telegram messenger founder Pavel Durov stated that he is not surprised by the robbery of the French Louvre. He expressed readiness to buy the stolen jewels and transfer them to the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Link.
Sources
- BBC News — «Louvre heist: Priceless French crown jewels stolen in daring daylight robbery» (20.10.2025)
- Le Monde — «Vol spectaculaire au Louvre: enquête internationale en cours» (19.10.2025)
- Associated Press — «Thieves escape with 100 million USD in jewels from Louvre Museum» (20.10.2025)
- Reuters — «French police recover damaged crown of Empress Eugénie after heist» (21.10.2025)
- Interpol Official Database — Stolen Works of Art Notice (22.10.2025)
- France24 — «How the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery became a target for 21st-century thieves» (22.10.2025)
PS: Awaiting the Hollywood adaptation starring Jason Statham.
