88 million euros heist at Louvre Museum: Here’s what royal jewels were stolen

Historic royal jewels, including Napoleon’s gifts and Empress Eugénie’s tiara, stolen from the Louvre in Paris. Experts warn they could disappear forever. (Image: Reuters/AFP)

The Louvre Museum in Paris is home to some of the world’s most celebrated art — from Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the ancient Greek statue of Aphrodite to Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon. Beyond these star pieces, the museum houses countless treasures from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Islamic world, and European painting. But on October 19, 2025, the Louvre’s reputation as a sanctuary of history and legacy was shaken when eight priceless pieces of jewellery were stolen from its Galerie d’Apollon.

In less than seven minutes, a team of four disguised as construction workers smashed through high-security glass cases and made off with jewels valued at approximately 88 million euros. These were not just diamonds, emeralds, and pearls; they were tangible pieces of French history, each with centuries of royal and imperial significance.

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A Glimpse of Stolen Items:

Tiara, necklace, and earrings of Queen Hortense and Queen Marie-Amélie

Among the missing treasures were a tiara, necklace, and earrings that once belonged to Queen Hortense and Queen Marie-Amélie. Crafted in the early 19th century, these pieces symbolized elegance, influence, and the delicate diplomacy of royal courts.

The "parure de la reine Marie-Amelie et de la Reine Hortense" (set of jewelry of Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense) (Image: AFP)

Queen Hortense inherited them from her mother, Empress Joséphine, Napoleon I’s first wife, and some experts trace their origins even further, to Queen Marie Antoinette. “It really is a part of France's history,” said jewellery historian Vincent Meylan.

Emerald necklace and earrings gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to Marie-Louise

"Collier et boucles d'oreilles de la parure d'émeraudes de l'impératrice Marie-Louise" (necklace and earrings of the set of jewelry of Empress Marie-Louise) (Image: AFP)

Also taken was an emerald necklace and matching earrings gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, made by her official jeweller, François-Regnault Nitot. The deep green stones paired with sparkling diamonds captured both devotion and imperial grandeur.

Pearl-and-diamond tiara and diamond brooch of Empress Eugénie

The collection further included a pearl-and-diamond tiara and diamond brooch of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. Crafted by renowned jeweller Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier shortly after her marriage in 1853, the tiara was worn regularly at court and captured in official portraits.

A crown worn by French Empress Eugenie (Image: Reuters)

Pierre Branda, historian and scientific director of the Napoleon Foundation, told AFP, “This tiara is the one she wore almost daily at court and valued greatly.” Didier Rykner, editor-in-chief of La Tribune de l’Art, described these jewels as “exceptional works of art,” combining diamonds, pearls, and precious stones in spectacular compositions. While the crown of Empress Eugénie was abandoned during the escape, the other pieces were taken.

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‘Reliquary Brooch’

Completing the haul was the ‘Reliquary Brooch’, mounted in 1855 by Paul-Alfred Bapst. Featuring 94 diamonds — including two heart-shaped diamonds bequeathed to King Louis XIV by Cardinal Mazarin — it connects France’s religious and cultural heritage with its jewellers’ artistry.

According to France’s Ministry of Culture, these jewels have priceless heritage value. Meylan emphasized, “The correct term is unsellable. Reselling such catalogued and identifiable jewels in their current state would be impossible.” Experts warn that the historical pieces could be stripped down, with stones and pearls remounted into new jewellery. “If we don't find these jewels very quickly, they will disappear for sure,” Meylan added. “This is where treasure becomes priceless. We risk losing pieces of France's history.”