In a daring heist on October 19 of last year, thieves infiltrated the Louvre in Paris and made away with jewels valued at approximately $102 million. Among the items taken was the crown of Empress Eugénie, which was accidentally damaged during the escape. This exquisite crown, adorned with diamonds and emeralds, is now set to undergo a meticulous restoration process before it is displayed again in the museum's Galerie d'Apollon.
The crown was initially seized by judicial police as part of their investigation and was transferred to the Louvre's decorative arts department the following day. Olivier Gabet, the director, along with deputy director Anne Dion, conducted a thorough assessment and found that the crown had suffered significant damage.
The lightweight and flexible design of the crown made it particularly vulnerable. It was discovered that an angle grinder was used to cut through its glass display case, but the thieves struggled to extract the crown due to the narrow opening. During this process, one of the crown's arched hoops broke off, and further impacts caused additional damage. Four out of the eight decorative palmettes had come loose, and one of the gold eagles was missing.
Despite these setbacks, conservators noted several positive aspects; all 65 emeralds were intact, and only 10 of the 1,354 diamonds along the base were missing. The central diamond and emerald globe remained unharmed, indicating that restoration is feasible.
Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III in 1855 for the "Universal Exhibition," the crown was created by jeweler Alexandre Gabriel Lemonnier in collaboration with sculptor François Gilbert. Although Empress Eugénie was never crowned, her diadem is one of only three remaining crowns of French rulers in France, entering the Louvre's collection in 1988.
The museum has initiated a public bidding process to select a qualified conservator, adhering to France's Heritage Code and Public Procurement Code. An advisory committee, led by Louvre director Laurence des Cars, will oversee the restoration efforts.
The theft continues to resonate culturally, recently highlighted during Schiaparelli's couture show in Paris, which featured reimagined versions of the stolen jewels. While police have tracked the jewels to a suburban parking garage and arrested four suspects, the missing treasures remain unfound.