The Louvre Jewelry Heist: What Happened, What Was Stolen, and Why It Matters

October 23, 2025

In a 7-minute daylight raid, thieves hit the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery. See what jewels were taken, who wore them, and past Louvre heists.

What happened (the fast version)

On Sunday, October 19, 2025, a small crew carried out a seven-minute daylight robbery daylight robbery at the Louvre museum in Paris. Using a vehicle-mounted ladder/furniture lift to reach a window of the Galerie d’Apollon (home of France’s historic Crown Jewels), the thieves smashed cases with power tools, grabbed select royal pieces, and fled. Police reported that four masked suspects were involved. The museum closed the following day while approximately 60 detectives have been assigned to the case. Crucially, the jewels are state-owned and uninsured as France self-insures national collections held on site. (Source: The Guardian, CNN, Le Monde)

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Broken window of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France on Sunday, October 19, 2025

The quick timeline

~9:30 a.m. : Thieves enter from the exterior of the Louvre via ladder/lift to a first/second-floor window into the Apollo Gallery. Power tools were used not only to break open the display cases but also threaten the security guards. (Source: The Guardian)
~7 minutes later: The crew exits and escapes (the latest reports suggest they fled on scooters/motorbikes). Some tools were dropped and left behind as well as one dropped crown. (The Guardian)
Oct 20: The Louvre remained closed as investigators combed the site; officials have acknowledged security lapses; the state confirms there was no commercial insurance on the stolen items. (The Guardian)

Deep dive: the stolen jewels (and who wore them)

The haul targeted Napoleonic-era and 19th century royal jewels, with as much history as carats.

The sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, including a tiara/diadem, a necklace and at least one earring). These were part of the 19th century royal sapphire parure associated with Marie-Amélie, wife of Louis-Philippe and and Hortense de Beauharnais (Napoleon’s step-daughter and mother of Napoleon III). Several elements from this set are confirmed missing. (Source: CBS News)

The stunning emerald necklaces and earrings of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon I’s second wife were indeed stolen. These iconic emerald-and-diamond pieces were often highlighted by the Louvre’s own Apollo Gallery texts. (Source: People.com)

Several pieces linked to Empress Eugénie (Napoleon III’s wife): a tiara/crown of diamonds and emeralds was attempted but was dropped and recovered at the scene. Other Eugénie jewels and a diamond brooch were among the targets. (Source: The Guardian)

The Crown Jewels of France (formerly) on display at the Louvre Museum

What wasn’t taken:

The legendary Regent diamond – the star of the French Crown Jewels—remains at the Louvre. (The Guardian)

Why the 48-hour chase mattered:

Recovery experts warned that stolen historic jewels can be quickly dismantled or recut, destroying provenance. The first 24-48 hours were critical. (Source: People.com)

Where these jewels live in the museum: the Galerie d’Apollon

The Apollo Gallery is Louis XIV’s sun-drenched, gilded showpiece. The Sun King famously associated himself with the God Apollo. Charles Le Brun, first painter to the king, was commissioned to design the decoration. He called on the finest artists to create it. The Galerie d’Apollon – the first royal gallery in France and would later become a 19th-century jewel box for the French Crown Jewels (including the Sancy, Hortensia, and Regent diamonds). It’s famously ornate… and, as critics have noted, not designed for modern security threats. (Le Louvre)

Details of the breathtaking Apollo Gallery in the Louvre Museum, Paris, France

Why the pieces weren’t insured

France self-insures national museum holdings on site; insuring the Louvre’s collection at market value would exceed available fine-art insurance capacity. After this theft, experts warned that loan agreements and security protocols for French institutions will face heavy scrutiny. (Source: Financial Times)

Has the Louvre been robbed before?

Short answer: yes—famously.

1911: The Mona Lisa disappears. Vincenzo Peruggia, a former Louvre worker, walked out with it under his coat; the painting returned in 1913, and the theft supercharged its fame. (Source: HISTORY)
1998: Corot’s Le Chemin de Sèvres stolen in daylight. Never recovered; it marked the last significant theft until 2025. (Source: TIME)

National Geographic has a good primer on the Louvre’s “daylight heists” lore. (Source: National Geographic)

The Top 10 Jewelry Heists on Screen (for your watchlist)

A little cinematic palate cleanser—scenes that shaped how we imagine jewel thefts:

“Rififi” (1955) — the 30-minute silent jewelry-shop break-in that defined the genre.
“To Catch a Thief” (1955) — Riviera cat burglar chic; Cary Grant & Grace Kelly at their sparkling best.
“Ocean’s 8” (2018) — the Cartier Toussaint necklace heist at the Met Gala.
“Lupin” (Netflix, 2021– ) — Episode 1’s Louvre necklace caper that re-ignited heist fever in Paris.
“Inside Man” (2006) — not jewels per se, but an airtight vault caper that set a bar for clever mechanics.
“The Pink Panther” (1963) — campy, iconic jewel-thief capers around the “Pink Panther” diamond.
“The Italian Job” (1969/2003) — gold, precision timing, and perfect getaway energy.
“Heat” (1995) — procedural heist intensity that influenced every caper after.
“The Thomas Crown Affair” (1999) — art heist adjacent, but the vibe belongs on any jewel-theft list.
“The Mastermind” (2025) — a fresh, character-driven twist on the museum-heist film.

If you’re visiting soon: what to know

Gallery status: The Galerie d’Apollon was temporarily closed for investigation; check the Louvre’s site or social channels for updates before you go.
Context while you wait: Read the Louvre’s own page on the gallery and the French Crown Jewels—great background before your next visit. (Le Louvre)