Jewel thieves of various kinds and colours through the centuries

Louvre Heist reminds us of eastern artefacts stolen by the West

By Anjan Roy

One of the most iconic museums of the world, the Louvre in Paris, has been looted by an organised gang of thieves who got away with priceless crown jewels of nineteenth century France.

The items stolen would provide a list of most coveted jewellery in the world, worth not only millions, the latest estimate being around $102 million. But they would be irreplaceable historical pieces. The jewels were worn by the French royals in the nineteenth century, when the French aristocracy and elites were at the pinnacle of their glory and power.

Diamonds and emeralds studded, with intricate craftsmanship of the leading creators of jewellery in Europe, these were beauties of their times and a wonder in present times.

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