Well, I did not foresee having to interrupt Women’s History Month for tragic historical news but I suppose 2025 just cannot help itself… (In an ironic twist, women’s history is still involved.) If you have not seen the news yet, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum and stole several irreplaceable artefacts.
2025 Louvre Museum Theft
As of writing (Sunday evening), there is a still a great deal of unknowns surrounding this theft.)
When?
In the morning of Sunday, 19 October 2025, several members of a criminal organisation broke into the Louvre Museum. They specifically targeted the Apollo Gallery, a sweeping gallery that has been home to the French Crown Jewels for nearly 150 years. The museum was closed after and remained closed for the rest of the day.
What?
Nine pieces of jewellery from the French Crown Jewels were originally stolen- two have been recovered but seven are still missing.
Empress Eugenie’s Pearl Tiara, the Orleans Sapphire Parure tiara, necklace, and earrings, Empress Eugenie’s Diamond Bow Brooch, the Diamond Reliquary Brooch, and Empress Marie-Louise’s Emerald Parure are all still unaccounted for.
Empress Eugenie’s Crown has been recovered, though it has sustained significant damage. A brooch has also been found but we do not know which one yet.
How?
Other than studying the gallery/museum prior to know exactly how to get to their target pieces, the gang used a lift to get up to the first floor (the second floor for us in North America), broke a window, and went directly to the glass cases to steal the pieces. Reports stated that the thieves tried to burn their car while they were leaving but were stopped by a staff member. (Thankfully- the lives that could have been lost had that happened.)
Why?
Other than being horrific humans, criminals typically target historic pieces of jewellery because they are easy to move. You can’t show up to an event wearing a stolen (and very well-known) tiara or brooch, but you can absolutely dismantle the piece and sell the very valuable jewels. It tends to make them a larger target than pieces of art that can’t be broken down.
♠
This is an immense loss for the Louvre, and for all of us. It is highly unlikely that we will see these pieces returned. Although they are not original French Crown Jewels, the pieces date back to the nineteenth century and represent a major period in French history.
If there are any updates on recovering the pieces or charges being laid, I will update this post.
Cheers,
The Historian
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