The Louvre, the world's most iconic museum, remained closed Monday after thieves stole priceless treasures from the Apollon Gallery, the home of the French crown jewels. In a daring daytime heist Sunday, the thieves made off with eight pieces, but dropped one as they made their escape.
Here's what the robbers got away with
The Empress Eugenie's tiara is exhibited at the Louvre Museum on April 27, 2025 in Paris. It's one of the priceless items stolen in a daytime heist on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.
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The Pearl and Diamond Tiara was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III to celebrate his marriage to Eugénie de Montijo in 1853, according to Tatler. The piece features 212 pearls and nearly 2,000 diamonds.
The Empress Eugenie Brooch, an antique diamond bow brooch, sits on display during a media preview at Christie's in New York, on April 11, 2008. The brooch was later purchased by the Louvre Museum for $10.7 million.
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The brooch seen above was originally the center of a belt made up of more than 4,000 stones belonging to the Crown Diamonds that was placed on display at the Universal Exhibition of 1855. It was later worn at least twice by Empress Eugenie, according to the Louvre's website.
A sapphire tiara, necklace and single earring worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense was stolen from this jewelry set at the Louvre on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.
The Louvre
A sapphire tiara, necklace and single earring worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense were stolen from the Louvre on Sunday. Some have speculated that the set may have once belonged to Marie Antoinette.
The necklace and earrings of the set of jewelry of Empress Marie-Louise is displayed at Apollon's Gallery on Jan. 14, 2020 at the Louvre.
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An emerald necklace and earrings stolen Sunday were originally a wedding gift from Napoleon to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise of Austria, in 1810.
A diamond-encrusted brooch, pictured here, was originally made for the Empress Eugenie. It was among the treasures stolen from the Louvre on Oct. 19, 2025.
The Louvre
This diamond-encrusted brooch was originally made for the Empress Eugenie, according to the Louvre's website. The brooch is made from both diamond and gold.
The crown of Empress Eugenie was discovered outside the museum
Crown of the Empress Eugenie is seen in this file photo from the Louvre. It was apparently dropped outside the museum by thieves during their getaway on Oct. 19, 2025.
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The crown of Empress Eugenie was found outside the museum. The thieves apparently dropped the piece, made of gold, emerald and diamonds, as they made their getaway.
Officials say the robbers broke in using a crane-type lift to reach an upper window, smashed the glass of the display cases to grab the jewels, and then escaped on motorcycles or scooters. Tourists were inside at the time, but no one was injured.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati called the robbery the work of "professionals" who got in and out in just minutes.
French police officers stand next to a crane-lift used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum and steal items from the gallery holding crown jewels on Oct. 19, 2025.
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