Speculation grows around whether the Louvre's stolen jewels could end up on the market

"A handful of experts warn that the artifacts valued at more than $100 million (88 million euros) could soon - if not already - be melted or broken into parts. If done successfully, some say those smaller pieces could later go up for sale as part of a new necklace, earrings or other jewelry, without turning too many heads."

""You don't even have to put them on a black market, you just put them in a jewelry store," said Erin Thompson, an art crime professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York."

""By breaking them apart, they will hide their theft," Marinello said, adding that these items could become even more "traceless" if they're taken out of France and through jewel cutters and robust supply chains in other countries."

Stolen royal jewels from the Louvre may be melted or dismantled to hide provenance and enable sale. Smaller components can be recut into new necklaces, earrings or other jewelry and offered through legitimate stores, reducing visibility. Dismantling removes historical value and typically yields only a fraction of the original worth. Selling intact high-profile pieces is difficult because of widespread publicity and photographs. Exporting items and routing them through international jewel cutters and supply chains can further obscure origin and complicate law enforcement recovery efforts.

Read at AP News