The Louvre Museum has released new images showcasing the extent of damage inflicted upon a royal crown during a daring heist in October. The crown, once belonging to Empress Eugénie, was discovered crushed and bent at the foot of the Apollo Gallery, a stark reminder of the audacity of the thieves. Despite the significant deformation, the museum assures that the crown remains largely intact and can be fully restored without reconstruction. The damage occurred when the gang attempted to wrench the crown through a narrow opening they had cut into its display case using an angle grinder, placing considerable strain on its flexible mount. The assessment revealed that one of the eight golden eagles adorning the crown has been lost, while four of the eight diamond-and-emerald palmettes have become detached from the mount, with some left misshapen. The central orb, encrusted with diamonds and emeralds, has sunk into the crumpled frame but remains undamaged. Of the crown's 1,354 diamonds, approximately ten small stones from the base perimeter are now missing, though nine additional diamonds that came loose have been recovered and preserved. All 56 emeralds remain in place. One of the crown's hoops detached during the theft and was lost within the gallery. The Louvre's report attributed the crushing to a violent impact, likely when the crown struck the ground after falling from the fleeing thieves. The crown, commissioned by Napoleon III from Alexandre Gabriel Lemonnier, holds a distinguished place in French history. The museum has announced plans to invite restorers to submit competitive bids for the repair work, with estimated costs beginning at around €40,000. Several prestigious jewellery houses have already volunteered their expertise, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Mellerio, Chaumet, and Boucheron. The stolen haul included a tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie, pieces worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, and jewellery from Empress Marie-Louise. None of these treasures have been recovered.
