PARIS, Nov 7 (Bernama-dpa) — Experts are working to put the recovered crown of Empress Eugénie on display at the Louvre three weeks after the spectacular robbery, the director of the world famous museum said in a radio interview broadcast on Friday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
“This return will be a beautiful symbol for the rebirth of the museum,” Laurence des Cars told France Info radio.
“The main parts, the diamonds and emeralds, are intact,” she said, adding that the restoration would take some time.
The crown, set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, belonged to Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III.
Des Cars said several patrons had already pledged their support for the restoration.
The precious piece was found not far from the museum after the break-in on Oct 19. Initial examinations showed that the crown was damaged when it was pried from the display case, not by falling. Des Cars said a narrow cut the thieves made with a cutting disc probably caused the damage.
It was completely unexpected that the thieves left such a piece behind, she said.
There is still no trace of the eight other jewels and pieces of jewellery valued at €88 million (US$102 million). Several suspects have been arrested since then.
After the break-in, some of the Louvre jewels were moved to the underground vaults of the French central bank for safekeeping.
— BERNAMA-dpa