The Louvre Museum has revealed the fate of Empress Eugenie’s crown, which fell from the thieves’ hands during their escape last October, in a heist where 19th-century treasures valued at 88 million euros were stolen.
The Louvre reassured the public that the crown is “in good condition” overall; all its essential components and gemstones are still present, except for one missing decorative element.
Although its frame suffered deformations from the fall, the museum’s management revealed that the restoration will be “simple” from a technical standpoint; the gold frame will be reshaped to once again cradle its jewels.
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Five of France’s major historic jewelry houses announced their full support and historical expertise to restore the crown to its former glory, making it a work that combines the genius of the past with the craftsmanship of the present.
The Missing Loot and the Security Crackdown
It is noted that investigators have so far failed to recover eight other jewels belonging to 19th-century ruling families, valued at 88 million euros. Despite the arrest of seven suspects, the missing treasure remains out of sight, keeping criminal investigations at the highest state of alert.
The Louvre management has raised entry fees for non-European visitors by nearly 45%, bringing the price to 32 euros.
The management justifies this increase by stating that the additional revenue, which could reach 20 million euros annually, will be the “price of security”; it will be entirely allocated to renovating the historic building and enhancing protection systems to ensure the “30 seconds” that shook the prestige of the venerable museum are not repeated.
