Stolen Louvre jewels were not insured, says French Ministry of Culture

The jewels stolen in the recent heist at the Louvre Museum were not insured, a statement from the French Ministry of Culture noted.

According to the ministry, insuring permanent exhibits that reside in their "home" institutions—as opposed to those temporarily loaned for external exhibitions—would impose an unsustainable financial burden on the state. This long-standing policy reflects a cost-benefit decision common among national museums with extensive collections of high historical and artistic value, Caliber.Az reports, citing French media.

The theft involved a number of rare and highly valuable 18th- and 19th-century pieces, including items once owned by royalty such as Empress Eugénie and Queen Marie-Amélie. The jewels were part of the museum’s permanent collection and had been on public display.

French media previously reported that the theft occurred in the morning of October 19, with several high-value pieces disappearing during what appears to have been a carefully executed break-in. Authorities have not disclosed the exact timing or method of the burglary.

An investigation is currently underway, with museum personnel working closely alongside law enforcement to establish the precise circumstances of the incident. No suspects have yet been publicly identified, and security protocols at the Louvre are now under scrutiny.

The stolen items, considered irreplaceable due to their historical significance, represent a serious cultural loss for France.

By Vafa Guliyeva