Louvre's Squashed Crown: Restoration of Empress Eugénie's Treasure After Jewel Heist

Experts believe the 19th-century crown can be brought back to its former splendor despite being badly deformed during the daring robbery.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:33am

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An extreme close-up photograph of the crushed and deformed crown, with its remaining precious stones and missing golden eagle, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the investigation into the theft and the delicate restoration process.The Louvre's restoration of a precious 19th-century crown, once worn by French royalty, exposes the aftermath of a daring jewel heist and the resilience of historical artifacts.Today in Pittsburgh

The iconic Louvre museum has revealed a fascinating tale of a precious artifact's resilience, but the story has a controversial twist. A 19th-century crown, once worn by French royalty, has been found squashed and battered after a daring jewel heist. Despite the crown being badly deformed, it retained most of its precious stones, raising questions about the thieves' intentions and the potential value they placed on different jewels.

Why it matters

The Louvre's restoration of this historical treasure is a testament to their expertise, but the mystery remains: where are the other stolen jewels, and who orchestrated this audacious heist? This story has all the elements of a thrilling crime drama, leaving us wondering about the fate of these priceless artifacts.

The details

The heist took place at the famous Paris museum last October, with the thieves making off with a staggering 88 million euros worth of jewels. As they attempted to escape, they dropped the crown, encrusted with diamonds and emeralds, and it became crushed in the process. The thieves managed to steal eight other valuable pieces, including a tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. Despite the crown being badly deformed, it retained most of its precious stones, with all 56 emeralds and an impressive 1,352 out of 1,354 diamonds still in place. However, one of the eight golden eagles adorning the crown is missing.

  • The heist took place at the Louvre in Paris last October.
  • The restoration process will be overseen by an expert committee led by the Louvre's president, Laurence des Cars.

The players

Louvre

The iconic Louvre museum in Paris, France, known for its vast art collection and historical artifacts.

Laurence des Cars

The president of the Louvre, who will lead the expert committee overseeing the restoration of the crown.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the alleged thieves out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Louvre's expertise in restoring historical artifacts, even those that have been severely damaged. It also raises questions about the motives and methods of the thieves, as well as the ongoing efforts to recover the remaining stolen jewels.