The Louvre Museum has transferred a significant portion of its jewelry collection to the secure vaults of the Bank of France following an unprecedented heist that occurred on October 19. The transfer represents an additional security measure implemented by the world-famous Parisian museum to protect its most valuable crown jewels and rare artifacts.
David Chanteranne, a Napoleon specialist and editor-in-chief of the Revue du Souvenir Napoléonien, confirmed this information on Saturday, October 25. According to Chanteranne, the most precious items from the crown treasure collection have now become "ultra-protected" not only by the Louvre Museum itself but also through their relocation to the underground facilities of the Bank of France.
"All the jewels that belonged to the crown treasure and were the rarest have now become, in a certain way, a protected reserve and above all ultra-protected, not only by the Louvre Museum, but now by the fact that they have just been transferred to the basements of the Bank of France," Chanteranne explained to journalists Pauline Coiffard and Abdel Joudi.
While the exact details of the transferred items remain classified, experts believe that the Regent diamond, valued at "several hundred million euros," is likely among the relocated treasures. This diamond represents the largest preserved diamond in the collection. The crown of Louis XV is also believed to be part of the security transfer, according to Chanteranne. These items, along with objects linked to various coronations and important reigns, have been moved to secure locations.
Chanteranne praised the discretion and security measures employed during the transfer process. "This transfer was carried out in a very discreet, anonymous, and routine manner. The trucks, all the equipment that was used, all the accompaniment that was provided, was done in a completely anonymous and discreet way. So that's the first thing and it's a very good thing. The second is the location: we know that the gold reserves of the Bank of France are directly preserved, which are in this safe place that no one ever sees, except of course the various interested parties," he concluded.
The precious jewels have been relocated to a network of vaults operated under the custody of the Bank of France. This sophisticated storage system is located approximately thirty meters underground and consists of multiple secure compartments. According to reporting by France 2's "L'angle éco" program, computer-generated images reveal galleries that house the state's entire gold reserves.
Chanteranne noted that these same vaults contain other priceless artifacts, including Leonardo da Vinci's famous notebooks, which alone are estimated to be worth 600 million euros. The Bank of France's underground facility represents one of the most secure storage locations in the world, making it an ideal temporary home for the Louvre's most valuable pieces.
The investigation into the spectacular heist remains ongoing, with authorities continuing their efforts to recover the stolen items and apprehend those responsible. According to the latest estimates, the theft of eight exceptional pieces from the Louvre is valued at approximately 88 million euros. This incident marked an unprecedented security breach at one of the world's most visited and prestigious museums, prompting immediate reassessment of security protocols and protective measures for irreplaceable cultural treasures.
