‘Reliquary brooch’ among stolen items at Louvre

One of the items stolen in the October 19 heist at the Louvre Museum was known as the "reliquary brooch" and belonged to Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III.

The brooch contains a total of 94 diamonds in a silver setting, and has been known as the "reliquary brooch" since at least 1887, said the Louvre's website.

Despite the name, "no space is provided to house a relic." It is thought that perhaps one of the larger gems could be removed and replaced with "an intermediate element that would have contained a relic." Another possibility is a hole in the back in which a relic might have been placed.

"Empress Eugenie was very pious," explained the Louvre's website.

Empress Eugénie's tiara and another brooch were also taken in the theft.

Additionally, the thieves stole an emerald necklace and set of earrings that formerly belonged to Empress Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon, and a tiara, necklace, and earring that belonged to both Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense.

A crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was also taken, but was recovered outside the Louvre. Authorities believe it was dropped during the escape.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the theft "an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our History" in an October 19 post on the social network X.

"We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor's office," he said.

In January, the Louvre began a "New Renaissance project," said Macron, which improved security.

"It will be the guarantor of the preservation and protection of what constitutes our memory and our culture," he said.

The entire heist took seven minutes, and occurred in broad daylight while the Louvre was open, reported the New York Times.

“It seems like a scenario out of a film or a television series,” said Ariel Weil, the mayor of central Paris. The Louvre is located in Weil's jurisdiction.

The thieves used a piece of construction equipment to reach a window, where they used grinders to break the glass and enter the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses France's crown jewels.

After entering the museum, the thieves smashed two cases, stealing the items before making a getaway. They left using the same window and equipment they used to enter the museum.

Once out of the Louvre, the thieves boarded motor scooters and made their escape. No tourists or museum staff were injured in the heist.