More glittering royal jewels displayed while Paris is still uneasy over the Louvre robbery

Paris Royal Jewel Exhibition Opens in Shadow of Louvre Heist

A spectacular exhibition of royal jewels opened Wednesday in Paris, just weeks after a daring heist at the Louvre Museum sent shockwaves through the city’s cultural establishment. The “Dynastic Jewels” exhibition at the Hôtel de la Marine comes at a sensitive moment, as authorities still grapple with the aftermath of the four-minute operation that emptied display cases in the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in October.

While the plundered gallery remains sealed off during the investigation, the nearby exhibition showcases an impressive array of diamonds and tiaras that have survived revolutions, exile, and empire. More than a hundred pieces are spread across four galleries, drawing from prestigious collections including the Al Thani Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and loans from King Charles III.

Visitors can marvel at extraordinary treasures such as the massive 57-carat Star of Golconda diamond and a sapphire coronet and emerald tiara designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria—reunited here for the first time in over 150 years. Catherine the Great’s diamond-encrusted dress ornaments and a Cartier necklace created for an Indian ruler that blends European platinum-age design with centuries-old gems are among the standout pieces.

The exhibition’s location adds a layer of historical irony. The Hôtel de la Marine itself was the site of an infamous crown-jewel theft in 1792, when it housed the French royal collections before the Revolution. This historical echo hasn’t gone unnoticed by Parisians still processing the recent Louvre breach.

“Honestly, the timing feels off,” said Alexandre Benhamou, a 42-year-old Paris gift shop manager. “People are still upset about what happened at the Louvre, and now there’s another jewel exhibition opening just down the street. It’s too soon; we haven’t even processed the first shock.”

Security concerns inevitably loom large, though museum officials declined to comment on specific measures. The Hôtel de la Marine has emphasized that it was rebuilt with modern, high-grade security when it reopened in 2021, and its galleries were designed with robust protections in mind.

Meanwhile, Paris is urgently strengthening museum security across the city. Louvre director Laurence des Cars recently announced plans to install approximately 100 new surveillance cameras and upgrade anti-intrusion systems, with initial measures to be implemented within weeks and the complete network expected by the end of next year.

Arthur Brand, an Amsterdam-based art detective, believes the Louvre incident has heightened vigilance at institutions like the Hôtel de la Marine. “Authorities have learned from the Louvre’s lacking security,” he said. “The thieves know that the security people here aren’t going to be sloppy. They will have learned their lesson.”

Brand added: “It’s a good thing this exhibit is going on. Life goes on. You should not give in to thieves. Show these precious items!”

The exhibition also arrives at a time of broader cultural reckoning. Just days ago, protesters at the Tower of London splattered custard and apple crumble on a royal crown display case during an anti-inequality demonstration. Museums globally face increasing pressure to address the exploitative networks and colonial histories that often facilitated the acquisition of such treasures.

Despite these tensions, Amin Jaffer, director of the Al Thani Collection and one of the exhibition’s curators, hopes visitors will appreciate the multiple dimensions of these objects. “We show how great gemstones, tiaras and objects of virtuosity reflected identity in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries,” Jaffer explained. “They were expressions of power, reflections of prestige and markers of passion.”

For the Hôtel de la Marine, with the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery closed indefinitely, the exhibition may draw visitors seeking access to royal jewelry displays. Jaffer emphasized the enduring nature of these treasures: “Every object here tells a story. They’ve changed hands ever since they were made, and they continue to survive.”

None of the items stolen from the Louvre have been recovered, and the investigation remains active.