The Louvre Museum has begun plans to fully restore the battered crown of Empress Eugénie, damaged during a high-profile jewelry heist last October.
Thieves stole several Napoleonic-era jewels from the Apollo Gallery but dropped the crown while escaping, leaving it mangled on the pavement below.
Commissioned by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie, the crown dates back to 1855 and is one of the few surviving French crown jewels.
Photos released by the Louvre Museum on Wednesday show the crown of Empress Eugénie de Montijo before and after it was damaged during a theft at the Apollo Gallery on October 19, 2025. The museum said the crown has "largely preserved its overall structure" and will undergo full… pic.twitter.com/ZsBslH1m3J
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) February 5, 2026
Museum experts say the crown’s flexible structure was strained when it was forced through a narrow opening, then crushed on impact.
Despite visible damage, nearly all components remain intact. Only about ten small diamonds are missing. The Louvre says restoration will focus on reshaping the original framework, without replacing historic elements.
The museum will invite bids from expert restorers, following offers of help from leading French jewelry houses.
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TIPP Staff
