Eight "objects of inestimable heritage value" were stolen, per France's Ministry of Culture, and one item, an ornate gold crown, was recovered near the scene.

How thieves pulled off the extraordinary theft of priceless jewels from the world-famous museum in broad daylight.

The masked gang, who remain at large, made off with nine items, including a crown, a tiara, necklaces and earrings.

On Sunday morning, a robbery unfolded inside the Louvre’s legendary Galerie d’Apollon, home to France’s most prized crown jewels.  A robbery unfolded inside the Louvre’s legendary Galerie d’Apollon, home to France’s most prized crown jewels.

Other stolen valuables were an emerald necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise and a diadem and bow-breech belonging to Empress Eugénie. Her crown was recovered, broken, outside of the museum on Sunday, officials told local reporters.

La Quête du Temps is only on loan to the Louvre and eventually will be added to the Vacheron Constantin archive, but the brand has introduced a 43-millimeter, double-sided wristwatch, called the Métiers d’Art “Tribute to the Quest of Time,” in a limited edition of 20 (price on application).