The director of Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum is facing scrutiny over apparent security failures that allowed thieves to make off with more than $100 million worth of jewels.

In her first public address since the heist, Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars acknowledged there was a “terrible failure” and said, “Despite our efforts, despite our hard work on a daily basis, we failed,” The Guardian reported.

Des Cars admitted that security around the Louvre’s perimeter was an issue and that the only camera monitoring the outside of the museum was facing away from the balcony that led to the gallery where the precious jewels were kept, according to reports. The Guardian also noted that des Cars confirmed all the museum’s alarms were functioning during the burglary.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE

“We failed these jewels,” des Cars said, according to the BBC. The outlet also quoted the director as saying that no one is safe from “brutal thieves — not even the Louvre.”

On Sunday, burglars appeared to use a truck-mounted electric furniture lift to conduct the heist, Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, said in an interview with RTL radio, according to The New York Times. She added that the thieves obtained the lift by pretending it was for a move. Additionally, Beccuau noted that it would not be easy for burglars to sell the stolen jewels for what they’re worth if they tear the pieces apart or melt them, according to the Times.

Police secure the area outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, where burglars used a truck-mounted moving lift to reach a second floor window and steal royal jewelry valued at more than $100 million. (Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

HOW LOUVRE BURGLARS OBTAINED TRUCK-MOUNTED LIFT TO MAKE OFF WITH JEWELS WORTH MORE THAN $100M

The thieves got away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. They also stole an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

“The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish, for it is our history,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in an X post on Sunday. “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.”

Forensic police officers arrive at the Louvre Museum after reports of a robbery in Paris, France, on Oct. 19, 2025. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

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The heist has prompted a national reckoning, with some officials comparing the shock to the 2019 burning of Notre Dame cathedral. Beccuau told RTL radio that the team investigating the heist had grown from 60 investigators to 100, underscoring the importance of the case on national and international levels.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

One in five adults across OECD and EU countries experiences mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, according to the OECD’s Mental Health Promotion and Prevention report.

The symptoms often go unrecognised and untreated, increasing the risk of progression to more severe conditions and raising overall societal costs.

Czechia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Portugal report a higher prevalence of moderate or severe depressive symptoms among native-born individuals.

Women are more vulnerable to mental illnesses during turning point events, such as pregnancy and postpartum.

The prevalence of postpartum depression was estimated at 16.6% for Central-Eastern Europe, 16.3% for Southern Europe, and 13.8% for Northern Europe, according to the study.

The total cost of mental health problems was estimated at 4% of GDP across the 27 EU countries and the UK in 2015.

The medical cost of treating mental illnesses may be as much as 20 times higher, depending on the level of severity.

A German study found that in 2019, the six-month treatment cost of mental disorders was estimated at €511 for mild symptoms, €2,417 for moderate symptoms, and €10,485 for severe symptoms.

The cost of treatment, travelling long distances, and waiting times to see a medical professional are major barriers for people seeking help for mental health issues.

On average, two-thirds of individuals who need mental health care are estimated to lack access to treatment in OECD countries and the 27 EU member states.

Mental health initiatives across the EU

However, some EU countries have initiatives for access to mental health support that can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms by up to 87%.

By the end of 2023, 14 out of 27 member states had mental health services that can be accessed directly without referral at the national or regional level.

For example, the Netherlands has created youth walk-in centres, such as the programme @Ease, which trains students and front-line professionals to help young adults with mental distress.

Meanwhile, in Belgium, there has been a reduction in access barriers by reimbursing the cost of psychological therapy either in part or in full, as well as the establishment of networks for mental health professionals across schools, workplaces, and social services.

These interventions have resulted in a rise in school attendance and reduced work absenteeism, with reported gains ranging from 50% to 61%.

Some other examples are post-partum depression screenings in Poland and online tools in Germany.

The list of the most expensive Rolexes ever sold at auction, as you’d expect, is quite impressive. And now the exquisite lineup has a new member.

A yellow-gold Ref. 6062 recently hammered down for a whopping $6.2 million, making it the third-priciest piece from the Crown to sell on the block and a record for the reference. The rarity was a part of the offerings at the Exclusive Timepieces event held by Monaco Legend Auctions last weekend—and it sure left its mark.

Ref. 6062 is a true collector’s item, with just 350 examples thought to have been produced between 1950 and ’53. It notably combined a water-resistant Oyster case, a “Perpetual” automatic movement, and a complete calendar complication. The 6062 is one of only two vintage references with triple-date moonphase, according to GQ. (The other is Ref. 8171.) It was offered in various metals—yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel—and with different dial types. This particular yellow-gold example showcases the ultra-rare black dial with six diamonds at the odd-numbered positions, a.k.a. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 o’clock. It last appeared in the public eye almost 20 years ago, when it headlined Antiquorum’s Mondani Collection sale. It sold for €5.33 million (about $6.2 million) over the weekend, with the new buyer yet to be identified.

The crown for the most expensive Rollie ever sold at auction is worn (rather fittingly) by Paul Newman’s very own “Paul Newman” timepiece, which was given to the actor by his wife. Ref. 6239 hammered down for a whopping $17.75 million in 2017 during a Phillips auction. Then, an ultra-rare 18-karat-white gold iteration of the Cosmograph Daytona—aptly nicknamed “Unicorn”—sits in the second-place spot; famed collector John Goldberger donated the timepiece to Phillips, where it fetched around $6.5 million in 2018.

And formerly rounding out the top three was Ref. 6062 “Bao Dai,” another 1950s stunner that was owned by the final emperor of Vietnam, which sold for $5.06 million in 2017. Now, of course, that watch has been ousted by this other Ref. 6062. What sets the Bao Dai apart from this example is that it has diamonds on even numbers instead of odd.

If you missed out on the Monaco Legend Auction’s event, don’t fret. A pair of coveted vintage Rolex Daytonas is heading to auction next month via Christie’s, giving you the chance to snag your own retro beauty. Happy bidding.