The rings and jewels had been used for a photographic shoot a few days before by the photographer.

He had kept hold of them and was expecting a courier to arrive from Boucheron to collect them that morning.

At 8.30am, when a courier turned up, the photographer happily handed them over.

It was only one hour later, when the real courier arrived, that he realized his mistake. 

Police were alerted by the photographer and are searching for the thief.

Boucheron was established over 150 years ago in Paris by the jeweller Frédéric Boucheron and has expanded to produce perfumes, glasses and watches.

The group still maintains a boutique in the prestigious Place Vendôme where it first moved in 1893.

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