The Diamond Fund is a unique exhibition of priceless exhibits located within the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. The exposition presents masterpieces of the jewelry craft of the 18th-20th centuries, one-of-a-kind specimens of precious stones and samples of precious metals. Each inhabitant of the exhibition has an artistic, material, but primarily historical significance. The exposition began its work in 1967 in the Armory, but the first collection items were collected by Peter I. Now the doors of the exhibition are open for visits by all comers according to the established visiting regime.
Story
The roots of the creation of the Diamond Fund go back to the time of the reign of Peter the Great, when, on the basis of a decree of 1719, a state organization responsible for the preservation of imperial jewels and royal relics began its work. The chamber board had a complete list of orders, all kinds of decorations, gifts to royal people, state regalia. The order of their storage in St. Petersburg was also described here.
In fact, by his decree, Peter I recognized and legally defined the Treasury, or, in other words, the Imperial Renteria, as the repository of the most significant values of the imperial court, belonging to many generations of royal families. During the reign of each subsequent monarch, the treasury was constantly enriched, but the contribution of Elizabeth and Catherine II was more significant. During their reign, the Russian court was distinguished by amazing luxury and was considered one of the most magnificent in Europe.
In particular, under Catherine II, the treasury was replenished with unique samples of gems and precious stones, as well as the most important symbols of power. In 1764, in the former bedchamber of the Empress, a separate chamber was built for the preservation of property, which received the name “Diamond Room”, where priceless exhibits lived for a long time.
At the beginning of the First World War, the contents of the treasury were hastily transported to Moscow and placed in the Kremlin Armory. A little later, a complete inventory of the items in the collection was made, their value and the greatest cultural significance were confirmed. In 1924, the treasury was designated as the country's Diamond Fund and placed under the care of the State Treasury of Valuables.
First half of the 18th century
In 1719, Emperor Peter the Great issued a decree on the creation of the Diamond Room. Jewels belonging to the imperial crown were supposed to be kept here. A specially created chamber board conducted an inventory of the existing valuables – symbols of royal power – and determined the order and place of storage. A little later, these requirements extended to other royal jewels. Each successive board made adjustments to the drafted rules.
Second half of the 18th-19th centuries
A special room was allocated for the storage of crown jewels. Usually it was the bedroom of the emperor or empress. Such a room became known as the Diamond or Diamond Room. During the reign of women, crown jewels became especially expensive and exquisite. The bedchamber of Catherine the Great became the most expensive personal office in the history of the Russian Empire. To create an interior that matches the jewels, the famous architect Felten was invited.
First half of the 20th century
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the front was quite close to the capital of the empire. Therefore, it was decided to evacuate the Diamond Room to Moscow. Despite the haste, the event was held with special care and attention to rarities. The inventory of 1898 was even preserved, which subsequently served as the basis for further research.
At this time, documents were added to the crown values:
The valuables moved to the Armory Chamber (crown hall) of the Kremlin.
The second half of the 20th century – the beginning of the 21st century
Until 1967, crown jewels were not exhibited to the public. Only in November 1967, on the anniversary of the revolution, the government decided to organize a temporary exhibition. It was shown to the guests who came to Moscow for the celebrations. It was assumed that the rarities would be exhibited for a year, and then returned to permanent storage. But in a short time the exhibition became very popular. Therefore, the government decided to organize a permanent exhibition.
By this time, the Gokhran collection received new storage units:
Along with the crown jewels, the public can view the unique Mineralogical Collection, which was collected by Catherine the Great.
Diamond Fund today
The doors of the halls were opened in 1967. And although the display of exhibits was originally supposed to be temporary, the event became the largest phenomenon in the cultural life of not only the country, but the whole world. Therefore, by a government decree, it was decided to transform the exposition into a regular exhibition, open to the public.
Today, the unique exposition is located in two rooms. In the first one you can see the following exhibits:
The second hall contains exhibits of predominantly historical significance, including symbols of power and other relics. Here you can also find the works of jewelry craftsmen of the 18th – 19th centuries.
Exhibition collection
A collection is a collection of unique items that have not only material, scientific and artistic, but also historical value.
Here you can see:
The fund is part of the Gokhran. This is not only an interesting exhibition. Research work is underway here. Therefore, excursions conducted by employees are extremely interesting.
Crown Jewels
The crown jewels are rarities, which, at one time, showed the wealth and significance of the empire. They are known all over the world. The collection contains:
These items can be seen during a visit to the exposition.
Mid 18th century
Experts can easily distinguish the works of jewelers of this historical period. Products convey joy and light, they are characterized by asymmetry and careful execution. The pearl of the exhibition is the bouquet of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. These are flowers made of precious metals and stones – irises, forget-me-nots, daffodils and wild roses.
The stems are so thin that at the slightest movement they tremble and bend, as in a bouquet of fresh flowers. In order to fill the product with color, the craftsman placed thin sheets of bright foil under each diamond.
The iris bud has a pale lilac diamond inserted. It is a rare natural mineral. Its weight is almost 16 carats.
Second half of the 18th century
Photo: Sergey Pryanechnikov
At this time, the skill of jewelers reached its apogee. They skillfully handled cutting, emphasizing the natural beauty of precious stones and the play of light. Historians call the second half of the 18th century the age of the diamond. Guests do not pass by a portbouquet. It is made of gold with a green enamel coating.
The role of the thread is performed by a belt of diamonds. The belt is so graceful that the illusion of soft fabric is created. The whole composition is intended for wearing fresh flowers. The inner cavity was filled with water, which fed real plants. The portbouquet is equipped with a clasp that securely held the product on the evening dress.
First third of the 19th century
During this period, tiaras came into fashion in the Russian Empire. They had a triangular shape, as if repeating the traditional kokoshnik. It was at this time that the products of the Boucheron and Cartier houses became popular. Traditions survived until the beginning of the twentieth century. They entered the life of the country's high society to such an extent that they were called Russian tiaras.
The exposition highlights the diadem of Maria Feodorovna, the wife of Emperor Pavel Petrovich. The tiara is fully consistent with the Russian triangular kokoshnik. Diamonds are drop-shaped, they are mobile. When the Empress turned her head, the diamonds shimmered with bright light. The main feature of the product is a pink diamond. Its weight is more than 13 carats. The jewel is located in the very center of the tiara.
historical stones
The exhibition presents 7 diamonds that are known throughout the world. Among them are 4 gems and 3 diamonds. The most popular exhibit is the Orlov diamond crowning the coronation jewel – a scepter made for Empress Catherine.
The second most popular rarity is the rarest emerald of the crown of the Grand Duchess, the wife of Grand Duke Konstantin. It has a mixed green-blue color. The emerald is inserted into the brooch. It is surrounded by a garland of vine leaves with diamond inlays. Presumably, the gem was found in Colombia in the 15th-16th century. It was brought to Europe by the conquistadors.
Gems
The fund's collection has a rich exposition of gems. Minerals boast not only uniqueness and elegance, but also a complex history. Raspberry tourmaline, which looks like a bunch of grapes, has consistently belonged to different royal houses. Researchers suggest that the birthplace of the rarity is Burma. Then the journey of the mineral began:
Diamonds
It is a well-known rule to assign proper names to found minerals whose mass is more than 20 carats. Typically, diamonds are named after some historical date, memorable event, or the name of a famous person. The collection has not only material, but also artistic value.
Minerals found on the territory of Russia at different times allow scientists to determine the conditions for their formation as accurately as possible. Of interest is the XXVI Congress of the CPSU diamond, which was found in 1980 in the open Mir kimberlite pipe. The rarity was named after the future XXV1 Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Orders
In tsarist Russia, orders awarded to members of the imperial family enjoyed special honor. The best jewelers worked on the products, they used unique jewelry and the purest metals. Therefore, such orders are significantly different from similar ones. The most famous among the artifacts is the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
The award was established by Peter the Great, and until the October Revolution, it had the highest dignity. The Apostle Andrew was the first to come to the lands where the ancestors of the Russians lived, with a cross. His image is placed on the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called became not only the highest award, but also one of the symbols of the power of the Romanov dynasty.
Nuggets
Since the 19th century, Russia has been the largest country in the field of gold mining. But the found nuggets are rarely preserved unchanged: they are sent to the smelter. The exception is the largest ones: they replenish the collection of rarities.
But it is important to understand: nuggets have not only material, but also scientific value. Fund employees study their composition, draw conclusions about the value of a particular deposit. They have 101 exhibits at their disposal. Visitors are attracted by the camel nugget. Its mass is more than 9 kg. It really resembles a one-humped camel. The rarity was discovered in Kolyma in the 40s of the last century.
Main exhibits
The list of the main and most impressive exhibits of the Diamond Fund includes coronation regalia:
- Large imperial crown. Prepared for the wedding of Catherine II in 1762. The authors are the court masters Pozier and Eckart, who managed to create a masterpiece in just 2 months. The crown was considered the main symbol of power until 1917. Every new monarch was crowned to her
- Small imperial crown. Created in the image of the Great Crown in 1801 for the second half of Alexander I – Elizabeth Alekseevna
- Imperial scepter. Made in the early 1770s by order of Catherine II
- Imperial state. It was created jointly with the Great Royal Crown at the direction of Catherine II. The additional name of the regalia is “Royal Apple”
- Badge and star of the Order of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The award is considered the highest manifestation of gratitude for any merit in Russia.
In addition to symbols of power, seven stones deserve special attention, whose historical significance is beyond doubt. The list includes:
Already today, the fund's collection has been replenished with diamonds found in the Yakut mines. The main diamonds are considered to be the “Great Initiative”, “Big Dipper”, “Progress”, “50 Years of the USSR” and others.
Interesting Facts
During the time of Peter the Great, security measures were also observed. Renteria (a room for storing crown valuables) could be opened only at the direction of the emperor. At the same time, 3 people were to be present: the rentmeister, the chamber adviser and the chamber president.
The first inventory was carried out during the time of Catherine the Great. Crown values were described, measured and entered into the register.
The diamond room was part of the private chambers of the monarchs. Nicholas 1 transferred it to the category of office space.
After the October coup, crown valuables were transferred to the Gokhran by order of Lenin. The inventory of 1898 was used for the inventory.
In 1922, a special commission worked in Gokhran. Values were re-described. Some were declared unimportant for the state. Began theft and mediocre sale of rarities. Only in 1936, on the orders of Stalin, the barbaric actions stopped.
Excursions
You can visit the exposition only as part of an organized group of 20 people. The duration of the event is 45 minutes. During this time, an experienced guide will take you through the halls and talk about the relics in storage. It is impossible for Russian citizens to study the exhibition on their own.
Visiting Rules
Visitors who come to see the exposition are required to comply with the rules established by the administration:
Citizens who disregard the established rules are subject to removal from the territory of the exposition.
Tickets are recommended to be purchased at the box office of the Moscow Kremlin. The administration does not guarantee attendance of the exhibition with tickets purchased on third-party sites.
How to get there
The exposition is located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. You can get here on foot from the metro stations “Borovitskaya”, “Aleksandrovsky Sad”, “Biblioteka im. Lenin. Entrance to the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gates. Children under 6 years of age are not allowed to enter the exhibition. Photo and video shooting is prohibited here. It is also recommended to turn off mobile phones before starting the tour.
The opening hours of the exhibition are from 10.00 to 17.20, except Thursday. Sessions are held at intervals of 20 minutes. Lunch break from 13.00 to 14.00. The ticket price is 500 rubles. For schoolchildren, students and pensioners, upon presentation of supporting documents – 100 rubles.
The exhibition “Diamond Fund” is truly considered a treasury of Russia. Here you can find unique and striking splendor jewelry, precious stones, royal regalia, collected during the reign of Russian monarchs, starting with Peter the Great. The exposition continues to grow to this day, replenished with the works of contemporary jewelers and unique stones mined in the country.