Basic moments
The core of the Diamond Fund's museum collection consists of treasures that belonged to the Russian royal family. This is the genealogical book of the Russian Imperial House, the wills of the tsars, state regalia, imperial Jewelry and orders that members of the royal family wore on especially solemn days. The Russian court has always been famous for its pomp and splendor and was considered one of the most brilliant courts in Europe. The best jewelers worked for the Russian emperors, creating real works of art.
The repository, created by Peter I, was located in St. Petersburg until 1914, and then moved to Moscow. The exhibition was officially opened in 1967. Nowadays, the Diamond Fund is one of the most visited Moscow museums, which arouses genuine interest among both Russian and foreign tourists.
How the Diamond Fund was created
The initiative to create a special collection belongs to the Russian sovereign Peter I. At the beginning of the 18th century, he took the initiative to establish a special state repository of the most valuable things for Russia, primarily, special regalia that were used during coronations.
In 1719, an imperial decree approved the charter (or regulations) of the Chamber College. After this, state valuables began to be stored in the treasury (rentere). This was the name of a special chest that had three locks. Three government officials owned separate keys. They were entrusted to be kept by the chamber-president, the chamber-counselor and the royal rentmaster. When these officials gathered, they opened the royal treasury and took out from it the crown, scepter and orb, as well as other valuable items intended for especially solemn rituals.
Later, personal belongings of members of the imperial house also became state property and were kept in the Diamond (Diamond) Cabinet in the Winter Palace. The luxurious premises were created according to the design of the architect Yu.M. Felten and was considered one of the most richly decorated corners of the main residence of the Russian tsars.
Under each subsequent emperor, changes were made to the rules for storing state valuables. Some of the kings sold part of the collection, others remade individual items in accordance with new fashion trends. But the treasury was invariably replenished with new valuables - the most beautiful precious stones and luxurious jewelry.
In 1914, due to a possible threat during the First World War, the entire collection was hastily transported from St. Petersburg to Moscow and placed in the basement of the Armory Chamber. At the beginning of 1922, the new Soviet government created a special commission that examined and described the jewelry. Imperial regalia and gems became part of the newly created repository, called the “State Diamond Fund”.
The first public demonstration of values took place in 1925 in the building of the House of Unions. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, part of the unique collection was sold abroad at auctions.
The Soviet government organized an exhibition accessible to everyone in 1967. Initially they wanted to create it for just a year. But visitors showed such great interest in the exhibits of the Diamond Fund that, by a special government decision, the exhibition received permanent status.
Later, the exhibition was replenished with new valuables. Rare diamonds, as well as large nuggets, began to arrive here from new domestic deposits in Yakutia.
In the 1970s, ancient jewelry and regalia that previously belonged to the imperial family were restored in a special experimental jewelry laboratory. Master restorers have completely restored the Great and Small Crowns of the Russian emperors. In addition, highly qualified jewelers made more than a hundred new jewelry for the Diamond Fund.
What can you see in the Diamond Fund today?
Nowadays, the exhibition operates permanently and is housed in two large halls. One of them displays historical values, and the other displays precious stones, large nuggets and jewelry by modern masters.
Thematically, the exhibition is divided into seven parts: imperial regalia for coronation, orders, works of jewelers of the 18th-19th centuries and the second half of the last century, large diamonds, rare precious stones, and large nuggets.
The most valuable exhibits of the Diamond Fund are the Great and Small Crowns, the orb of the Russian emperors and the scepter. Among the rare gems on display are the famous Shah diamond, 398 carat spinel, 258 carat sapphire, 192 carat chrysalite and 136 carat emerald. Here you can also see a large gold nugget “Mephistopheles”, several copies of the Order of Victory, the mineralogical collection of the Russian Tsarina Catherine II and other valuables.
How the exhibition works
The Diamond Fund is open every day, except Thursdays and holidays, from 10.00 to 18.15. Children under 6 years old are not allowed to attend the exhibition.
Tickets can be purchased on the day of visit. They are sold on the territory of the Alexander Garden, at ticket office No. 4. The ticket office is open from 9.00 to 16.30, with a break from 12.00 to 13.00.
You can visit the exhibition as part of a tour group led by Russian speaking guide. Foreign tourists explore the exhibition without a guided tour or, if desired, can use audio guides. It is prohibited to take photographs or videos inside the Diamond Fund, as well as to use mobile phones.
How to get there
The exhibition of the Diamond Fund of Russia is located in Moscow, on the territory of the Kremlin. Entrance is through the Borovitsky Gate. It’s easy to get here on foot from the Borovitskaya, Lenin Library or Aleksandrovsky Sad metro stations.
How to get into the Diamond Fund. Visiting the Diamond Fund on your own is a solvable task. Although there are many offers on the Internet from companies that are guaranteed to help you get into the Diamond Fund. For a certain fee. We are people who are not exactly greedy, but harmful and do not want to pay for what we can do ourselves. From this very harmfulness. Since the Diamond Fund is located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin Museum-Reserve, we have already described it in the article. There we advised how to keep up with three Kremlin hares -
1. The territory of the Kremlin with cathedrals, etc.;
2. State Armory Chamber with;
3. .
This task, although not easy, is possible. Was. Now the flow of tourists to the Moscow Kremlin has increased and there is little chance of you getting lucky. Therefore, we abstract ourselves from the Moscow Kremlin Museum and go to the Diamond Fund, which is administered by Gokhran and relates to the Kremlin only indirectly, since it is located on its territory. Therefore, visiting the Diamond Fund has its own characteristics.
Features of the national excursion to the Diamond Fund
- Diamond Fund work schedule
- Ticket price to visit the Diamond Fund
- Procedure for visiting the Diamond Fund
- Where is the Diamond Fund and how to get to the Diamond Fund
- How to buy a ticket to the Diamond Fund
- What to do if you have time before your session at the Diamond Fund
- General tips for visiting the Diamond Fund
- How I got into the Diamond Fund
- Notes
Diamond Fund work schedule:
The Diamond Fund is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lunch break from 13 to 14.
Day off is Thursday.
The museum may be closed on days of special celebrations and events, when there is no access to the Kremlin territory. As a rule, the Diamond Fund is closed on post-holiday days from mid to late January.
Please note that the Kremlin is open longer in the summer than in the winter. This does NOT apply to the Diamond Fund. It is ALWAYS open from 10 to 18 with a lunch break, except Thursdays and special days.
Ticket price to the Diamond Fund:
A ticket to the Diamond Fund costs 500 rubles. For privileged categories of citizens (pensioners, students, schoolchildren) a ticket costs 100 rubles.
Procedure for visiting the Diamond Fund
You can view the collection of the Diamond Fund only as part of an excursion group. Tours are conducted three times per hour, with organized groups entering every 20 minutes. Groups are formed on the spot. When you purchase tickets, you will be assigned a visiting session. The tour lasts 45 minutes.
Where is the Diamond Fund and how to get to the Diamond Fund
The Diamond Fund is located on the territory of the Kremlin. The museum is located in the building of the Armory Chamber. How to get to the Diamond Fund by metro? Just like in the Kremlin. The entrance to the Kremlin is located on the territory of the Alexander Garden. Available on the site.
How to buy a ticket to the Diamond Fund
For individual visitors tickets to the Diamond Fund Only sold on the day of your visit. Tickets to the Diamond Fund are sold at the box office in the Alexander Garden.
The ticket office of the Moscow Kremlin Museum-Reserve and the Diamond Fund in the Alexander Garden is a glass building near Kremlin wall.Box office of the Diamond Fund - No. 4 and No. 5. (Clarification - in the summer of 2016, tickets to the Diamond Fund are sold only at the box office No. 5).
Cash desk of the Diamond Fund No. 5. Lunch break - from 13 to 14. At the box office of the Diamond Fund No. 4 there is a lunch break from 12 to 13.Remember that tickets for excursions from 10 to 12.20 are sold at the box office from 9.30, and at summer season from 9.00 to 12. If it is convenient for you to go to the Diamond Fund in the afternoon, then you need to come for tickets by 12.30. Tickets for evening excursions are NOT sold in the morning. Not entirely convenient, but fair. Otherwise, all tickets will be redeemed in the morning, and those who come later will not get anything.
I am attaching two photos, both taken on July 13, 2016. The first one is at 9.20 am, 20 minutes after the ticket office opens.
The second one is at 12.10.
It seems that if there is no fundamental difference in the length of the queue, why come earlier? There is a difference. There are more chances to buy a ticket in the morning.
Very often in the afternoon in the summer you can see such an advertisement:
The Diamond Fund is located in the building of the Armory Chamber. It is more convenient to enter the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gate.
How to get to the Kremlin, the Armory Chamber and the Diamond Fund through the Borovitsky Gate
ATTENTION! To enter the Kremlin you need to have a ticket to either the Kremlin territory, the Armory Chamber, or the Diamond Fund. Without tickets you are not allowed into the Kremlin territory!
You have safely exited the metro into the Alexander Garden. At the Kremlin wall you will see the Kremlin ticket office. If you stand with your BACK to the ticket office, you need to turn left and walk to the end of the garden to the Borovitskaya Tower of the Kremlin.
Immediately upon exiting the subwayYou will see a picture like this. From the Kremlin ticket office you need to walk along the Kremlin wall.
Signs in the Alexander Garden will help you choose the right direction.
You need to go towards the Armory.
The Borovitskaya Tower has an entrance to the Kremlin territory.
After a few steps you will notice the Borovitskaya tower and gate (pictured). This is the entrance to the Kremlin.
There is a high probability that you will see a queue from afar.
Not the best a long queue to the entrance to the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gate. To get inside, I had to stand for an hour and a half.
You'll have to wait until it's your turn. Before entering the Kremlin at the Borovitsky Gate, you will have to go through a security check - open your bag and show its contents.
It may happen that the entrance to the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gate will be free. FSO officers and a metal detector frame are visible in the distance.
POSSIBLY, with large backpacks and trunks you will be sent to a storage room. (See note below).
The Diamond Fund Museum is located in the building of the Armory Chamber
As soon as you enter the Borovitsky Gate of the Kremlin, the first thing you will see is the long yellow building of the Armory Chamber.
The first building on the left is the Armory.
You need to go straight up along this building almost to the end. The entrance to the Diamond Fund is at the end of the Armory Chamber building.
Go straight up, in the distance there are people standing by the iron grate. You should go there.
Sign at the entrance to the Diamond Fund
There is sometimes a queue at the entrance to the Diamond Fund. People are waiting to be let in with tickets for the next show.
There is always an officer standing at the entrance to the Diamond Fund asking if you have tickets.
Go down the stairs and you will see the entrance to the museum.
I'm sorry, you can't film in the Armory Chamber building. Take my word for it :)
What to do if you have time before your session at the Diamond Fund
Suppose you have a ticket to the Diamond Fund in your hands. But there are still more than two hours before the start of the session. What to do? There are options.
1.You can take a walk around the Kremlin. For 500 rubles per person – this is the price of a ticket to the Kremlin. Do not you mind? Then buy a ticket to the Kremlin territory at the ticket office nearby (box office 6-10)
2. At the same box office where tickets to the Kremlin are sold, you can buy a ticket to visit the Armory Chamber. Ticket price – 700 rubles. Don't forget to take the audio guide, its use is included in the ticket price. Entrance to this museum is limited to sessions (where would we be without them?). Sessions at the Armory: 10.00, 12.00, 14.30 and 16.30.
The number of tickets to the Armory Chamber is also limited.
3. Take a walk in the Alexander Garden, on Red Square, go to shopping complex “Okhotny Ryad”, where you can have a snack. IMPORTANT! Remember that having a ticket to the Diamond Fund does NOT give you the right to priority entry into the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gate. If, for example, you have a session at the Diamond Fund at 14.20, there may be a long queue at the Borovitsky Gate; people will come to the session at the Armory Chamber at 14.30. In this case, you risk being late to the Diamond Fund, no one will wait for you, they won’t let you in without waiting in line, everyone goes to the Kremlin and everyone has sessions!!!
This is the most difficult part of the article. I would like to recommend something specific. But the demand for visiting the Diamond Fund is high; the museum can receive very few visitors in one session. Tourist offices are not asleep and completely buy out all tickets for a certain show. I have repeatedly witnessed a situation where in the morning all tickets to the Diamond Fund were sold out. I want to reassure you that this does not happen very often.
2.Remember that the Diamond Fund Museum has a lunch break from 13 to 14 hours..
3.I will share my experience. Still, I took a risk and neglected my own advice :). I'm lucky!
How I got into the Diamond Fund
I leave this part of the article for history. It's not relevant now because the Diamond Fund cash desks appeared in the Alexander Garden. Previously, tickets were sold ONLY in the Diamond Fund building itself. By the way, on a weekday in winter, if there are still tickets to the Diamond Fund, you can purchase them directly from the Diamond Fund, as I did.
I chose Monday to visit the Kremlin - a weekday, afternoon, end of March. The school holidays are already over and high tourist season hasn't started yet. I decided to approach the Borovitsky Gate at 15:00. Why? Because the session at the Armory Chamber at 14.30 has already passed. The likelihood that there will be a line at the gate is low. And so it happened.
I went up the stairs and dutifully answered the duty officer’s question about why I was going to the Kremlin - for a ticket to the Diamond Fund.
She cheerfully walked up to the entrance to the Diamond Fund. I waited a few minutes in a small line and the officer let several people through.
In the same order we stood in line at the cash register. On this day, tickets to the Diamond Fund were sold at the box office only at 16.20 and later. It’s inconvenient, but what can I do, I’m already ready.
She left the Borovitsky Gate again and went to while away the time at Okhotny Ryad. At about 4 p.m. I realized that the show in the Armory would start at 4:30 p.m.! There may be a queue at the Borovitsky Gate! She ran back as if scalded. Fortunately, at the end of March, towards the evening, there were no people willing to enter the Kremlin, and I went through inspection again.
This time she answered that I had a ticket to the Diamond Fund.
Again I went to the entrance to the Diamond Fund in the Armory Chamber building and waited in line. They let you in for the current session in about 15 minutes. I entered, went downstairs to the wardrobe, and left my outerwear there. Returned to the Diamond Fund cash desk. Waiting again. Those who approached the box office at this time are disappointed to hear that all tickets for today to the Diamond Fund have been sold. At about 4:15 p.m., the employee invited those with tickets for 4:20 p.m. Again a careful search, passage through a metal detector. Please turn off your phones during the tour. And for a whole 45 minutes, immersion in the world of gold and diamonds!
Notes
1. Remember that the Diamond Fund sells only a few tickets per person! They will sell two, but I’m not sure about five!
2.Organizations can officially order an excursion to the Diamond Fund, bring a letter to the administration, agree on a date and time, and pay for the excursion.
3. Nowadays, phones, cameras, tablets and other gadgets are allowed into the Diamond Fund. The only condition is that you cannot use them! This is strictly monitored by security in the museum halls.
4. If you have a large bag or backpack with you, do not take risks, do not take them with you into the Kremlin, especially if you are going to enter through the Borovitsky Gate. There is a left-luggage office right next to the metro exit at the Kutafya Tower; leave your travel bag or backpack there.
View of the Kremlin when exiting the metro station. On the left is the Kutafya Tower. At the bottom left of the stairs you can see a door - this is a storage room.
The rules for carrying large bags are constantly changing. It happens that officers let tourists through even with huge backpacks. It often happens that even a small package is not allowed through. LADIES' BAGS CAN BE BROUGHT IN. If you have a backpack, better not take risks. There are all sorts of “strengthening” in the Kremlin. Their schedules and reasons are unknown to anyone. They can let you in with backpacks for a week, and then suddenly ban them. I warned!
In conclusion, I will say that it is possible to get into the Diamond Fund. Even simpler than I described. Yes, there are all sorts of nuances. But more often than not, the average person buys tickets to the Diamond Fund without any problems and goes to admire the collection. I recommend it. On duty, I was in Almaznik no less than 50 times. Maybe more. I'll be happy to go again!
We described the rules for undergoing security checks at the entrance to the Kremlin in the publication
Ladies and gentlemen! We told you
Anyone who has ever been interested knows about the Kremlin’s Diamond Fund. Few galleries in the capital evoke such admiration and interest.
The Kremlin's Diamond Fund is a unique collection of art from the 18th to 20th centuries. His collection also features nuggets of stunning precious metals, examples of the rarest gemstones. Each of the exhibit items is of great scientific and artistic interest, as well as enormous material value.
A little history of the museum
The foundation's collection began to be created in the eighteenth century. Peter I, following the example of the monarchs of Europe, issued a decree stating that the treasures stored in the royal chambers are not recognized as the property of the Russian tsars, they belong to the state, being a national property. After Peter’s “rentery,” the valuables were stored in premises allocated for this purpose, and from 1839 - in the Winter Palace (in the Diamond Cabinet). Jewelry and regalia were issued to the reigning persons only “for temporary use.”
Wanting to outshine foreign rulers with luxury, Russian queens and tsars tried to increase the wealth of their court. Particularly large contributions were made under Catherine II and Elizabeth.
After the outbreak of the First World War, all valuables were randomly and hastily, without an inventory, taken out of Petrograd. They were accepted into the Moscow Kremlin (where they remained in obscurity for about eight years.
After the October Revolution, the Hermitage collection and Kremlin treasures miraculously survived. At the beginning of the last century, no country had such a reserve of jewelry as Russia.
Five years later, commissions began to work to examine and identify objects of jewelry and applied art. Thanks to them, the unique artistic and historical value the former Diamond Cabinet. In addition, the commission noted the need to preserve and study the collection intact, including it in the State Repository.
Despite this, a total sale of relics began. Thus, 1923 became the most dramatic year in the entire history of the fund. At that time, a real political scandal arose because of Russian jewelry that appeared at auctions in London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Antwerp. Further, in 1925, at the House of Unions it was decided to open an exhibition of unsold relics returned from abroad in order to demonstrate them unharmed and intact, to hush up the scandal, thereby convincing the world of its own solvency.
The sales of antiques and jewelry did not end there. From 1925-1936 The bulk of the works with unique gems and diamonds were sold. These masterpieces will remain only in photographs, and will never return to Russia.
In 1967, an exhibition of the Diamond Fund was opened. At the same time, everyone was interested in the excursion to the Kremlin. The exhibition aroused incredible interest and was extended several times without ever becoming a museum. The untouchable part of the country's gold and foreign exchange reserves remained subordinate to the Ministry of Finance.
Every leader of the USSR considered it necessary to contribute to the Diamond Fund of Russia. Khrushchev almost gave the Monomakh cap to one of the young developing states, and under Brezhnev one of the orders with diamonds disappeared. In 1989, a huge number of valuable icons were sold at auction.
Of course, there were also items from modern jewelers, collections of platinum and gold nuggets, and Yakut diamonds. But many more unique works went to museums and private collections in different countries. The whereabouts of various priceless creations are still unknown.
The Kremlin's Diamond Fund today
IN this moment The historical part of the collection consists of about seventy items. The main part of the exhibition has been replenished since 1967 after the discovery of diamond deposits in Yakutia, as well as after the government’s decision to send stones weighing more than fifty carats for storage to the Kremlin Diamond Fund.
For museum visitors, viewing the exhibition usually begins with a display case in which precious minerals are displayed. This place displays large technical and jewelry stones weighing tens of thousands of carats. In addition to diamonds, an excursion to the Diamond Fund includes viewing sapphires, emeralds and other jewelry, as well as ornamental stones and Ural gems. The excursions, which pour into the halls daily in a continuous stream, also stop at the exhibits of the “7 Wonders of the Diamond Fund.” This includes the “Shah” diamond (88.70 carats), which has retained its own natural shape, the “Count Orlov” diamond (189.62 carats), which previously occupied a place of honor on the emperor’s scepter, a flat unique diamond, and a blue sapphire (258. 18 carats), as well as the largest peridot in the world.
The Great Imperial Crown is rightfully considered the main value among the treasures of the Russian treasury. Jeremiah Pozier, court jeweler, made it in 1762 by order of Catherine II. The crown is decorated with pearls and a scattering of diamonds, but its most valuable part is considered to be a huge ruby (398.72 carats), which is one of the 7 unique stones of the fund.
Many guests of the capital are extremely interested in the Diamond Fund, for obvious reasons it has become one of the most visited.
Great Imperial Crown
This is a crown created in 1762 by Eckart (a jeweler) and Jeremiah Pozier (a diamond maker) for Catherine II. The master set 4936 diamonds in silver, emphasizing the sparkle of the lace from them with two rows of matte large pearls. The noble design of the crown is beautiful, and at the same time filled with the deepest meaning. The grid of hemispheres is supported below by laurel branches, which are symbols of glory and power. And between the hemispheres in the garland design there are acorns and oak leaves, symbolizing the strength and strength of power. Also on the crown is a very rare deep red gemstone. This is one of the most important works of art that the Kremlin Diamond Fund contains.
Small Imperial Crown
It was created in 1856 by the jeweler Seftigen for the coronation of Maria Alexandrovna. It is made in the likeness of a large crown; on both sides of the lattice are decorated with quatrefoils, a diamond cross rises on the arch, while the lower edge of the crown is decorated with 22 large diamonds. It attracts the attention of everyone who visited the Kremlin Diamond Fund (photos can be seen in this article).
Imperial scepter
It was made for Catherine II in the early 1770s. Materials used: Orlov diamond, gold, diamonds, enamel, silver.
Imperial power
It was created in 1762 by G.-F. Eckart (court jeweler) for Catherine II. Materials: gold, sapphire, diamonds, silver, diamond. In the early seventies of the eighteenth century, it was decorated with two stones, which changed its appearance. Between the half-hoop and the diamond openwork cross, surrounded by diamonds, a huge sapphire (200 carats) was placed, and at the junction of the belt with the half-hoop there was a large diamond (46.92 carats), an exceptionally clear stone with a slight bluish tint. The state acquired its current form under Paul I. Under the cross was a huge sapphire, and a large diamond was placed between the diamond belts.
Diamond "Shah"
This is an 88.7 carat diamond from India. A completely transparent, slightly brownish-yellowish stone. The groove on it indicates that it was worn instead of a talisman. The 3 names of its owners engraved on it, as well as the corresponding dates, are clearly visible.
"Caesar's Ruby"
The stone is a juicy pinkish-raspberry color, which is perfectly combined with green enamel with gold leaves located on a forked stem neatly covered with black and white enamel. The stone is cut like a bunch of grapes.
Diamond badge with star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
The first Russian order to appear, which was the highest award of the empire until 1917. A star and cross decorated with diamonds became the highest order granted at the discretion of Peter I.
Excursions to the Diamond Fund
For those wishing to see the exhibitions, excursions are held here daily, except holidays and Thursday. The work is carried out in the form of sessions. Foreigners can also buy tickets to the Kremlin Diamond Fund - individual excursions conducted in different languages.
The exhibition will be of interest to everyone, regardless of nationality and age.
They created works of high jewelry, now on display at the exhibition.
And the diamond fund is a unique collection of historical monuments, works of jewelry, rare samples of precious stones, and nuggets of precious metals. This is one of the few treasuries in the world that store crown treasures.
The history of its creation begins with the decree of Peter I (1719), according to which a special room was allocated for the special storage of “things belonging to the state,” which was later called the Diamond Room. State regalia, order insignia, and ceremonial jewelry were concentrated here. Members of the imperial family wore them on special occasions. Throughout the reign of the Romanov dynasty, the treasury was replenished with jewelry. A wide variety of objects and jewelry, richly decorated with precious stones, were made during this period. Splendor and splendor distinguished the Russian court, especially during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II. He was one of the most brilliant in Europe. The best jewelers worked at the court, such as I. Pozier, father and sons Duval, L. Pfisterer, G. Eckart. They created works of high jewelry, now on display at the exhibition.
Breastplate with a portrait of Peter I.
First half of the 18th century
A unique collection of masterpieces of jewelry art from the 18th-20th centuries, precious stones, medal badges, gold and platinum nuggets are closely related to the history of the Russian state.
The official formation of the collection began in the first half of the 18th century, when Emperor Peter I decided to create the State Repository of Crown Valuables. In 1719, a special department, the Chamber Collegium, was organized, which in its Regulations (charter) accurately listed the regalia that existed at that time and established the procedure for their storage.
Peter I's thought about symbols of power that have national significance was later extended to other values. The charter and staff of the chamber department in charge of the crown diamonds changed with each reign.
Bow slavage. Master L. Pfisterer. 1764
Second half of the 18th-19th centuries
Crown valuables were kept in a specially guarded room - the Office or Room of His or Her Imperial Majesty, which was also called the Diamond or Diamond Room.
During the reign of Catherine II, in 1764, the Empress's ceremonial bedchamber was converted into the Diamond Room. Contemporaries wrote about it as the richest cabinet of jewelry. The interior was created by the architect Yu.M. Felten. under the direction of academician A.E. Fersman, he is engaged in the certification of crown values.
First half of the 20th century
At the beginning of the First World War, as the front approached St. Petersburg, the imperial regalia, crown values, the genealogical book of the Russian Imperial House, and the wills of members of the imperial family were evacuated to the Moscow Kremlin and placed in the Crown Hall of the Armory.
The evacuation was carried out hastily, but with incredible care for the valuables being transported. The chests contained an Inventory of 1898 with a revaluation of each item. This document served as the basis for subsequent study and publication of the collection.
Tiara "Russian Beauty".
Second half of the 20th century – beginning of the 21st century
The fifties opened a new page in the development of the country's subsoil. In 1954, geologist from Leningrad L.A. Popugaeva discovered the first diamond kimberlite pipe"Zarnitsa", in 1955 the Mir pipe was discovered - one of the largest fields in Yakutia. The collection of Gokhran was replenished with a number of large domestic diamonds, then the works of modern jewelers. In addition, the Diamond Fund houses a unique collection of gold and platinum nuggets, including the famous Mineralogical Collection of Catherine II.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Soviet state, on November 2, 1967, a temporary exhibition of the Diamond Fund exhibition was opened in the building of the Armory Chamber. It was decided to show the collection to guests who came to Moscow for festive events. It was assumed that the unique exhibits would be displayed for a year and then returned to Gokhran for storage, but the exhibition became such a major event in cultural life country and the whole world, that by a special resolution of the Government it was decided to transform it into a permanent one.
In connection with repair and restoration work, visitors enter the Kremlin through the Trinity Gate, exit - through Spassky and Borovitsky. Visitors enter and exit the Armory through the Borovitsky Gate.
From June 6
The passage to the New Kremlin Square is temporarily closed.
From May 15 to September 30
The Moscow Kremlin museums switch to summer operating hours. Architectural ensemble open to the public from 9:30 to 18:00. The Armory is open from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets are sold at the box office from 9:00 to 17:00. Closed on Thursday. Exchange electronic tickets is carried out in accordance with the terms of the User Agreement.
From May 15 to September 30
The exhibition of the Ivan the Great bell tower is open to the public.
In order to ensure the safety of monuments in unfavorable weather conditions, access to some cathedral museums may be temporarily limited.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
