Un punto culminante de una visita al Kremlin, el Fondo de Diamantes muestra la más ostentosa de las joyas imperiales rusas. Originalmente ubicada en una pequeña habitación en el Palacio de Invierno de San Petersburgo, la colección de joyas iniciada por Pedro el Grande creció rápidamente, especialmente después de una gran contribución de la nieta de Pedro, la emperatriz Isabel I. La colección se trasladó a Moscú en 1914 para protegerla de los alemanes y se mantuvo en una bóveda debajo del Kremlin.
Cuando se reabrió en 1926, dos tercios de la colección fueron subastados (en contra de las instrucciones de Peter) para apoyar al gobierno. Lo que quedó se exhibió para altos funcionarios y dignatarios en 1967 y solo se abrió al público después de la caída de la Unión Soviética.
La impresionante colección presenta la corona de coronación de Catalina la Grande de 1762, el zafiro más grande del mundo, el famoso Diamante Orlov de 190 quilates, una de las pepitas de oro más grandes del mundo con un peso de 3,6 kilogramos y numerosos huevos de Fabergé.
Entrance to the Diamond Fund includes a 45-minute audio guided tour. The star exhibition is the Crown Jewels, which include the Great Imperial Crown, Small Imperial Crown, and Empress Catherine II’s Coronation Orb, topped with a 195-carat Ceylon sapphire. Additional exhibitions display fine jewelry from the 18th and 19th centuries, including a magnificent emerald broach that belonged to Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna; a series of ‘Kokoshnik’ tiaras; one of the world’s largest gold nuggets; and a collection of rare gems, including the Orlov Diamond, which adorns the Imperial Sceptre of Empress Catherine II.
The Diamond Fund is located within the walled Kremlin complex. To get there, enter the Kremlin through the southern entrance at Borovitskaya Tower; the entrance to the Armoury Museum is just on the left as you enter. The closest metro station is Borovitskaya (Line 9), a 10-minute walk from the entrance.
The Kremlin is open to visitors daily except Thursdays and during public holidays or official events. Visit early morning on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds. The Diamond Fund closes daily for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. However, at busy times, it’s worth arriving just before closing to purchase your ticket—you will avoid the ticket lines and can come back in the afternoon when it reopens.
A visit to the Diamond Fund goes hand-in-hand with a visit to the Armoury Museum. The collection has more than 4,000 items including jewelry and gold items, ceremonial armor and weaponry, state regalia, and other treasures belonging to the Tsars. Among the many highlights are Catherine the Great's coronation dress, Ivan the Terrible's ivory throne, the Crown of Monomakh, and a collection of Faberge Eggs, most notably the Siberian Railway Egg.
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