| The Diamond Fund at the Kremlin contains thousands of priceless treasures - including gems, jewelry and gold nuggets. Set up by Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century, the collection is still growing. The jewels were put on public display in the 1960s and remain a popular tourist attraction. Yuriy Bokarev, historian, Russian Academy of Sciences, speaking Russian: There was the first wave of sell-offs after the Revolution. These were tough times and it was necessary to sell some jewels to provide poor people with food. Irina Polynina, Chief Expert, Diamond Fund, speaking Russian: People are always asking me how much all of this costs. But these things are priceless - imagine the historical value of a crown worn by seven Russian emperors. There are always some visitors, who ask, why you keep them. Could they not be spent on building houses? Of its thousands of jewels, the Diamond Fund inside the Kremlin only displays the most astonishing items. And heading the collection - the Imperial Jewels worn by the Romanovs since Catherine the Great, including the Imperial Crown decorated with nearly 5000 diamonds and the second largest spinel in the world. Chief Expert of the Diamond Fund, Irina Polynina, says the jewels cannot be valued in monetary terms: People are always asking me how much all of this costs. But these things are priceless - imagine the historical value of a crown worn by seven Russian emperors. She goes on to say that some visitors do not understand ... |
