The Vault

A photograph of 9 colourful precious stones in a white display case. Each reflecting the light in different patterns around them

Some of nature's most unique and valuable treasures are on display in the Vault gallery.

See the world's largest collection of coloured diamonds (they also glow in the dark), and marvel at rare meteorites from out of this world.

Star specimens and exhibits

  • the Dragon, a rare, crystallised gold specimen, considered to be one of the finest mineral treasures in the world
  • the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds
  • the Devonshire Emerald, one of the biggest and most richly coloured emeralds ever found
  • a cursed amethyst with a dark history
  • the Latrobe gold nugget, one of the largest gold crystals ever found

Explore the galleries with the Museum map

Find out how to get around our galleries with the Museum map.

View the map
News

Stunning bright blue, red and pink minerals go on display at the Museum

16 March 2022

The minerals, Tanzanite, Morganite and Rhodochrosite, are richly coloured, great in size and scientifically significant. 

Earthly and Ethereal: Minerals, Rocks and Gems

Explore the highlights of the geological collections, in an online exhibition.

A collaboration between the Museum and Google Arts & Culture.

Discover: minerals and meteorites

Collections

How do coloured diamonds form?

Explore the science behind the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds.

Space

How our solar system was born

Discover how a giant interstellar cloud known as the solar nebula gave birth to our solar system and everything in it. 

Collections

The Imilac meteorite: A gem as old as the solar system

Professor Caroline Smith sheds light on the secrets this rock holds about the formation of our own planet.

Space

Portrait of a planetary scientist

Peering into our solar system's origins with light brighter than ten billion suns - discover the work of a planetary scientist.

  • a piece of the Winchcombe meteorite, from the first meteorite fall to have been recovered in the UK for 30 years

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