The Imperial Crown of Russia (1762)

The Crown of Russia was created by the court jeweller Jeremie Pauzie in 1762 for the coronation of Catherine II (Catherine the Great). It was not completed in time for use at the ceremony, but was later used as the Imperial Crown of Russia until 1917. The last occasion on which it was actually worn was the State Opening of the Duma in 1906.

The crown is based upon an ancient Byzantine design - 2 half spheres representing the eastern and western Empires of Rome, connected by a garland of oak leaves and acorns which represent the temporal power of the monarchy.

Made of silver and pearls a total of over 5000 diamonds is set into the crown, including one of the seven historic stones of the Russia's Diamond Collection ... a large precious red spinel weighing 398.72 carats which was brought to Russia by Nicholas Spafary, Russian envoy to China in 1675.

Sophie Augusta Fredericka (nicknamed Figchen) was born in Szczecin, Pomerania - known at the time by its German name, Stettin - to Christian Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst and Elizabeth of Holstein. In 1744 Tsarina Elizabeth selected Sophie as the wife for her nephew Peter, her chosen successor. Sophie changed her name to "Catherine" (Ekaterina or Yekaterina) when she accepted the Russian Orthodox faith. The marriage is reputed to have been a failure due to Catherine's infidelities. She soon became popular with several powerful political groups which opposed her husband.

In 1762, after moving in to a new Winter Palace in St Petersburg, Peter succeeded to the throne as Peter II of Russia. However, his policies alienated the groups that Catherine had cultivated and Grigori Orlov, Catherine's lover at the time, headed a conspiracy that proclaimed Catherine the ruler and Peter was murdered within 6 months of taking to the throne on July 17th 1762. There has been speculation that Catherine was involved in Peter's death, but her complicity was never proven.

The crown is currently on display in the Kremlin in Moscow.

This miniature contains over 300 crystal stones.