British actress Dame Helen Mirren views the Aurora Diamond Collection at the Natural History Museum in London. © Natural History Museum.

The Aurora Collection, widely considered the world’s most comprehensive suite of naturally colored diamonds, has gone on display at the Natural History Museum in London. Containing 296 stones at a combined weight of 267.45 carats, the famed collection illustrates the full range of fancy colors in diamond.

These rare treasures will be housed in The Vault, a new permanent gallery that opened at the museum November 28, 2007. The Vault features fine gems, crystals, metals, and meteorites from around the world.

The Aurora Collection was assembled over the course of 25 years by private collectors Alan Bronstein and Harry Rodman. It was first exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, from 1989 to 2005.

"Gems like these were not meant to be imprisoned in a dark underground safe for the momentary pleasure of a few eyes," said Bronstein. "The true value of a collection is sharing it with as many people who are interested to experience nature’s diversity of expression. It’s thrilling to think that the collection will be seen by the 3.6 million visitors that come to the Natural History Museum each year."

For more information on the exhibit, visit www.nhm.ac.uk/galleries.