The most impregnable storage in the world, where billionaires keep gold and diamonds (as well as Pokemon cards) (13 photos + 1 video)
Category: Interesting photo stories, PEGI 0+
Today, 06:48
Bulletproof glass, reinforced steel doors, biometric fingerprints and iris scanning are straight out of a spy novel. In the heart of London’s Mayfair, next to the iconic Dorchester Hotel, all this technology has become a reality to keep the world’s richest people’s most valuable belongings safe. We’re talking about IBV International Vaults London, known as “the world’s most exclusive private vault.” 
The bank is so secure that director Sean Howie joked: “It’s like Fort Knox without the Marines.”
The Park Lane vault is the brainchild of South African multimillionaire Ashok Sevnarain. Until 2017, the building housed a branch of Barclays Bank, but has since undergone a full-scale transformation. 
"We had to completely rebuild the building," says Howie. "The walls were completely exposed and we didn't want anything like the Hatton Garden heist to happen again."
In 2015, Hatton Garden was the scene of what was considered the biggest robbery in British history. The four thieves carried out their activities over four Easter weekends, when many nearby businesses were closed.
The thieves entered the premises via a lift shaft, using a power drill to drill through the vault's 50cm-thick walls before making off with £14m worth of jewellery and bullion, £9.5m of which is still missing.
That's why Howie reinforced the walls, floors and ceilings with rebar, which can withstand "days of drilling" and keep the treasures safe. The ventilation system was also removed to eliminate any potential weak points.
IBV International Vaults London Director Sean Howie
When you enter the building, the level of security is immediately apparent. To gain entry to the vaults, customers must undergo a series of biometric checks, including an iris scan and a biometric fingerprint check.
The sleek aesthetic is dominated by a massive vault door with the word Chubb written on it. The three-ton behemoth is actually an original bank vault door from the 1940s. It was too heavy, so it was left in place as an “added layer of security.” Next door is a control room protected by bulletproof glass that can withstand an AK-47.
A reception area with walls decorated with exquisite hand-carved wood
A three-ton original door from the 1940s
"We have three more control rooms that monitor us 24/7. One in Dubai and two in Africa. We have four sets of eyes on us now. We don’t rely on one person to do the job right,” Howie explained.
There are panic buttons throughout the building that alert the control room in the event of an emergency.
There are 561 safes in total, ranging in size from a small box to an entire room that can be rented for £2.5 million a year. The smallest ones start at £1,000 a year, and many are used for jewellery, gold bars, wills. However, an increasing number of customers are storing collections of rare Pokémon cards or ledgers with cryptocurrency passwords and logins.
IBV also has a “gold and diamond room” where clients can buy or sell jewelry and rare coins. It hosts exclusive events where the wealthiest people can admire priceless treasures such as a platinum commemorative coin, a Jacob&Co watch, and Fabergé eggs.
"Gold and Diamond Room"
Confidentiality is paramount, so no one knows exactly what treasures are hidden behind the vault doors.
"Sometimes clients tell us what's in the vaults themselves, but we never ask," the director noted.
So who are these people? Royals, footballers, businessmen, and celebrities.
When asked about the screening process for potential clients, Howie's expression turned serious: "We have strict rules. It's basically a private club. We're very selective about who we let in. Rest assured, we do a lot of screening."
"We have to make sure we're not dealing with people whose funds are coming from illicit sources."
A 15-kilogram pure gold coin issued by the Royal Mint in 2022 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
Another feature of the IBV Vaults is free insurance provided by Lloyds of London, covering valuables worth up to £100,000.
Rare coins on display at IBV International Vaults London
