Historical Gem Cutting Regions | Idar-Oberstein
Idar-Oberstein
The small town of Idar-Oberstein (population: 35,000), tucked away in the Hunsrück Mountains of the Rhineland-Palatine region, in the district of Birkenfeld, southwestern Germany, has a several hundred year history of mining and gem-cutting that has made it one of the leading cut-gem trading centers in the world.
Stamp Photo (right): www.iv-schmuck-metall.de
Although primitive hand-dug mining in the Rhineland-Palatine region dates back several thousand years, mechanized mining operations for the extraction of agate, jasper and quartz within the vicinity of the towns Idar, and Oberstein, began in the late 1400s, creating a demand for gem-cutters, stone-carvers, and lapidary artisans to migrate to the area.
During this period the Nahe River in Idar-Oberstein was harnessed to power 100s of water-wheel stone-cutting wheels (Schleifscheiben or wasserradgetriebenen Sandstein-Schleifrädern), and a major gem-cutting industry was born.
Water-Wheel Gem Cutting in Idar
Water-wheel stone-cutting in Idar was an awkward and cumbersome task, with the stone-cutters (Schleifer or edelsteinschneider) performing the majority of their work lying on their belly, situated on "loop tilting devices" [6] (below, right).
Photos: www.edelsteinminen-idar-oberstein.de
By the 1800s, precious and semi-precious colored gemstones were being shipped from around the world to be cut in Idar-Oberstein, and 100s of cutting houses and Ateliers had sprung up in the surrounding countryside, swelling the population to 50,000. By the late 1800s, wages in the area grew to be too expensive for the cutting of lesser materials and the cutting industry began to decline, forcing many of Idar's gem-cutters to immigrate to Brazil.
Idar-Oberstein Carnelian Agate by Michael Zobel (left)
Today, Idar-Oberstein is primarily known for the cutting larger, more valuable gemstones, fantasy cuts (Fantasieschliffe), and the wholesale trade in polished gemstones (geschliffenen Edelsteinen). Every year around September or October, Idar-Oberstein is host to the Intergem trade show (International Trade Fair for Precious Stones and Jewellery).
There are several gemological research institutes [7] in Idar-Oberstein that include the 'German Foundation for Gemstone Research' (Deutsche Stiftung Edelsteinforschung - DSEF), Diamond Grading Laboratory (Diamant-Prüflabor GmbH - DPL), German Association for Gemstone and Jewellery Evaluation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Edelsteinbewertung mbH - DEGEB), Research Institute for Gemstones and Precious Metals (Forschungsinstitut für mineralische und metallische Werkstoffe, Edelsteine/Edelmetalle GmbH - FEE), and the German Gemmological Association (Deutsche Gemmologische Gesellschaft e.V. (DGemG).
On To:
Italian & Flemish Renaissance Gem Cutters
Old European Gemstone Cuts
Fancy Gem Cuts & Fantasy Cuts
Gem Cutting Technology, Equipment & Techniques
Bibliography & Suggestions for Further Study on Gem-Cutting and Lapidary
1. Diamant Museum Brugge, The Bruges Diamond Museum  . www.diamondmuseum.be
6. INTERGEM, International Trade Fair for Gems in Idar-Oberstein . www.intergem-messe.de
3. Victoria Finlay, Jewels: A Secret History . Ballantine Books
4. Mildred Berman, Location of the Diamond-Cutting Industry . American Geographer Vol. 61, No. 2, p. 316-328
5. Idar-Oberstein, German Diamond and Gemstone Laboratories . www.gemcertificate.com
6. Idar-Oberstein Edelsteinminen, Idar Oberstein Jewel Mines . www.edelsteinminen-idar-oberstein.de
7. Edelsteinregion Idar-Oberstein, Industrieverband Schmuck Deutschland . www.iv-schmuck-metall.de
8. The Bead Site, Roman Maps and the Concept of Indian Gems . www.thebeadsite.com
9. Beth Hatefutsoth, The Jewish Community of Antwerp . www.bh.org
10. Joods Historisch Museum, Amsterdam's Boas Diamond Factory . www.jhm.nl
11. Gassan's, Gassan Diamonds of Amsterdam . www.gassandiamonds.nl
12. Francesco Guerrera, Andrew Parke, The Changing Face of the Diamond Industry . specials.ft.com
14. Nationaal Vakbondsmuseum, Amsterdam Monumenten - The ANDB . www.bma.amsterdam.nl
15. Wilhelm Lindemann (ED.), Bernd Munsteiner: Reflexionen in Stein . Arnoldsche Art Publishers
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