EINKAUFSFÜHRER - Bundesverband der Edelstein

The German Gemstone and Diamond Industry on the
National and International Marketplace
In spite of the many political and economical disasters which occurred
in the course of the 20th century, the German gemstone industry with its
centre at Idar-Oberstein managed to reach and hold a position which was aptly characterised
by the internationally most renowned special trade paper Jeweler's Circular
Keystone by naming Idar-Oberstein "the world center of coloured stones". Of course,
this traditional centre looks back to centuries of tradition.
In the Middle Ages in the so-called Holy Roman Empire there lived a considerable amount
of gemstone cutters in such business hubs like Nuremberg, Augsburg, Prague,
Milan, Florence, to name only a few. The workshops in these cities generally did not
survive the historical development or have been reduced to meaninglessness. However,
in spite of many wars and destruction to be faced, the cutters in and around Idar-
Oberstein managed to carry on successfully through numerous ups and downs and drawbacks
which this region had to encounter.
A decisive step forward for the industry was achieved in fact by the emigration of
many people from the region, which led to the more or less accidental discovery of
gemstone occurrences in South America, which in turn motivated travels between
Idar-Oberstein and Africa, Asia, or Australia.
Actually, people from Idar-Oberstein have been involved in almost all discoveries of
new gemstone occurrences in the course of this and the previous century. Thus they
provided the basis for making Idar-Oberstein the probably only gemstone
centre in the world, where any existing gemstone is cut or traded.
Trading Rough Stones
The indispensable trade with rough stones provided the basis for Idar-
Oberstein's development towards a world wide centre for coloured gemstones, and it
was this sector which was mainly responsible for enabling the region to face political
and economic disasters as well as the steadily critical tendencies of the last few
years. Only by means of the permanent travels of the rough stone dealers to all the
existing, potential and new gemstone occurrences have made it possible to inspect
and check up on the offer. In order to do so, quick and reliable information is essential.
Knowing the mentality and traditions of the producing countries in question is
another important requirement relevant for any success. - Just as important is expertise
and experience for sorting the qualities, for tapping, sawing and preparing the
lots. The right and appropriate assortment and cobbing of rough stones will decide
about how quickly and at which profit or loss these may be sold.
The rough stones industry reliably supplies the German gemstone centre by holding
partnerships in mines or by means of long-term contracts so that there is a guaranteed
steady flow of the necessary raw material. The large amounts stocked by the
industry offers the opportunity to live through periods of political or economic unrest
which may occur in the various countries of origin without negative influence on the
pricing.
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