GZplus0518_Gesamt_ohneRuecken_ENG

Tradition & Institution
German Gemstone Museum
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01 This agate bowl is one of the many pieces on display 02 The listed Wilhelminian style Villa ‘Purpers Schlößchen’ is home to the German
Gemstone Museum 03 Amethyst druze cluster
A RICH GEM
OF A COLLECTION
With its thousands of gemstones, fascinating minerals and elaborate engravings
and sculptures, the German Gemstone Museum in Idar-Oberstein is a real visitor magnet.
And right now it truly has some spectacular treasures on display.
T
he German Gemstone Museum in
Idar-Oberstein is unique anywhere
in the world,” boasts Director Anette
Fuhr with obvious pride. “There is nowhere
else that deals with gemstones so
broadly and so deeply.” And she’s right: if
you want to find out all about the fascinating
world of precious stones and minerals,
the Villa ‘Purpers Schlößchen’ – a renovated
Wilhelminian style villa located at
Hauptstraße 118 – is just the right place
for you.
Three floors spread over 660 square
metres bring together several thousand
polished gemstones, specimens, crystals
and rough gems.
EXTENSIVE
SCULPTURE COLLECTION
The converted arched cellar is the ideal location
for annual special exhibitions. It is
currently the home to the “Treasures of the
Roman Emperors” collection, a series of
gem engravings by Gerhard Schmidt.
Why not start at the large collection of
selected local precious minerals which
formed the basis for the gemstone industry
in the Idar-Oberstein region? Visitors
are also drawn to the extensive sculpture
collection which combines both the 6,000-
year old history of gem carving with the
modern art of gem engraving. Another fascinating
focus of the museum is the optical
reflectance seen in some gemstones
such as asterism (star-like concentration
of light) or chatoyancy (cat’s eye effect).
Engraving tools, examples of the use
of gemstones in technology and a display
of synthetic stones with the newest products
and models for gemstone cutting
techniques round the exhibition off. But
there’s even more – in the coming months,
the youngest visitors will be able to enjoy a
very special attraction: a reconstructed
gemstone cave full of colourful stones to
discover and enjoy! Swantje Friedrich
www.edelsteinmuseum.de
Opening hours
01 February to 30 April
daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
01 May to 31 October
daily 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
01 November to 14 January
daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
The museum is closed on 24, 25 and
31 December.
048 GZ plus 05/18