An inspiring visit to Idar-Oberstein
Last weekend I had the honor of attending, by invitation, the home fair of a renowned gemstone supplier in Idar-Oberstein, the heart of the European gemstone world. This town has exuded gemstone craftsmanship, tradition and refinement for centuries. The company itself has existed since 1890 and is deeply rooted in that rich history. The house fair celebrated its 40th anniversary, a special occasion that was celebrated in private company at Idar-Oberstein's finest hotel.
Parkhotel Idar-Oberstein. Rented for guests of the Hausmesse
A warm welcome
Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a sumptuous lunch that was prepared to perfection. Between courses there was a convivial atmosphere; jewelers, designers and traders from all over Europe met, shared their experiences and talked about their passion for stones, materials and crafts. It's nice to notice again and again that although we share the same craft, we each have our own signature.
Behind thick vault doors
Lunch was followed by an exclusive tour, where you could pick out what was of your liking. Accompanied, we were allowed into the heavily secured rooms, behind the thick vault doors where the most special gemstones are carefully preserved. There, among showcases full of sparkling sapphires, spinels, tourmalines, emeralds and diamonds, you could feel the age-old knowledge and love for the craft.
I bought some beautiful stones there, partly for existing collections and designs, and partly for new jewelry that was already beginning to form in my mind at that time. Some stones just seem to whisper to you what they want to become.
(AI generated image. It didn't seem appropriate to photograph inside the vaults!)
The art of grinding
What always strikes me in Idar-Oberstein is the quality of the cut. The gemstones I see there are all cut with extreme care. Not only brilliantly cut stones, but also countless special fancy cuts and other shapes that catch the light in a surprising way. The precision of cutting is essential, not only for the beauty of the stone, but also for the technical side of my craft.
A perfectly cut stone is very important for setting. Take, for example, an alliance ring in which brilliant-cut gemstones are placed around the ring. If the stones all have slightly different proportions, too thick a rondist (the side) or too deep a pavilion (the tip), you can't set them properly. And if the table, the top surface of the stone, is too large or too small, the gemstone will not shine optimally. Perfection in cutting is therefore not only aesthetically important, but also functionally indispensable.
An evening of class and humor
A stylish four-course dinner followed in the evening, catered in detail and presented by two well-known radio presenters. Their humor, anecdotes and warm presentation made the evening light and festive. Between the dishes there were inspiring conversations with peers from all over Europe.
Although I do everything myself in my studio - from design to forging the precious metal, setting the stones and finally selling them - the contact with other craftsmen is valuable. We inspire each other, exchange knowledge and follow each other's work, often through social media. It's nice to notice how much respect and commitment exists within this craft.
Hotel this weekend was for guests of the gem fair only.
Back home full of inspiration
After a well-groomed breakfast, I left home with my bag filled with some wonderful stones and my head full of new ideas.
The visit to Idar-Oberstein was another reminder of what makes this craft so special: the combination of beauty, tradition and the freedom of one's own handiwork. In this town, where stones have been cut and traded for generations, I found renewed inspiration to create jewelry that tells stories with attention and craft.
