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It is a beautiful season to head for Idar-Oberstein. Autumn brings its warm colours turning nature into golden yellow, bright red and deep orange shades.
The forest is one vibrant palette, a prelude to the splendid colours of the gemstones on display that will delight over 3000 visitors, all people from the trade, gemstone merchants, goldsmiths, jewellers, who will stroll in the halls of the Intergem fair from 3rd till 6th October. You may wonder how the colours of gems mirror the season when you ‘see’, meaning, gaze in awe, at the mandarin garnet of intense, vivid warm orange, a heavy weight of more than 100ct, the highlight this year at the House of Constantin Wild. Nothing compares with such beauty; maybe the 5 ct natural yellow diamond in Gabrielle-cut at Ph. Hahn Söhne could top it?
IT IS JUST BREATHTAKING
As a matter of fact, the “stars” at this trade fair are the rarest gems in the world, be it in size, shape or colour. Exceptional aquamarines, beryls, morganites, amethysts, citrines, garnets, topazes, tanzanites, demantoides, tourmalines or peridots, sunstones and moonstones… just to name a few, they all found their way to the small city of Idar-Oberstein renowned for the high quality skills of gemcutting – the highest quality to be honest. It is in this valley and its surroundings, Kirschweiler, Stipshausen… that gems have been cut from generation to generation. Many enterprises were founded in the 19th century. Fifth and fourth generation cutters continue the family tradition, sometimes with drastic and appealing innovation to explore new avenues, introduce new cuts…
It is sheer delight to see the latest creations by master gemstone cutter Tom Munsteiner, considered a superstar in the trade. And even more wonderful when these truly precious gems are set in contemporary gold jewellery designed by award-winning master goldsmith Jutta Munsteiner.
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, here, coloured gemstones are a cutter’s best friend. As one gemcutter tells: “You need an understanding and communicate with the gem – otherwise you won’t do a good job or justice to the stone. The eye tells you what to do and your ‘Fingerspitzengefühl’… “
Ah! This nice German word says it all: the touch on the tip of your fingers. Holding the gem firmly but gently to cut creates a bond… you feel the stone and the stone feels you.
The latter is also true for diamonds as Sir Gaby S. Tolkowsky explains in the course of his lecture. The legendary diamond-cutter of Antwerp, himself born into a family of diamond-cutters didn’t need images or visual support to make his point. Sir Tolkowsky captivated his audience sharing his own, very personal way of looking at things, asking simple but profound questions. What is light? What is life? What is an eye? What is beauty? What about the asymmetry of clouds and flower petals? “If you think about it deeply, do we really know?” he wonders, leading his listeners to see that people all around the globe adorn themselves from time immemorial, how wonderful a diamond is – what it is, pure like water and holding fire – two ‘opposite’ elements together in only one material, a transparent mirror that reflects your own face… “Every stone is unique – you’ll never find another one the same”, says Sir Tolkowsky, who knows this like nobody else. Isn’t this like ‘Sir Gabi’ himself and his unique fashion of telling ‘stories’…? There is only one… like him.
Dr. Klaus Schollenbruch of the German Gemological Association e.V. commented on current gemmological issues. He had observed that stones, such as rubies and sapphires of which the cracks are filled with leaded glass, show up in the market more frequently. This technique has become hard to detect, even using specific and advanced professional tools. As for ‘new finds’ on the gemmarket, Dr. Schollenbruch stated that ‘zultanite’ is today the trade name of a rare colour change gemstone of a long-known deposit in Turkey. Other ‘new finds’ are still waiting to be mined in gembearing soils in Africa, often in risk zones, like Ruanda or Congo…
Professionals could learn more about corals in the jewellery industry from Diplom-Mineralogist Fabian Schmitz of the German Gemmological Association e.V. in a quite academic review that he presented in the lecture hall.
Such is the Intergem, that you not only are able to purchase the most beautiful or finest gems and gemset jewellery but also have access to the knowledge, expertise of the local gemexperts, mastercutters and scientists.
What began as a window to showcase the result of the labour of the local gem and diamond companies, has evolved into a more international trade fair.
Over the years Intergem opened its doors to pearls from various origin in Asia, overseas companies specializing in beadstrings while the offer of fabulous opals from Australia got extended with stunning specimens coming from mines in Brazil and Mexico. A black opal of 22,6ct from Australia at the stand of Outback Opals and a superb fire opal of Mexico at the stand of Emil Weis are collector’s items. The opal find of March 2012 in the mining area ‘Mamoeiro’ Pedro Segundo, Brazil is presented at the Creativum.
Stones for sale are faceted, cabochon or fancy shape gemstones, in all colours of the rainbow. The individual cut makes a large stone a good investment too. Traditional techniques such as carving cameos, bowls, or in taglio style are continued as well. Some of the most delicate and exquisite objects d’art can be seen at the booth of Heinz Postler.
Nebert is proud to unveil a bowl in chrysocolla, which was finished the day prior to the opening of the fair. In high demand by a selective group of art lovers, galleries and museums, are the animal sculptures handcarved with extraordinary detail at Studio Robert Juchem.
From loose stones to designer jewellery and gem objects, the choice is wide.
Outstanding remains, and will always remain, the local tradition of the art of gemcutting of individual stones, the hallmark of Idar-Oberstein. Next year’s 30th edition of the Intergem, from 3rd till 6th Oct. 2014, will be your rendez-vous to come and see for yourself ! www.intergem.de
Note:
Intergem: Facts and figures
• 29th International trade fair for gems, jewellery and gem objects.
• 5th edition in the ‘new’ exhibition halls located in the industry parc of the Nahetal.
• At Idar-Oberstein, (Kreis Birkenfeld) from 3rd till 6th Oct. 2013.
• With 139 exhibitors there was a slight decline in number. More than ever can be said that quality prevails over quantity… at the Intergem Fair.
• 3000 to 4000 visitors were expected. With 3200, the number remained at the same level as in 2012.
• Many exhibitors have taken part in the “Best of” initiative launched by the fair organizers, which allows them to highlight particularly rare and unique items by displaying them in special cases on pedestals. This way, visitors and international trade press representatives could more easily identify Intergem highlights.
• In 2014: 30rd anniversary
• Save the dates: 3rd – 6th Oct 2014
