Dear State Secretary Petra Dick-Walther,
Dear Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf,
Dear President of the World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri,
Distinguished speakers and guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour and pleasure to welcome all of you today on occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Training Centre of the German Gemmological Association.
We have not only prepared two days that are packed with gemmological information, with contributions from distinguished speakers from many countries, but also a Gemstone Party, that will give us the opportunity to celebrate, and we are looking forward to being the host for all of you this weekend in Idar-Oberstein.
We are honoured, that the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Lord Mayor of Idar-Oberstein are joining us this morning and will deliver a welcome address.
When the German Gemmological Association was founded in Idar-Oberstein in 1932 by the gemstone dealer Georg O. Wild together with other industry colleagues, this was also a reaction to the challenges that the production of synthetic rubies, for example, posed for the credibility of the entire gemstone and jewellery industry.
From the beginning, close communication and collaboration between the gemstone industry and the scientific community have played a crucial role in advancing the field of gemmology.
Therefore, I am delighted to welcome today Dr. Guido Grohmann, Managing Director of the BVSU, the Federal Association of Jewellery, Watches, Silverware and Related Industries and Joachim Dünkelmann, Managing Director of the BVJ, the Federal Association of Jewellers and Jewellery and Watch Retailers, Jörg Lindemann, Managing Director of the Federal Association of the Precious Stones and Diamond Industry and also a Board Member of the DGemG and Michael Seubert, President of the Central Association of German Goldsmiths and Silversmiths.
A longstanding connection exists with the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and I would like to extend a very special welcome to Prof. Dr. Roman E. Botcharnikov, Director of the Institute for Geosciences and Dr. Tobias Häger Head of the Gem-Materials Research Group as well as the external Institute for Gemstone Research of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Idar-Oberstein.
This partnership has led to the development of specialized instruments that enable the non-destructive analysis which is required to identify the various gemstones and to distinguish them from synthetic counterparts and imitations.
One of the most important goals of the German Gemmological Association was to organise gemstone courses for members of the gemstone and jewellery industry, and to disseminate the gemmological knowledge and eventually help secure the trust into the authenticity of the product. With seminars and lectures being held by Georg O. Wild himself as early as 1935.
A more systematic approach was taken in the 1950´s, when Professor Schlossmacher was the Head of the External Institute for Gemstone Research of the University of Mainz in Idar-Oberstein, and one of the main figures behind the refounding of the German Gemmological Association in Idar-Oberstein after World War II.
In the 1960s, demands from the gemstone and jewellery industry for systematic gemmological training for the next generation grew ever louder. It was obvious that the demand for gemmological courses could no longer be met ‘on the side’.
Under the leadership of Dr. Hermann Bank, who was elected president in 1968, gemmological education was organized together with Dr. Godehard Lenzen into three educational fields and systematic curricula for each field were established. With substantial financial support from the Ministry of Economy of Rhineland-Palatinate, the fulltime training centre of the German Gemmological Association could be realized in 1975. Dr. Ulrich Henn will address the trends and highlights of the first 50 years of our training centre in more detail in his speech.
The gemstone and jewellery industry face increasingly complex challenges. The nature of these challenges has shifted over the decades — from synthetic rubies and sapphires with ever-improving manufacturing techniques, to complex treatment methods for natural gemstones, which include high temperature and diffusion treatment methods, to today’s debates around synthetic diamonds and their marketing, which are at the centre of attention in both the trade and public media.
What remains the same is the fact, that only with a solid educational foundation can professionals reliably address the gemmological aspects of these challenges to the gemstone and jewellery industry and guide their clients with confidence.
Therefore, gemmological education is not just an academic pursuit — it is a business imperative.
Over the past five decades, the DGemG training center has contributed significantly to the professionalism of our industry. From 1975 till today, the full time training centre of the German Gemmological Association has grown into a cornerstone of professional gemmological education — nationally and internationally.
In preparing for this anniversary, we took the opportunity to reconnect with many alumni — and their comments and stories reaffirmed how important their time at DGemG here in Idar-Oberstein was for their future in the business. Only last week, I spoke with a graduate from the very first English-language course, held 42 years ago. Today, he is the owner of a multimillion-dollar business. And yet, he still remembers exactly where in Idar-Oberstein, as a young man, he used to buy gemstones and minerals - with a very limited budget at that time. His DGemG diploma still hangs proudly in his office.
This story is just one example of what makes the education at DGemG so special. The combination of in-depth gemmological training and the opportunity to gain an inside view into the business activities of the gemstone manufacturing and trading hub of Idar-Oberstein provides young professionals with the skills — and the connections — that will help shape their careers in the gemstone or jewellery industry.
In today's fast and competitive gemstone and jewellery business, expertise in gemmology is more important than ever. Consumer expectations have been on the rise. Clients demand not only beautiful and rare gemstones and jewellery products but also trust and transparency. Well-trained gemmologists are essential in ensuring that these standards are met.
To meet the evolving needs of our industry, cooperation between institutions such as the DGemG and CIBJO Academy is essential. Through collaboration, hands-on learning, and knowledge-sharing, we prepare the next generation of gemmologists to meet global standards and uphold the values of our profession.
As we look to the future, we want to reaffirm our commitment to education as the cornerstone of our industry’s success, and we are honoured, that so many internationally renowned speakers have followed our invitation, to share and discuss their insights.
It is also reassuring and a great pleasure that our plan to focus on gemmological education for this anniversary has found resonance with befriended gemmological associations and institutions from so many countries:
- The Gemmological Institute of America, represented by Shane Mc Clure
- Gem-A, the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, represented by Juliette Hibou, Judy Zhan, and Gabriel Kleinberg
- The Swiss Gemmological Society, represented by its President Martin Julier, together with Michael Hügi, President of the Scientific Commission
- The Federation for European Education in Gemmology (FEEG), represented by its current Chairperson Ilaria Adamo, who also represents the Italian Gemmological Institute
- The Belgian Gemmological Society, represented by Guy Lalous
- The Danish Gemmological Society, represented by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors Eva Dybkjaer and Niels Ruddy Hansen
- The Gemmological Association of Finland, represented by its President Pettery Sten
- The National Museum of Natural History Naturalis, represented by Hanco Zwaan, Head of the Netherlands Gem Laboratory
- The Polish Association of Jewelry Appraisers SRJ, represented by Piotr Sobisiak and Jacek Zieta
- The Ceylon Academy of Gemological Science, represented by Umesh Wariyapperuma
As I come to a close, I would like to express my hope that the two days ahead of us, which are packed with opportunities to look into gemmological education from various perspectives will be inspiring for all participants. The entire team of the German Gemmological Association looks forward to be your host, and we all hope, that you will enjoy not only the gemmological program, but also the Gem Party that will take place at the Training Centre tonight.
Thank you very much!
Dr. Thomas Lind, 24.05.2025
