Idar-Oberstein, Germany
Visit of a historical gem cutting workshop.
This workshop was installed before the invention of electricity and still operates with direct water power.
The water wheel even powers a small generator for the light.
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It was nice to visit this historic place and to discover how they cut and polished gemstones before the invention of electricity. See the the little pond and water wheel. It powers the entire workshop by direct transmission to the cutting wheels with a system of overhead pulleys. Idar-Oberstein developped a lapidary industry due to the beautiful agates found there. An astonishing Gemstone Museum re-traces the history of 4000 years of cutting and carving stones into gems. | |
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© Copyright photos by Noreen Masaki