Editor’s Note
This article highlights an upcoming exhibition in Bitterfeld, Germany, set to open in January 2026, which will explore the region’s little-known history as a producer of synthetic gemstones. It serves as a reminder of the diverse and often overlooked chapters within industrial heritage.
Bitterfeld-Wolfen (dpa/sa) – With an exhibition, the Bitterfeld District Museum delves into the city’s past as a producer of gemstones. From the end of January 2026, a newly conceived show will recall this almost forgotten chapter of Bitterfeld’s industrial history, as Sven Sachenbacher from the Cultural Department of the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district announced.
Visitors can expect photo-text panels with background information on gemstone production, a video animation about the crystal growth process, parts of machines and apparatuses, and specially illuminated gemstone blanks in a variety of colors. According to Sachenbacher, gemstones in various colors were produced in Bitterfeld for regional and worldwide distribution.
According to its own information, the Bitterfeld District Museum displays the cultural and industrial history of the region on three floors, as well as exhibitions on mineralogy and natural history. The Bitterfeld Electrochemical Works were the first factory in Germany to produce synthetic gemstones starting in 1910. These were used, among other things, as gemstones for jewelry, as bearing stones for watches and meters, and as pickups in record players. The gemstone factory was closed in 1990, and the facilities were later demolished.