The Gem-Materials Research group at the JGU Mainz is part of the Mineralogy unit at the Institute of Geosciences. Based on a contract between the University and the City of Idar-Oberstein the "Institute of Gemstone Research Idar-Oberstein" was founded in the sixties of the last century.
Nowadays it is the branch of the Gem-Materials Research group at the JGU situated in the European Gem-Centre, running there a gemological laboratory and cooperating with the international gem trade and gemologists.
The objectives of the Institute of Gemstone Research Idar-Oberstein are twofold: It has to fulfill the original duties of a university institute regarding research and teaching with the special topic of gem materials in mineralogy.
On the other hand it focuses on applied problems of the gemological sector, such as: research in the field of gemstones, enhancement of gems and general manipulation of gemstones, technological problems arising in the gemstone industry as well as scientific research on proof and tests of genuineness of gems.