Agate has been mined along the Nahe River Valley in Germany since the 1400's. The Nahe River was used to power the grinding wheels for stone cutting in Idar-Oberstein. When the agate deposits were depleted along the Nahe River in the 1800's, the gem cutters in Idar-Oberstein started importing material from Brazil. Exploration led to discoveries of amethyst, citrine, tourmaline, topaz, and other gemstones.
Idar-Oberstein is still known for the finest agate carving in the world, today Idar imports a huge range of other gem materials from around the world for cutting and carving in Germany and Asia. Cameo master carvers and modern lapidary artists flourish along with rough dealers who scour the world for the latest gem discoveries for export.