Over the past 50 years, the Lapidary Master has built up an extensive archive on the economic and cultural history of the city of Idar-Oberstein—one that is unique in its scope and comprehensiveness. This archive also serves as the written “memory” of the local gemstone and jewelry industry.
“To me, culture means preserving the history of the gemstone and jewelry craftsmanship in Idar-Oberstein, which is of great significance as a unique selling point for the city,” said Dieter Jerusalem, describing the motivations behind his passion for collecting. With great dedication, he built up a collection over the decades consisting of about 500 Leitz binders. It contains original sources as well as copies from newspapers, official gazettes, and other sources. The documents contain comprehensive information on nearly all of the city’s companies that were active in the field of gemstone and jewelry craftsmanship. Authors and journalists from around the world used these sources for research and reports, and television crews were frequent guests at his home. Numerous students wrote their bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral theses under his guidance. Part of the collection consists of original documents that document the postwar period, the French occupation, and the “denazification” in Idar-Oberstein, making them of great historical value.
It was not until late 2025 that Dieter Jerusalem sold his extensive private collection to the city of Idar-Oberstein and donated it to the city archives. The purchase price was financed by numerous donors, most of whom have ties to the city’s economic history and are interested in preserving this knowledge for future generations. For the city archives, Dieter Jerusalem’s collection represents an enormous asset; it provides a broader base of sources, which improves services for users.
Mayor Frank Frühauf informed Dieter Jerusalem of the jury’s decision and congratulated him on receiving the Culture Award. “I am absolutely thrilled to be bestowed with this honor for my life’s work,” said the award recipient. The official award ceremony will take place during the upcoming New Year’s reception. The prize comes with a cash award of 2,500 euros, sponsored by the Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld.