Уральские самоцветы

"This book is about one of the most unique factories not only in the Urals and not even only in our country. Cutting semi-precious stones and diamonds, creating amazing products made of colored stone: jasper vases, malachite boxes, monumental products and souvenirs - this is the scope of his activity. It combines an industrial enterprise and an artistic workshop.

Naturally, the emergence of stone cutting in the Urals - in the richest storehouse of jaspers and marbles, malachite and gems, in the industrial working region.

The plant (since 1977, the production association "Ural Gems") was born 250 years ago - in July 1726 - as a small workshop. It became the Ekaterinburg lapidary factory. During the years of Soviet power, it grew into one from the leading enterprises in the industry.

The high skill of modern stone cutters and lapidaries did not come suddenly - the experience of generations is compressed into it, it accumulated bit by bit over centuries. Today's stone masters need to know their past, the experience of their predecessors, their successes and mistakes, their hopes and disappointments. You should turn to the past not only for comparison, you need to be able to learn from the past, learn from both successes and mistakes.

"Ural Gems" is the world's largest center for artistic stone processing. Stone products created by Ural stone cutters and lapidaries are widely known not only in our country. Paris and London, New York and Tokyo know them. They bring joy to people, tell about the wealth of underground storerooms, about the beauty and generosity of the soul of the “stone craftsmen.”