“Intergem is not a fair like Basel or Tucson, with crowds of visitors,” says Axel Henn, of Henn GmbH in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. “Those who come here are hard-core stone lovers, as there is very little here but stones, forest, and a few wineries. No nightlife, no world-class hotels, just a concentrated collection of very precious things.” Henn GmbH was one of 141 companies exhibiting at the 2006 edition of Intergem, held Sept. 29–Oct. 2, 2006, in Idar-Oberstein. That represents an 8 percent increase over last year's figures. More than 3,100 attendees from 32 countries viewed their offerings, a 10 percent increase. Those numbers fueled optimism that the area will continue to maintain its share of the global market. A new facility scheduled to open in 2007 is likely to spawn renewed interest in the show. Constantin Wild of Idar-Oberstein displayed his prized 132 ct. fire opal