Eager-to-buy visitors made for happy exhibitors - that's the score from the 41st Mineralien Hamburg, which came to a close on Sunday. Approximately 20,000 visitors were fascinated by the exquisite range from around 400 exhibitors, who presented a huge selection of sparkling minerals, unique jewels and million-year-old fossils. Cutting-edge special exhibitions and an enticing programme for the whole family perfectly rounded off the extensive lineup. "The visitors seemed to be particularly impressed by the special exhibition. Many stroll through the fair to find gifts for Christmas, and leave the grounds with their bags full," says Bernd Aufderheide, President of the Hamburg Messe and Congress GmbH Management Board, "We are very pleased with how Mineralien Hamburg went."

The exhibitors were also impressed by the eager-to-buy public and gave positive feedback. "We are very pleased," says Steffen Dettmann from the Red Gallery exhibitors. "Friday was already a very good start, and things continued very well after that. We recorded many sales, even in the high four-figure price range," beamed Udo Juchem from the Craftsman Guild of Gemstone Processing, confirming the impression, "I've never experienced a fair opening like this one, we are extremely pleased."

"It was remarkable that customers remembered our products from the previous year, and came back to buy high-quality fossils from us," summarised Joachim Wördemann from Nord Fossil. Martin van Meggelen, from van Meggelen Mineralien said; "We had so much to do, our products were very well received." Jeweller Reinhard Täuber also gave a positive verdict, "The visitors were interested and made purchases, we're pleased."

Not to mention, Harald Mühlinghaus from Opal Imperium was delighted with the large number of very young guests: "After all, these children and adolescents are our future. Of course, I was also delighted with the amount of returning customers." Robert Umbehr from Die Schmuckwerkstatt reported great sales despite price-critical visitors. Fidelis Schindler was of the same opinion: "There were many people who accepted the price for the corresponding high-quality." Heike Ludwig from Opal Dreams agreed with this conclusion: "We were able to sell expensive pieces - all in all, the rush of visitors was brilliant, and the sales were also good."

Exciting special exhibitions for young and old

This year, with the title "Meteorites – ambassadors from distant galaxies," the big special exhibition took us to the infinite vastness of space in the Discovery Hall. There were also three meteorites to be seen from Mars, and some meteorites from the Vatican collection ."The meteorites from the Vatican particularly impressed," says Rainer Bode, Mineralien Hamburg expert and organiser of the special exhibition. The special exhibitions "Saxon Treasures" and "Cephalopod: Of Orthoceras, Ammonites and Thunderstones" also received a great reception.

The 42nd International Trade Fair for fossils, gems and jewels will take place from 6 to 8 December 2019 at the Hamburg fairgrounds.