The Kemi Gemstone Gallery is a gem itself

Gemstone Gallery

The Kemi Gemstone Gallery contains one of the greatest collections of gemstones in the world. There are more than 3000 gemstones from all over the world. The gallery building is an old customs house. It was designed by architect Walter Thomé and completed in 1912.

Short-lived monarchy

Here you can study and admire the unique and remarkable crown that was designed for the first and only king of Finland . In December 1917, Finland gained its independence from Russia, as a reaction to the October Revolution in Russia. See photo below.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

An internal unrest ended in a civil war which was won by the White side, i.e. the non-socialist parties. During the war, the White side was supported by Germany. In an effort to strengthen the alliance with Germany, the Finnish parliament elected Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse as the King of Finland.

But before Frederick Charles could move to Finland, the collapse of the Central Powers made the idea of a German-born Finnish king untenable and he renounced the throne. After the new elections, the Parliament adopted a republican constitution in 1919 which has been in effect ever since.
(Photo: Olav E. Johansen/Ossimellom)

Other top gems

The large collection includes also a copy of the Imperial State Crown of England. The copy is so exact and it needs an expert to recognize it from the original.

One of the finest necklaces in the world was designed to the Queen of France, Marie – Antoinette.

The original necklace doesn't exist anymore, but here at Kemi Gemstone Gallery you can see the exceptional beauty of this necklace. The copy was made from the original drawings at the Gemstone Gallery.

At Kemi Gemstone Gallery you can experience an adventure in the fascinating world of over 3000 gemstones. It is really a Lapland jewel in itself.

And here is a map that will help you find the Gemstone Gallery at Kemi.

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