Louped: The podcast for the gem and jewellery curious

Farewell September! Thank you for joining us on our final Sapphire episode of the month, we hope you have enjoyed this deep dive into this stunning gemstone. Please join us in wishing a final happy birthday to our September babies as well!

Make sure to join us next month for a closer look at the mysteries of opal and perhaps even a special spook-tacular episode.....

Additional Resources:

https://www.gia.edu/sapphire-quality-factor

https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/summer-2017-inclusions-sapphire

https://caratx.com/blog/why-do-sapphires-come-in-so-many-colors-the-complete-scientific-guide

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laiafarrangraves/2025/05/30/3509-carat-regent-kashmir-sapphire-makes-history-by-reaching-95-million/

https://www.garrard.com/blogs/house/princess-diana-engagement-ring-inspired-1735-collection-sapphire-cluster-setting?srsltid=AfmBOopDcb7gGgvmTLFXgwDrTgmgq6qM5DilJRSFUkbnYKBgLGVequfZ

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-superb-coloured-sapphire-and-diamond-ring-6113381/?

If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at [email protected]

Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Thank you for joining Cem and Kate as they discuss the London Jewellery Show!

In this special bonus episode your two co-hosts explore Olympia and the London Jewellery Show. In this totally unscripted and casual chat we discuss favourite tables, what to expect upon entering, the layout and space, size of the event, and of course sparkly gorgeous gemstones and jewellery.

If you have ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors in a jewellery trade show, we're here to give you our experience and to shed a little light on why these events are so special!

If you're at all interested in exploring the official London Jewellery Show site or if you're at all curious about the vendors we mentioned please do check out their websites and socials:

https://harmonygems.uk/

https://gemmologyrocks.com/

https://www.charlesbexfield.com/

https://www.bktrings.co.uk/second-hand-jewellery

https://ino-creative.com/

https://gvukdesign.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooFDH31vD_j4-KUsM0tUVNE-IIDr9DpevnY0qSwHSLGSk6jOmdh

https://www.cooksongold.com/

https://www.thejewelleryshow.co.uk/

If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at [email protected]

Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Welcome September and Sapphire Season!

Additional Resources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/sapphire-gemstone

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sententiaeantiquae.com/2025/11/12/heroic-appearances-or-what-did-helen-look-like/amp/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapphire

https://www.etymonline.com/word/sapphire

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/helen-troy

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saturn-god

https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/in-the-stars-gems-and-the-indian-tradition

https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/j/jupiter--equivalent_to_zeus,_a_greek_and_roman_deity.htm

https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/71524/does-augustine-ever-say-that-christians-in-his-time-identify-their-deus-god-wi

https://kbonikowsky.com/2011/01/14/were-the-10-commandment-tablets-blue/

https://www.torchweb.org/torah_detail.php?id=56

https://www.lillicoco.com/pages/birthstones-september-sapphire?srsltid=AfmBOopAtWuQHh_ePl20acra1X8Svs_26TVPzFe57VwKRN0f66TxlAEj

https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/1-26.htm

https://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/education/sapphires-101/medicinal-properties-sapphires/?srsltid=AfmBOoqwgcmzwTO6BLpWYLcj7Ow9wrfQqT5d9zSHXbi0ugQnelvd0cxd

https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shanipriya

https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/september-birthstones

Contact Us:

@loupedpodcast

[email protected]

buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Thank you for joining us for our last episode of this month of August! We hope all of our August babies have had an amazing birthday and if you've not previously liked your birthstone, perhaps you're now viewing peridot through a different lense.

Make sure to join us next month as we explore the colourful world of sapphires and provide you with a little bonus episode centered around our visit to the London Jewellery Show. We'll tell you all about what it's like to walk around a space like this and just what you might expect to see, the vendors, the jewellery, the loose gemstones, and everything in between!

We have of course added some additional resources below, as well as our contact details and our Buy Me A Coffee link if you feel so inclined. We hope you enjoy the last of our August episodes and are excited for next month!

Additional Resources:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/high-jewelry/peridot-glass-and-diamond-le-vol-de-la-pierre

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/natural-history-including-fossils-minerals-meteorites/a-large-slice-of-the-fukang-pallasite-meteorite

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/msa/elements/article-abstract/19/3/138/627700/Olivine-The-Little-Green-Science-Machine?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://skyjems.ca/pages/encyclopedia-orthorhombic-system?srsltid=AfmBOoq4JI3I_3jpCjmQ5DEM35bXSvTtfNtdSBZQj0tKVBJBi2VsH4Bf

https://australian.museum/learn/minerals/gemstones/peridot/

https://www.gia.edu/peridot-description

If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at [email protected]

Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Welcome August! This is one of our Marmite gemstones, you either love it or you hate it. That's right, we're talking about peridot this month, so make sure to tune in!

Additional Resources:

https://www.gia.edu/peridot-history-lore

https://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/august-birthstones/

https://www.langantiques.com/university/peridot/

https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2025/08/mrs-chester-beattys-cartier-peridots-sparkle-at-the-va-in-london.html

https://www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedia/peridot/?srsltid=AfmBOoqzbvqsTIIcMy7lSfWUWDzsDbME2yM-CP2cN81c7KOkq19JRdwy

https://www.goodcatholic.com/a-real-wizards-duel-st-patrick-and-the-druids/

https://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/st-patrick.html

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/explore/collections/geogallery/10002835

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/244936

https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.18686321

https://www.dreweatts.com/news-videos/peridot-the-august-birthstone/

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/x11442

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?page=2&page_size=15&q=peridot

https://www.berganza.com/knowledge/gemmology/gemstones/peridot?srsltid=AfmBOooN8DdtvtGQIgYthL9AEk9vrJrCyg_hd7awSLB13UHiODdvQPg4

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/explore/collections/geogallery/10002808

If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at [email protected]

Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Thank you for joining us for this month of July! We hope you've enjoyed our ruby episodes as much as we have enjoyed putting them together. This episode we discuss the science and values side of things and Kate gets into why she's a little wary of this beautiful gemstone. Spoiler alert, it's all because of the variety of clarity and colour enhancing treatments that can be found within the ruby world. We also chat a bit about Liz Taylor because we can't discuss rubies without addressing her gorgeous collection.

For this week's episode our thumbnail is of a synthetic ruby. So for those of you who are curious what a synthetic ruby looks like, now you have a great example of one!

We have of course added some additional resources below, as well as our contact details and our Buy Me A Coffee link if you feel so inclined. We hope you enjoy the last of our July episodes and are excited for next month which is all about peridot!

Additional Resources:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/magnificent-jewels-2/a-superb-ruby-and-diamond-ring

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/elizabeth-taylor-ruby-necklace-cartier-mike-todd

https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2025/07/dame-elizabeth-taylors-royal-cartier-ruby-moment-in-london.html

https://www.gemdat.org/gem-3473.html

https://www.gia.edu/ruby

https://www.gia.edu/birthstones

If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at [email protected]

Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Additionally, if you happen to be visiting Scotland, make sure you check out Ballintaggart Cook School if you have the time and opportunity!

https://ballintaggart.com/

Happy July from Louped: The Podcast for the Gem and Jewellery Curious! We are officially half way through this year and our first season. We would like to thank all of our loyal listeners as well as those of you who have just recently joined us. This is the first of our ruby episodes where we talk all about the history of these beautiful gemstones. Kate digs more into the names and minutiae and Cem is along for the ride!

We have of course added some additional resources below, as well as our contact details and our Buy Me A Coffee link if you feel so inclined. We hope you enjoy this first of our July episodes and please join us in wishing a happy birthday to all those who celebrate this month!

Additional Resources:

https://thenaturalrubycompany.com/education/ruby-history/rubies-in-antiquity/?srsltid=AfmBOoqvGdWwRP9Uw-_2P_ljDwFygPxjAnJdwK_lwFU-9a7oRUZbIfAs

https://sarata.com/bible/web/verses.about/rubies.html

https://www.vulcans-forge.com/blog/news/cursed-gemstones-the-black-princes-ruby?srsltid=AfmBOoq2RNT-xa_0IqW9hn7PPKiKGS_tOPwB2bx7XzhaeQw57qvLaGiW

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/what-are-balas-rubies-and-ruby-spinels/

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%208%3A11&version=KJV

https://www.etymonline.com/word/ruby

https://www.britannica.com/science/Orientalism-cultural-field-of-study

https://explorersweb.com/great-explorers-jean-baptiste-tavernier/

https://www.veerasakgems.com/articles/the-fascinating-cultural-history-of-rubies/

https://www.gia.edu/ruby-history-lore

If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at [email protected]

Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Thank you for joining us for our final Alexandrite episode for the month of June! We hope you have enjoyed this look into our first phenomenal birthstone of the year. It has been a little break for Cem and for Kate but they are raring and ready for the next half of this season of birthstones!

Resources:

https://www.gemdat.org/gem-109.html

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/explore/collections/geogallery/10002786

https://www.raregemcollection.com/post/top-10-rarest-alexandrites-sold-at-auction-in-2025?srsltid=AfmBOorGL45g0uNENMrWurO6ZAj9jCT6u6aq-j9Zb_jvUpUdan14WSwN

https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/wn13-titanium-synthetic-alexandrite

https://www.britannica.com/science/orthorhombic-system

https://www.mindat.org/article.php/2793/Crystallography%3A+The+Orthorhombic+System

https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/spring-2019-pleochroism-color-change-in-faceted-alexandrite-influence-cut-orientation

https://www.gia.edu/gem-synthetic

https://www.raregemcollection.com/post/alexandrite-color-change-explained?srsltid=AfmBOoousIaRGYk7DdtdRj2pW2kLZ4EhJXfITdNUW7hCorptlbZ8BaX8

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/magnificent-jewels-2/an-exceptional-pair-of-alexandrite-and-diamond

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/magnificent-jewels-2/an-exceptional-alexandrite-and-diamond-ring

For those of you wondering about our recs for Paris, we've popped those details below as well for your next visit!

https://www.arts-et-metiers.net/

https://lamijean.fr/

https://www.robertetlouise.com/en/

https://auxlyonnais.com/

Contact us: @loupedpodcast, [email protected], buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

Welcome the month of June! This birthstone is Alexandrite, a very unique and rare variety of chrysoberyl and our first phenomenal gemstone of the year. This episode we talk about not only Alexandrite's origins but we give you some context for chrysoberyl and go into a little detail about just what a phenomenal gemstone is. We would like to wish all of our June babies a very happy birthday and to let you know that if Alexandrite is a bit out of your budget, you have two alternative birthstones that you can still enjoy: moonstone and pearl!

Additional Resources:

https://www.gia.edu/alexandrite

https://www.gia.edu/alexandrite-history-lore

https://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/june-birthstones/history-of-alexandrite/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alexandrite

https://www.thejewelleryeditor.com/jewellery/article/these-alternative-coloured-gemstones-moving-very-precious-circles/

https://www.langantiques.com/university/chrysoberyl/

https://www.berganza.com/knowledge/gemmology/gemstones/chrysoberyl?srsltid=AfmBOopHNI52WvNEve2CJdvGoy4NdU99Ma349sRp5hERR_Hwj_m9wTqi

https://naturalgemstones.com/education/historical-perspective-of-chrysoberyl/?srsltid=AfmBOord7aJ8j3DLNm5I4QOItdHco9YcxRpm0QYbx65PKW80kVPxnAbp

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/5403

Thank you for joining us for our last emerald episode of the month! We hope you've enjoyed this science and values chat and we'll catch you in the next episode!

Additional Resources:

https://emeralds.com/education/understanding-the-concept-of-jardin/?srsltid=AfmBOooljRi8ckL13LGw_f5OPW1t3VT_swJx7XxbY3oZ7dlfBz8pqLPQ

https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/a-closer-look-at-the-4-most-expensive-colombian-emerald-rings-sold-at-auction

https://www.christies.com/en/stories/the-aga-khan-emerald-ffab6ed1e977403c852bb445ee724b0f

https://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-spring-auction-updates-most-expensive-gem-ever-other-records

https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/colombian-emeralds-a-detailed-guide-for-collectors-and-enthusiasts

https://youtu.be/z0SbWFva8y8?si=f5O0RUXWyR4mkIE8

https://emeralds.com/education/emerald-characteristics/the-nature-of-emeralds/?srsltid=AfmBOorqdFy8r10K2pMzYglSyJV8Aljagu2HfQU9UApu37JHLoaeaHRa

https://sothebys-com.brightspotcdn.com/c4/94/a6e12988458baa13935a1141272a/mughal-spectacles-pr-en.pdf

https://www.gemdat.org/gem-1375.html

https://emeralds.com/education/emeralds-believed-to-aid-healing/?srsltid=AfmBOorXmFfpkbztoUcxnygCOp-bysxmLFSXT7Ybjwz1CCAJo1ya0TMp

https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/fashion/watches-jewellery/bvlgari-mediterranean-high-jewellery

Emeralds supplied by Harmony Gems

Jewellery created and photographed by Hearth and Bellows

https://harmonygems.uk/

https://www.hearthandbellows.com/

@loupedpodcast, [email protected], buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast