Gem Pursuit

Matthew Weldon of Courtville Antique & Vintage Jewellers
  • 0.0 (0)
  • EDUCATION
  • TWICE MONTHLY
Gem Pursuit Podcast

Explore the endlessly fascinating stories behind famous pieces of jewellery. Become captivated by the phenomenal gems that form deep within the earth's crust. Be inspired by some of the most incredible craftspeople and designers the world has ever seen. Join Matthew Weldon, CEO of Courtville and GIA-certified gemologist Alyce Ketcher on their gem pursuit as they use their unique knowledge, passion and expertise to illuminate the magical and mysterious world of antique and vintage jewellery. Never miss an episode, subscribe and stay tuned. Get social with Courtville, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok www.courtville.ie #jewelry #jewellery #arts #history #design #gemstones #antiquejewelry #artdeco #education #victorianera #edwardianera #vintagejewelry

  1. 16 SEPT

    Insider Tips for Antiques Fairs

    One of the best places to find unique and special pieces of jewellery is at antique fairs.  At Courtville, they’re one of our absolute favourite things, both to shop and showcase at,  and we’ve visited some of the best in the world! They are a haven for antique jewellery lovers and in this episode Matthew and Alyce have got all of the top tips for beginners and seasoned collectors alike. From types of fairs to dealer etiquette, to honing to skills to spot a diamond in the rough, this is a must listen for your next trip to an antiques fair.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Understanding the different types of antique fairsPreparation for navigating the trade fair experienceSpotting hidden gems and avoiding dudsHow to work with dealers to ensure a rewarding experienceThe top antique jewellery fairs to attend from Matthew and Alyce’s favourites MORE INFORMATION https://www.courtville.ie/  IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES It's really for those who are really interested in jewellery, whether you're a collector of jewellery, a lover of jewellery, a connoisseur, or if you're in the industry itself. It's a great way to see what pricing is like, what tools are available, what certification standards are expected, and what trends are currently happening. - Alyce Ketcher Anyone who's ever applied here or inquired about work, the real indicator for me that they have a real interest in antique jewellery is that they've gone to a fair. - Matthew Weldon Don't go mad. Sit within what's comfortable, and do not go over it. It's really easy at first to get carried away.  - Alyce Ketcher  If you have an emotional connection to it, I think that's definitely one to go for. - Matthew Weldon  If it's dear today, it'll be dearer tomorrow, and if it's cheap today, it'll be cheaper tomorrow. - Matthew Weldon KEYWORDS #antique #fair #jewellery #tradeshow #cartier #tips #vintage

    51 min

  2. 2 SEPT

    Hollywood's Jewellery Box: Ruby Slippers & Yellow Diamonds

    Jewellery has played a big role in some of our favourite Hollywood movies, with some pieces creating massive cultural influence and connecting with audiences.  Matthew and Alyce are taking you to the big screen to look at some of the most iconic pieces and why they have captivated us in classic films. From sparkling ruby slippers to huge diamond necklaces, we share the history and craft behind them and their importance to the story. Matthew and Alyce also talk about the unchangeable nature of jewellery throughout time and how that makes tangible connections for us, whether with family, history or movie stars.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Jewellerys role in Hollywood storytellingThe iconic brooch that glistened in black and white CasablancaSparkling ruby slippers later recreated with real rubies Moulin Rouge’s Satine necklace and it’s intricate designThe Tiffany Yellow Diamond and notable women who have worn it MORE INFORMATION https://www.courtville.ie/  Casablanca Brooch  https://pl-collection.com/products/flato-the-casablanca-brooch  Moulin Rouge Necklace  https://kathleenlynagh.com/jewelry/satines-necklace-by-canturi-for-moulin-rouge  Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers  https://www.si.edu/object/dorothys-ruby-slippers%3Anmah_670130 Tiffany Yellow Diamond  https://www.tatler.com/article/lady-gaga-tiffany-diamond-oscars-audrey-hepburn   Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES Because of the story that jewels are able to help tell, they're connected to some of the most important moments in people's lives. Alyce Ketcher Jewellery connects us in such a tangible way, and then they live through onto the next generation. And it's these stories that really have inspired so many films to be created. - Alyce Ketcher  Although the times have changed and the stories have come and gone. The jewellery has never actually changed. So I think it's the permanence of it. - Matthew Weldon  It's interesting that it's created specifically for that film, and it's actually real jewels. A lot of jewellery in the films that we looked at weren't actually real jewellery, and then they were recreated subsequently. - Matthew Weldon  It's all about what you aspire to have, it's about the things that you desire. That's what the whole film is about. - Alyce Ketcher  KEYWORDS #jewellery #film #tiffany #casablanca #rubyslippers #diamond #movie #audreyhepburn

    30 min

  3. 19 AUG

    Pursuit In Paris: Cartier

    Paris is home to one of the most high profile names and design houses associated with fine jewellery in history, the iconic Cartier.  This week Matthew and Alyce are taking a deep dive into the world of Cartier with a very special guest. Olivier Bachet is a Cartier expert and author of two books on their incredible work, including his most recent, ‘In The Beginning Was The Line; Cartier Art Deco Drawings 1910-1930.’   Olivier shares the process of Cartier designs during this period, including the colourful influence of Charles Jacqueau, and why the sophisticated world of early 1900s Paris was such a special time for jewellery. He also shares his tips on how to spot an authentic piece if you’re lucky enough to come across one for your collection.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Cartier’s Art Deco Drawings 1910-1930How one young designer influenced huge change in Cartier designs The impact of globalisation on modern jewellery design Jewellery etiquette and cultural influences in this sophisticated timeWhat creative inspiration is found in the design library of Cartier designers  MORE INFORMATION https://www.courtville.ie/  In The Beginning Was The Line, Cartier, Art Deco Drawings 1910-1930 By Olivier Bachet https://iaja-expertise.com/books/  Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES Paris is the navel of the world. It was definitely the case in 1900. If you wanted to start an artistic career, you had to go to Paris. - Olivier Bachet  What he liked, Charles Jaco, mainly was colours. Before 1909 Cartier jewellery was only white, it was made only in platinum and diamonds. So when Charles Jaco arrived in the company he decided to put colours in the jewellery. - Olivier Bachet  Cartier became, in 20 years time, the most famous jewellery brand in the world. - Olivier Bachet  The big difference between nowadays and these times, 100 years ago, is sophistication. - Olivier Bachet  Cartier was producing jewellery with its own taste. The idea behind it was, let's make jewellery that will be recognizable everywhere in the world with our style. - Olivier Bachet  KEYWORDS #jewellery #paris #design #cartier #drawings #production

    49 min

  4. 5 AUG

    Pursuit In Paris: French Crown Jewels

    Paris is one of the most amazing cities in the world to visit museums and galleries full of antiques, jewellery and history. One of the most fascinating histories of France is the story of their Crown Jewels.  Matthew and Alyce were lucky enough to see some of what’s left of the French Crown Jewels on their recent business trip to Paris. In this episode they take you on the winding journey of where the collection came from, and more importantly ask the question of where they all are today. Being known for featuring some of the most beautiful diamonds in the world with incredible provenance, Matthew and Alyce share their favourite pieces from the collection, along with where you can visit them for yourself.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT The history and significance of the French crown jewelsWhy the majority of the French crown jewel collection was sold at an 1887 auctionIncredibly famous and valuable diamonds from the collection Where you can see the remaining pieces of the collection Lost jewels that have recently been discovered in auctions or private collections MORE INFORMATION https://www.courtville.ie/  A French Belle Epoque sapphire and diamond double row cluster ring in platinum. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8UAu0hMloP/?img_index=1  The French Crown Jewels in The Galerie d’Apollon https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/sun-gold-and-diamonds  Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES We've actually recently seen these pieces in the flesh. But it's important to get an understanding of the history of these pieces, because the French crown jewels definitely had a lot of ups and downs and they accumulated slowly. - Matthew Weldon  I think that's really important to mention for these particular jewels, we think it's a little bit of an icky story. Well, it doesn't really matter. If it's beautiful, people can overlook the ‘ick’. - Alyce Ketcher  When it was acquired by the French family in 1661, it was considered one of the most beautiful diamonds in the world. - Alyce Ketcher  What I really like about some of these old, iconic diamonds is that they're not shaped like any other stone. - Matthew Weldon  Where are the crown jewels today? Anybody could have a piece on and not know, that's the truth of it. - Alyce Ketcher  KEYWORDS #crownjewels #diamond #gemstones #louvre #history #france #royalfamily

    47 min

  5. 22 JUL

    Pursuit in Paris: The Louvre

    Paris is always a good idea and no antique and jewellery lover's trip to this beautiful city would be complete without visiting the Louvre Gallery.  On a recent business trip Matthew and Alyce got to visit some of the most iconic spots in Paris for history, antiques and jewellery. Having walked 20,000 steps around the Louvre, they saw some incredible pieces and have all of the tips, tricks and must-sees for anyone who plans to visit. Although it would be impossible to see the full 35,000 strong collection of the museum, they reveal their favourite takeaways, including a room full of royal jewels, the unique architecture of the building and the world’s most famous painting. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT The history of how a royal palace became the iconic Louvre GalleryHighlights from the 35,000 piece collection in the gallery Why the world’s most famous painting is so special The Apollo Gallery, home to the French Crown Jewels Top tips and must-sees for visiting the Louvre Gallery  MORE INFORMATION https://www.courtville.ie/  Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES It's a museum today, but it did have a longer history where it was a royal palace. It was built at the end of the 11th century, start of the 12th century. That blows my mind, because it's 800 years ago, and it looks incredibly contemporary for that time period. - Matthew Weldon   Even if you removed all of the artwork that is inside of it, all of the sculptures and the beautiful antiquities and everything from it, the palace itself would still be a destination to see in itself. - Alyce Ketcher  When we walked into that room to see the Mona Lisa, she was smiling at everybody. Her smile was not just for us. - Alyce Ketcher  The masterpiece that struck me as well because of its sheer scale and because of the jewellery in the photos, was the coronation of Napoleon portrait. - Matthew Weldon  KEYWORDS #louvre #monalisa #museum #masterpiece #french #gallery #palace #artwork #jewellery

    47 min

  6. 8 JUL

    Pursuit In Paris: Musée des Arts Décoratifs

    If you are a lover of antique jewellery there are some really special places where you can see the best of the best of antique and vintage pieces, and today we’ve got a recommendation for you.  The Gem Pursuit team recently took a business trip to beautiful Paris and while on their travels they visited the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The museum houses pieces from some of the most iconic artists and designers such as René Lalique, Georges Fouquet, Henri Vever. Matthew is joined by a very special guest, our researcher Véronique Goguen, who travelled all the way from Paris to record with us in Dublin. They give you an in depth guide on visiting the museum, the pieces you should be looking out for and the ones that really grabbed their attention on their visit.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT The incredible, diverse collection at the Musée des Arts DécoratifsWhat you can see from artists such as René Lalique, Georges Fouquet, Henri VeverThe history of how the 5000 strong collection was obtained A jewellery piece that revealed a hidden love affair Tips for visiting the Musée des Arts Décoratifs MORE INFORMATION A French Belle Epoque sapphire and diamond ring  https://www.instagram.com/p/C8UAu0hMloP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  An antique French diamond set ring https://www.instagram.com/p/C8PqorQPfKW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==    Henri Vever’s Sylvia https://www.vever.com/en/pages/sylvia  Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is definitely renowned for its prestigious art nouveau collection. - Véronique Goguen The pieces and the artists who also make them, they're really where jewellery transcends art. - Matthew Weldon  This was a hidden love story. It's only when the son that was born from this affair donated the piece to the museum that they were able to confirm this secret love affair. - Véronique Goguen If you can find a piece of jewellery and get the original gouaché drawing with it, it's extra special. - Matthew Weldon  KEYWORDS #paris #jewellery #artnouveau #brooches #jewels #louvre #french #MuséedesArtsDécoratifs

    30 min

  7. 24 JUN

    Defining Movements: Victorian Period Pt. 3

    As we come to the end of our mysterious and magical pursuit through the Victorian period, we’re looking at an era that collectors are most likely to have pieces from.  Today we’re exploring the Aesthetic Era, which was led by radical artists and designers who wanted to break away from the strict norms and traditional morals of the time. Matthew takes us through the changes happening in the world at the time, from technology to discoveries and lifestyle, that demanded for new ways of design and was embraced by craftspeople. He explains the iconic motifs of this era and his trade tips for spotting the beautiful pieces from this time.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Cultural changes and rebellions that led to the Aesthetic Period Technology, discoveries and ways of life that impacted how jewellery was madeIconic motifs of the Aesthetic era The crafting ideas of art for art’s sake Trade tips and tricks, including what hallmarking can tell us  MORE INFORMATION Courtville Victorian Collection  https://www.courtville.ie/victorian/ Gypsy rings  https://www.courtville.ie/?match=all&subcats=Y&pcode_from_q=Y&pshort=Y&pfull=Y&pname=Y&pkeywords=Y&search_performed=Y&search_id=&q=gypsy+ring&dispatch=products.search Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES I'm super excited about this one because it is the time period where if you have an interest in antique jewellery or you know, you're going to different sales or antique fairs or shops, this is where you will actually have a chance of encountering pieces from this era. - Matthew Weldon  The aesthetic period was almost a backlash against these kinds of these stuffy or stiff fashions and values, which is really defined by the previous part of the Victorian era. - Matthew Weldon  This is what the Aesthetic period was about, it was art for art's sake. Things have to be handmade. It was an environment where the crafts-person could make it from scratch to the finished product. - Matthew Weldon  KEYWORDS #jewellery #queenvictoria #victorian #diamonds #victorianperiod #antiquejewellery #pearls

    35 min

  8. 10 JUN

    Defining Movements: Victorian Period Pt. 2

    As we continue on our mysterious and magical pursuit through the Victorian period, we’re taking a look at the mini-eras defined during the reign of Queen Victoria.  Today we’re moving on from the Romantic era into the Grand era, which began with the sudden death of Prince Albert and was defined by advancements in technology, travel and ancient inspiration. Matthew and Alyce explain the ways of the world during this time period and recognisable elements found in jewellery from the U.K., some which have origins further afield. They of course have some trade tips to help you discover and date pieces for your own collection too.  THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Tragic changes in Queen Victoria’s life that started The Grand Period The influence of technological advancements in light and travel Worldly treasures brought home by explorers on The Grand Tour Revivals inspired by a fascination ancient world discoveriesMore availability and innovation for diamonds, opals, silver and more  MORE INFORMATION Courtville Victorian Collection  https://www.courtville.ie/victorian/ Gem Pursuit Fine Goldwork episode:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6K3cvcs5J3pDjtsI3YFtDM?si=645389ef9a354277b  Social Media IG - @CourtvilleAntiquesFB - @CourtvilleantiquesTik Tok - @matthew.weldon    YouTube - @courtvilleantiquePinterest - @courtville QUOTES The most unexpected thing happens, which is the loss of her husband, Prince Albert in 1861. It was a huge shock to the whole family, but in particular to Victoria, who I believe never really recovered from this. - Alyce Ketcher  What fascinated me about what was going on at this time period was the rate of technological change. - Matthew Weldon  All of these items, we still see them today, so they are beloved pieces and souvenirs that were collected during The Grand Tour and would have had sentimental value. - Alyce Ketcher  At this time period, people were super interested, even obsessed, with the ancient world. And there was lots of archaeological finds as well, which spurred this even further. - Matthew Weldon  KEYWORDS #jewellery #queenvictoria #victorian #diamonds #victorianperiod #grandtour #silver

    43 min
See All (78)

About

Explore the endlessly fascinating stories behind famous pieces of jewellery. Become captivated by the phenomenal gems that form deep within the earth's crust. Be inspired by some of the most incredible craftspeople and designers the world has ever seen. Join Matthew Weldon, CEO of Courtville and GIA-certified gemologist Alyce Ketcher on their gem pursuit as they use their unique knowledge, passion and expertise to illuminate the magical and mysterious world of antique and vintage jewellery. Never miss an episode, subscribe and stay tuned. Get social with Courtville, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok www.courtville.ie #jewelry #jewellery #arts #history #design #gemstones #antiquejewelry #artdeco #education #victorianera #edwardianera #vintagejewelry

Information

  • Creator
    Matthew Weldon of Courtville Antique & Vintage Jewellers
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 122095 2020 experts@courtville.ie
  • Show Website
    Gem Pursuit

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada