Louped: The podcast for the gem and jewellery curious

Kate & Cem
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Arts

Just as it says in the title. Together, my co-hosts and I will take you along the branching pathways of the jewellery world and the gem industry. We'll talk science, artistry, practicality, history, value, and even get into curses and superstitions. If you've ever been curious about what you're wearing or if that engagement ring really is an investment, give us a listen.

  1. 6d ago

    Opals Part 2

    Welcome back to our second opal episode of October! This week we chat about the science and value side of this phenomenal gemstone. What causes play-of-colour and do all opals showcase this internal rainbow? Where can we find opals? How are they formed? And many more questions are asked and sort of answered in this our last opal episode! 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. Also, if you would like to contribute to Cem's project, please reach out, we would love to hear from you! We hope you enjoy Opals Part 2 and make sure to check back in at the end of the month for a little spooky surprise... Additional Resources: https://www.planetary.org/articles/20131014-the-gems-of-mars https://www.ft.com/content/87ebc2f8-fb21-4d8d-8657-06efb032edaf https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dinosaur-bones-encrusted-opal-reveal-new-species-australia-180972332/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientists-and-miners-team-up-preserve-opalized-fossils-180972734/ https://www.ga.gov.au/education/minerals-energy/australian-mineral-facts/opal https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6272955 https://gem-a.com/gem-hub/the-world-s-most-famous-opal-gemstones/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2016/07/25/virgin-rainbow-is-the-worlds-rarest-opal/ https://www.opal.academy/home/2020/8/17/template-nomenclature-e2564-5pw5z-x993j-ga7a5-3tr5p-cl5mt-2cbzx-bwg7y https://calvin.edu/news-stories/mineral-treasures-opal https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2015-splendor-outback-australia-opal-fields If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at loupedpodcast@gmail.com Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

    Opals Part 2

  2. Oct 8

    Opals Part 1

    Welcome October or (for those of you who celebrate) Spooky-Season! We are delighted to be discussing opals this month. When questioned, many of our industry friends had a polarising view of this phenomenal gemstone. Some really love the play-of-colour while others wouldn't give opals a second glance. If you feel strongly about this gemstone, let us know, we'd be curious to hear what your thoughts are. 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 October episodes and please join us in wishing a happy birthday to all those who celebrate this month! Additional Resources: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/62704/62704-h/62704-h.htm https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1386236/pliny-the-elder-historia-naturalis-illuminated-manuscript-pliny-the-elder/ https://www.nature.com/articles/141965c0#article-info https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?images_exist=true&page=1&page_size=15&q=opal https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychologys-history-of-being-mesmerized https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/luxury/article/the-strange-tales-behind-the-jewels-at-the-v-and-a-times-luxury-w6hgx0xkd https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/x11339 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/43678/pg43678-images.html https://www.gia.edu/opal-history-lore https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/october-birthstones Credit for the photograph and lovely jewellery to my mom, thanks Mom! If you have any questions or would like to comment on an episode, you can reach us on Instagram @loupedpodcast or by email at loupedpodcast@gmail.com Or if you'd like to buy us a coffee, you can do so here! buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

    Opals Part 1

  3. Sep 24

    Sapphires Part 2

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

    Sapphires Part 2

  4. Sep 17

    Trade Show Gab Olympia London

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

    Trade Show Gab Olympia London

  5. Sep 3

    Sapphires Part 1

    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 loupedpodcast@gmail.com buymeacoffee.com/loupedpodcast

    Sapphires Part 1

  6. Aug 20

    Peridots Part 2

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

    Peridots Part 2

  7. Aug 6

    Peridots Part 1

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

    Peridots Part 1

  8. Jul 23

    Rubies Part 2

    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 loupedpodcast@gmail.com 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/

    Rubies Part 2
See All (24)

About

Just as it says in the title. Together, my co-hosts and I will take you along the branching pathways of the jewellery world and the gem industry. We'll talk science, artistry, practicality, history, value, and even get into curses and superstitions. If you've ever been curious about what you're wearing or if that engagement ring really is an investment, give us a listen.

Information