Louped: The podcast for the gem and jewellery curious

Society & Culture

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.

Episodes

  • Emeralds Part 1

    This episode explores the ancient history of emeralds. It covers their significance from Catholic saints and Cleopatra to pre-Columbian South America and the civilisations preceding the Spanish arrival.

  • Diamonds Part 4

    This episode of Louped features guest co-host Shaheen discussing the diamond industry, synthetic diamonds, and alternative sparkly or colorless options.

  • Diamonds Part 3

    This episode, "Diamonds Part 3," delves into the financial aspects of the diamond market, examining the true costs involved and discussing what constitutes an investment grade diamond. It follows previous discussions on DeBeers and marketi…

  • Diamonds Part 2

    This episode of Louped continues the discussion on diamonds, picking up the history with mining in South Africa and DeBeers. It also examines the modern idea of the diamond engagement ring and whether it is a requirement.

  • Diamonds Part 1

    This episode, the first of four April diamond-themed episodes, delves into the history of diamonds, starting with their societal use and origins in India and Brazil. It covers associated mythology and the evolution of faceting, as well as…

  • Aquamarines Part 2

    This episode, "Aquamarines Part 2" from the podcast "Louped: The podcast for the gem and jewellery curious", discusses how to differentiate aquamarine from blue topaz, including details on refractive index and the problems associated with…

  • Aquamarines Part 1

    This episode of Louped explores the history and lore of aquamarines, including their talismanic properties. The discussion touches upon mermaid myths and the role of modern research methods, such as AI, in understanding gemology.

  • Amethysts Part 2

    This is the second amethyst episode, focusing on the science behind the gemstone, including the Moh's hardness scale. It provides links to additional resources for those interested in learning more about amethysts.

  • Amethysts Part 1

    This episode of Louped,

  • Garnets Part 2

    This episode of Louped, the final Garnets episode of the season, explores the science behind garnets, including their formation and the factors influencing their color. It also discusses garnet value and presents recent auction results, pr…

  • Garnets Part 1

    This episode of Louped delves into the history of garnets, covering their mythology, associated superstitions, and even their connection to death and the afterlife.

  • An Introduction to the podcast and birthstones

    This is the debut episode of the Louped podcast, introducing listeners to the topic of birthstones. The episode aims to be a short educational break, and resources for further research are provided.