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. ...
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An Eberron Actual Play Podcast In the City of Sharn, full of commonplace magic, subtle powers, and ruthless criminals, anyone can make their fortune in one moment only to lose it and their life in the next. One small inquisitive agency tries to scratch out a living uncovering truth for anyone who’s willing to pay. The changeling Witz and the warforged Sevens are imperfect people in a city of perfect chaos. Will they bring justice to the city? Or will they find themselves torn apart by sinist ...
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We all know the story of the sinking of the RMS Titanic but something that's lesser known is what specific jewellery and other luxury items were on board the most opulent ship on earth when it sank to the bottom of the Atlantic. In the first two parts, Matthew and Alyce look closely at some of the insurance claims made after the disaster, which pro…
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The third and final part of our St Patrick's series for March (a few days late!). The prevalance of bog in Ireland makes us one of the best places in the world to find the unusual material known as Bog Oak and it makes some amazing jewellery. Matthew and Alyce talk through how Bog Oak is formed, how it has been used to make jewellery and share some…
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A special St Patrick's Day episode celebrating what is perhaps one of the most historically significant pieces of Irish jewellery ever discovered. Matthew and Alyce talk through this incredibly intricate and sophisticated piece in detail, giving an insight into its function and importance in Early Medieval Ireland. We also hear the story of its dis…
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The Love Story of Michael Collins & Kitty Kiernan
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Gem Pursuit is doing a special run of Irish-themed episodes for the month of March! In this first one, we explore the courtship and romance of Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan - a love story set against the backdrop of Ireland’s fight for independence. Through published letters and diaries, we journey into the private world of one of Ireland's mos…
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Put a Ring on It: Proposals Past and Present
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To mark an end to Valentine's weekend, we thought we would do a special Gem Pursuit episode to share a few stories of marriage proposals down through history including the first ever diamond solitaire engagement ring (the real first one!) as well as the fascintating story of how Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora wound up getting hitched. We also…
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Tales of the Trade (Live from Miami Beach)
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The second and final part of Gem Pursuit's trip to the US of A. In front of a live audience at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show 2025, Matthew spoke with Michael Singer of Windsor Jewellers and Olivier Bachet of the International Antique Jewellers Association (IAJA) who shared their experience of working with antique & signed jewellery, gave so…
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The Life & Crimes of Murph the Surf (Live from Miami Beach)
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Gem Pursuit goes Stateside! In front of a live audience at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show 2025, Matthew and Alyce tell the incredible story of Jack Roland Murphy - AKA Murph the Surf - one of the most notorius jewellery thieves in US history. Hear the details of the infamous heist of the Museum of Natural History in New York where he and his…
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A walk through the Museum of Natural History in NYC
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Matthew and Alyce start off the year with a quick visit to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, one of the most impressive gemstone and mineral collections in the world. Alyce puts Matthew's gem knowledge to the test, while Matthew concentrates on keeping them both out of trouble... www.courtville.ie Get social with Courtville, …
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In our final Gem Pursuit episode of the year, we answer some of our listeners burning antique jewellery questions. Matthew and Alyce reveal what's in their own personal collections, clear up which is the most valuable colour for sapphires and shed some light on the significance of colour seasons when choosing that dream piece of jewellery, as well …
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Our final icon in this series is Alyce's all time favourite, La Doña, Maria Felix, the Mexican film star who was renowned for her exquisite beauty and charisma. Alyce and Matthew discuss her phenomenal jewellery collection which included the Ashoka diamond as well as taking another look at her iconic serpent and crocodile necklaces from Cartier. We…
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Icons of Jewellery: Evalyn Walsh McLean
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The life of Evalyn Walsh McLean - a mining heiress and socialite in the early 20th century - is perhaps the quintessential story of the American dream. Her Jewellery Icon status was never in doubt due to her ownership of two of the most legendary diamonds in history - the Hope Diamond and the Star of the East. Matthew and Alyce also discuss the cur…
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In this episode, we shine the spotlight on a modern-day jewellery icon known for her signature flair—Rihanna. Known for her trailblazing style and unapologetic love for luxury, the Caribbean queen has become one of the most captivating jewellery icons of our time. Matthew spills the tea about the time he met Rihanna while Alyce takes the opportunit…
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In this episode we put the spotlight on the Queen of Diamonds herself - and maybe the most talked about person in the history of the podcast - Elizabeth Taylor. Alyce takes an educated guess at Liz's love language as well as the possible origin of this lifelong fixation while Matthew drools over the jewels. We also provide an alternative perspectiv…
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In the first episode of the new Icons of Jewellery series, Matthew and Alyce look at the life and legacy of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his immense influence on jewellery. Alyce finds some big clues to Napoleon's attachment style in his love letters to Josephine while Matthew has ample opportunities to display his command of th…
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Jewellery and history lovers listen up, we’re taking you on a Courtville field trip to one of Ireland’s most fascinating museums. The National Museum of Ireland is filled with 4000 year old treasures and insights into the lives of our ancestors. Matthew and Alyce went to see some of the incredibly preserved jewellery and were absolutely blown away …
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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 be…
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Hollywood's Jewellery Box: Ruby Slippers & Yellow Diamonds
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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 nec…
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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, ‘…
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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 epi…
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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 incredibl…
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Pursuit In Paris: Musée des Arts Décoratifs
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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 house…
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Defining Movements: Victorian Period Pt. 3
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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 take…
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Defining Movements: Victorian Period Pt. 2
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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 inspi…
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Defining Movements: Victorian Period Pt. 1
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One of the most well-known jewellery movements is defined by the reign of Britain’s Queen Victoria. Having sat on the throne for 63 years, the Queen’s personality, life and interests inspired many evolving trends in the world. Over this mini-series, we’ll be taking a closer look at the eras of the Queen’s reign, with this episode focusing on the Ro…
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Courtville recently displayed at an incredible antiques fair in the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York and our very own Alyce got to check out an exhibition of one of the most prestigious art deco artists while on her travels. Tamara de Lempicka had a fascinating life, one that has now been made into a broadway musical. Her unique, standout style ha…
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One of the beauties of antique jewellery is that it can serve as a reminder of defining moments or movements in history that led to truly unique pieces. Today, we’re taking a look at the jewellery that was inspired by and created for the suffragette movement in the UK. These political pieces are some of the most collectible antique jewellery you wi…
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Unlike the fleeting trends of the modern day, antique jewellery comes from times of defined eras and movements that inspired many artists and makers. We’ve covered jewellery eras in a past series but we never got to dive into this incredible movement that shaped art, design, architecture and of course jewellery. Although sometimes considered an acq…
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We’re back with a very special bonus episode of our Royal Regalia: A History of Splendour series after a listener request for an episode on the crown jewels of Sweden. Sweden’s Kingdom has a history spanning over 1000 years. The protected jewel collection features some of the most impressive parures and tiaras you’ll ever see, including a bejeweled…
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We have come to the end of our special series ‘Royal Regalia: A History of Splendour’ and for our final episode we’re taking a look at some jewels close to home. Although you may not have known this country would have crown jewels, we’ll find out the history that led to their establishment, how they trace back to British royal regalia and the suspi…
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We’re just over half way through our short series, Royal Regalia: A History Of Splendour, looking at the stories and histories behind some of the world’s most famous crown jewels. Today, we look at a collection shroud in family spats and colonial controversy. The British Royal Family has always been subject to criticism and the history of their jew…
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We’re continuing on our magical and mysterious pursuit through the world of royal jewellery and this week, we’re talking about a collection of crown jewels that has been accumulating over many centuries. The Iranian National Jewels stand as one of the world’s most expensive and extensive collections in the world. Matthew and Alyce examine their tum…
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This season we’re taking a magical and mysterious pursuit through the world of Royal Regalia: A History of Splendour, a topic that has been long-awaited and requested many times from our wonderful listeners. In the first episode of this season we’re taking a look at a country with one of the most magnificent histories and royal jewel collections, D…
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For avid jewellery collectors it can sometimes feel like a piece finds its way to you without even having to look for it. That was certainly the case for Victoria Waller, a passionate and knowledgeable collector who received a very unique and special piece just a week after her mother passed away. Victoria shares the incredible story of how her nam…
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Collecting Antique Jewellery | What You Need to Know
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The world of antique jewellery is both magical and mysterious, and Gem Pursuit is always trying to help you develop your own understanding, and your collection! Whether you’re new to antique jewellery, or a collector trying to broaden your knowledge, Matthew and Alyce are bringing you the ultimate book to guide you. John Benjamin’s ‘Starting to Col…
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year and as a little gift from Gem Pursuit to you this festive season we’ve got a very special edition of Gem Trivial Pursuit! Matthew and Alyce go head to head to see who is the greatest quizmas master of all and not with some laughs, and questionable knowledge, along the way. Find out what year the Hallmark car…
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‘Tis the season and for our bonus episode of Season Eight Matthew and Alyce take a look at the history of gift giving from the Three Wise Men to Napoleon. Gift giving can be traced back to 40,000 years ago, with figures made of woolly mammoth ivory. From the thoughtful gifts of the three wise men, to one of the biggest rubies ever documented and ev…
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A picture tells a thousand words and long before photography, jewellery was telling the stories of the wearer, memorialising loved ones and even harbouring secrets. Matthew and Alyce take a journey through the history of imagery in jewellery and celebrate a craft that became a dead art thanks to modern technology. People were capturing memories thr…
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The value of gold has skyrocketed over the last number of decades, which makes it a limited and expensive material to work with. Matthew and Alyce share the unique ways this noble metal was crafted in the past and why many types of goldwork are now considered a dead art. Goldwork traces all the way back to ancient times but in this episode the focu…
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Given the time of year it felt only right to look at some of the what some might call the ‘creepier’ dead arts. Matthew and Alyce take a journey through hair art, teeth jewellery and taxidermy in this shiver-inducing episode. Although they’re not for everyone, we find out how these pieces were important mementos of times passed for people to rememb…
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In this episode Matthew and Alyce dive into the dying art of enamelling. Although it’s something we might all be able to find on items in our own homes, finding a skilled enameller who can create art to the standard of the past is next to impossible. Enamelling can be found in many forms and today we look back on the 2500 years of the art, hear abo…
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Lapidary Some of the unique art forms of jewellery creation are dying out thanks to modern technology and lack of training options Today we’re taking a look at the dying art of lapidary or gemstone cutting. Matthew and Alyce discuss the history of the art and why it has become so difficult to find modern masters of the craft, along with sharing the…
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To celebrate over 50 episodes of Gem Pursuit Matthew and Alyce are taking you through a journey of their top five episodes. It was no easy task deciding on our top five but you’ll hear stories of Godly gemstones, the lost city of gold and the brutal standards of one very famous jeweller. We’ll also be looking ahead to Season 8, which will be in you…
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Onyx has a long and fabled history and although many will (correctly) associate it with the Art Deco era, it was also an important gemstone at many other periods throughout history. We talk about how different cultures have viewed this gem and the way its colouration impacts upon this. We also discuss banding, Tutmania and sugary treatments... View…
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We celebrate our 50th episode with Matthew's favourite gem, that stone with the incredible, one of a kind play of colour that is Opal. Known as the pride of Australia, it's a gemstone Alyce knows pretty well but she talks about how her initial perception has changed since when she was a kid growing up Down Under. Listen to the end for the triumphan…
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Renowned for it's remarkable colour-changing properties and 10,000 rarer than diamond, Alexandrite is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary and sought-after gemstones on earth. Matthew and Alyce give an overview of the short history of the gem, provide some insight into it's fascinating colour change and, as usual, offer a few nuggets of insigh…
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Jade is a super versatile gem with a rich history and enormous cultural significance all across the world. Matthew explains the difference between toughness and hardness when it comes to gemstones while Alyce shares some more stories from her own cultural heritage and personal jewellery collection. www.courtville.ie A Tape Deck podcast…
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Long known as "the Great Imposter" due to the frequency with which it was mistaken for ruby and other more commercial gemstones, Spinel is nonetheless a rare, beautiful and durable gem that is especially prized amongst dealers in the antique jewellery trade. Famous Spinels discussed include the Black Prince's Ruby and the Côte-de-Bretagne in the Fr…
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This episode focuses on one of Matthew's favourite gemstones, Peridot. Alyce shares some some fascinating Polynesian peridot mythology and reveals why she'll never ever be able to forget how to identify Peridot! Matthew talks about a stunning piece containing Peridot which has mysteriously disappeared... www.courtville.ie A Tape Deck podcast…
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We journey deep into the gemological weeds in this episode to discuss the characteristics of this naturally colourless gemstone. We discover some of the history and lore of Topaz, the reasons why Topaz can vary wildly in value, as well as what to be mindful of when caring for your own Topaz pieces at home. As always, we will also be talking about s…
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Opaque, porous and relatively soft, Turquoise is an incredibly unique - and therefore highly-prized - gemstone and yes, you guessed it, it's all about the colour! www.courtville.ie A Tape Deck PodcastBy Matthew Weldon
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