Gem Pursuit: An Antique Jewellery Podcast

In this special series of Gem Pursuit , we put a spotlight on some of the most important Cartier pieces of the 20th century, currently on display at the V&A museum in London. In each episode, we take a closer look at a different extraordinary piece, uncovering its story, design, and place in jewellery history. This is your audio guide to the Egyptian Revival scarab brooches, captivating jewels...

In this special series of Gem Pursuit we put a spotlight on some of the most important Cartier pieces of the 20th century which are currently on display at the V&A museum in London. In each episode, we take a closer look at a different extraordinary piece uncovering its story, design, and place in jewellery history. This is your audio guide to the Mountbatten Bandeau , a remarkable jewell for...

The second part of our Titanic special looks in detail at two passenger stories from the disaster and what we can learn about their lives and the time period from the jewellery and other personal items that were recovered from the wreck. www.courtville.ie Get social with Courtville, follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and TikTok This podcast was produced for Courtville by Tape Deck

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 provide an insight into one particularly incredible (...

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 of their favourite examples from history. Matthew...

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 discovery, the origin of the name, and it's lasting i...

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 most significant political and military figures. It r...

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 discuss some of the sweetest (and funniest) propo...

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 some helpful advice to people starting out in...

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 crew managed to steal the Star of India sapphire...

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, follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and TikTok Thi...

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 as answering many more insightful questions from t...

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 also share some important advice on what to look...

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 curse of the Hope Diamond and its origins, while Alyc...

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 opportunity to once again maneovre the conversation towards...

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 perspective on her infamous eight marriages and discuss some...

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 the French language. We also discuss the incredible...

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 by pieces including incredibly crafted fibula bro...

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...

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 the...

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 D...

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 wher...

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 mus...

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...

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 a...