Hello and welcome to Through The Loupe!

My name is Leigh and i am an extremely passionate gemmologist from Gloucestershire, UK.

Firstly, i want to tell you what inspired me to create this page, and that is simply a love of gemmology and i want to share this passion with people like you. Although there are plenty of books out there, i wanted to create a website to inspire and inform passionate individuals. I want to have a variety of different blogs to suit everyone whether that be an experienced gemmologist, a student, a gem and jewellery lover or someone looking to purchase jewellery!

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So, why gemmology? gemstones and jewellery is something i've had a love for ever since i was about 8 or 9 years old. I remember going on a family holiday to Fuertaventura and there was this little hut on the beach that was just full of gemstones, minerals and fossils and from that moment on, i was hooked. i started to collect my own specimens and spending hours trawling through my mother and grandmothers jewellery boxes like they were a treasure trove. I then discovered you could actually study gemmology and make it a career, so that is what i did.

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In 2016 at 19 years old, i enrolled to Birmingham City University and started a BSc in gemmology and jewellery studies. During my 3 years at university i also studied with the Gemmological Association of Great Britian where i obtained my FGA and DGA prenominals. For those who dont know what this is, it is one of the most  recgonised gemmological qualifications in the world and holds very high standards in the jewellery trade, FGA means Fellow of the gemmological association) DGA (Diamond fellow of the gemmological association). In 2019 i Graduated university with a 2:1 with Honours and then began my career. 

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I currently have the following industry qualifications;

BSc (hons) gemmology and jewellery studies with Birmingham City University

FGA - Gemmological Fellow with Gem-A

DGA - Diamond Fellow with Gem-A

CPAA Pearl specialist with the cultured pearl association of America

GIA AJP - Applied jewellery professional with GIA

C.A.T - Certificate of Appraisal Theory with National association of Jewellers

I have also studied short courses with;

AnchorCert gem lab, International school of gemology, international gem society, GIA, National Association of jewellers, DeBeers and SSEF.

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I constantly strive to learn more and spend a lot of time (and money) investing in my education, i want to use this passion and knowledge i have to help others, which is how 'through the loupe' came to be. I orignally started my instagram page also called through the loupe when i was in university, i then became more active on this by posting images of gemstones in my personal collection and putting some information about the gemstones on there. I will now be linking this website with my instagram and giving you more in depth information on gemstones, jewellery and everything in between!

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