The Hidden Gem

Jewellery historian and gemmologist Helen Molesworth joins Laurent Cartier at the V&A in London to explore why gems have captivated humanity for thousands of years. From a childhood geode that broke her leg to curating the museum's blockbuster Cartier exhibition, Helen makes the case that no other subject sits at the crossroads of science, history, art and emotion quite like this one.

Fourth-generation coral specialist Enzo Liverino joins Laurent Cartier to talk about precious coral — a material humans have prized for thousands of years, from Mediterranean fishermen to Tibet and the kings of Benin. From learning to read a coral branch as a boy in his father's factory in Torre del Greco, to buying rough material in Japan and Taiwan in his twenties, Enzo shares a lifetime of knowledge — and makes the case that what really matters is the culture and heritage we pass on.

Jewellery historian and Antiques Roadshow specialist Joanna Hardy joins Laurent Cartier at Goldsmiths' Hall in London to talk about a career built on curiosity — from a childhood spent surrounded by her godmother's mineral cabinets, to sorting rough diamonds at De Beers in the 1980s, to writing definitive books on ruby, sapphire and emerald. Joanna reflects on what it took to find her way in a male-dominated trade, why trust and reputation still sit at the heart of the gemstone world, and why — even in an age of AI and synthetic stones — the craft, the human stories, and...

Hussain Alfardan, one of the world's most influential collectors of natural pearls, joins Michael Krzemnicki and Laurent Cartier at GemGenève to share a lifetime spent with pearls. Born into a Qatari family whose business traced back through generations of pearl trading, Mr. Alfardan saw the Gulf's pearl economy collapse with the arrival of cultured pearls and the discovery of oil — and yet kept collecting through the lows. He reflects on rarity, patience, the personal bond he has with each pearl, and why for him a natural pearl will always be something made by nature.