All Entries in the "Jewelry Terms Glossary" Category

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical A’s

I think it will be good idea to educate my readers on some jewelry terminology.  Actually I’m educating myself as I go.  So I’ve decided to do it alphabetically.  Here goes…..
Abalone – A type of sea snail (mollusk) with a shell that has an iridescent interior.  Mother of pearl is made from abalone and is [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical B’s

Baguette – Small rectangular shaped faceted stones.
Bail – The small round finding attached to a piece of jewelry that allows it to hang from a chain.
Band – Ring that is the same size on all sides.
Beryl – Type of mineral stone that includes emeralds (when green) and aquamarine (when blue).
Bezel Setting – [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical C’s

Cabochon – A stone that is flat on one side & has a rounded dome on the other, with no carvings or facets.
Cameo – A carved gemstone or shell in which the design is raised relief above the background of a different color.
Cairngorm – A variety of quartz crystal found in the Cairngorm Mountains of [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical D’s

A little music to relax by while you learn about jewelry terms starting with the letter D…..

Damascene – A process of inlay whereby a soft metal is placed with a harder metal.
Dead Stone – a foil backed rhinestone that has lost it’s shininess, usually when water has damaged the backing.
Demi-Parure – Matching set of jewelry [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical E’s

Edwardian – The period during the reign of Edward VII of England (1901-1910).  In jewelry the style refers to  the years of Queen Victoria’s reign, from the late 1900’s until shortly before World War I when the more geometric style of Art Deco began to make headway.
Electroplate – A process whereby metal is plated with [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical F’s

Faceted – Flat polished surfaces cut on a gemstone or occurring naturally on a crystal.
Faux – French word used to describe something made to resemble something else. The original French word means false, fake, imitation or artificial.
Fetish – An amulet, pendant or charm often representing an animal or person.
Figural – Three dimensional jewelry designed to [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical G’s

Garnet – A semi precious stone that is generally red in color. Includes Bohemian Garnets, which were used extensively in Victorian turn of the century jewelry. Gemstones – Precious and semi-precious stones used in jewelry.

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical H’s

Hair Jewelry – Jewelry made from the hair of a loved one, popularized in the 19th century when a deceased person’s hair was preserved under glass brooches and worn in mourning.
Hallmark – A mark made in metal that indicates the purity of the metal and / or the manufacturer. A hallmark may also include the [...]

Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical I’s

I. G. I. – International Gemological Institute (IGI) – the largest independent gem grading and appraisal institute in the world.
Inclusion – A solid, liquid, or gaseous particle of foreign matter within a mineral.  These can decrease the value of a stone, however sometimes, as in the case of a star sapphire, the inclusion is prized.
Ingot [...]