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Abalone A deposit made from inside a seashell, also called mother of pearl.
AgateA type of chalcedony quartz found in a variety of colors and patterns, frequently with varying color layers. |
Alexandrite
A stone that changes color or appears to change color as the source of light changes. |
Amber
Fossilized resin of conifer trees. Colors range from honey through yellow to reddish brown. |
AmethystTransparent variety of crystallized quartz, typically purple or violet in color.
Amulet
A pendant or charm that is worn for protective magical power. |
ApatiteIs an abundant mineral found in many types of rock but most gem quality material is associated with pegmatites.
Aurora Borealis
A name for facted glass beads that have an added iridescent coating. Also, a multi-color-producing light coating on part of beads or tops of rhinestones. |
Aquamarine
A blue semiprecious stone in the beryl family. |
Aventurine
Transluscent greenish quartz mineral, internally granular. Often mistaken for jade, another stone of a green color. |
Azurite Malachite
A mineral that is characterized in appearance by bands of light and dark blue. |
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B
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Baguette
Small stones which are rectangular-shaped and faceted. A tapered baguette has one short end narrower than the opposite end, forming a trapezoid. |
BailA metal finding that is folded closed, from which a pendant, watch, stone, etc., may be hung from a chain or cord.
Bakelite
A synthetic that can be molded, lathe-carved, and one color can be inlaid into another, as in stripes or dots.
Baroque
An irregular rounded stone or glass bead. |
Base Metal
Any non-precious metal. |
BerylA light colored mineral that when transparent and dark green is called emerald, and when blue in color, aquamarine.
Bezel Setting
A method of setting gemstones in which the stone is held in the mounting by a narrow band of metal surrounding the outside of the stone.
Birthstone
Stones associated with specific months of the year. They are as follows:
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Pearl or Moonstone
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Citrine or Topaz
December - Turquoise or Zircon
Bookchain
A Victorian style of chain in which the links are rectangular, folded pieces of metal.
Brass
An yellow alloy of copper and zinc.
Britannia
A dull silver colored alloy of tin, antimony, and copper.
Bronze
A brownish alloy of copper and tin. |
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C
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Cabochon
A domed gemstone. Highly polished curved surface without faceting. |
Cameo
A carved gem or shell in which the outer layers are cut away so that the design stands out in relief against a background of a different color. |
Carat
Unit of weight for gemstones with 100 points to a carat, with one carat equaling one-fifth of a gram. |
CarnelianPale red quartz. Once believed to benefit the wearer's health and love life. Most carnelian comes from Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany.
Cast
Made by a centrifugal method of casting metal which becomes thick and hard. |
Channel Set
A gem setting technique in which a number of square or rectangualr stones are set side by side in a grooved channel.
ChalcedonyRefers to various types of colored quartz, usually those with a milky appearance like carnelian, agate, cat's eye, and jasper.
Choker
A short, close fitting necklace; like a collar |
Citrine
A brownish-orange quartz variety. |
Chrysocolla
Chryscolla usually occurs as a bright green or bluish crust. Crystals intergrown with quartz or with opal. |
Chrysoprase
A variety of chalcedony that is apple-green in color. |
Coral
The skeletal remains of marine animals, and has a range in color from red, pink, and salmon. |
CorundumA gem mineral of crystallized aluminum and oxygen. Ruby and sapphire are the most valuable corundum.
Crimp Bead
Small, soft metal beads that are squeezed shut to secure loops of threading material fasteners onto clasps. |
Crystal
A top-quality colorless, transparent glass resembling natural or rock crystal. About 200 kinds of crystal are associated with jewelry. Made through an ancient process that involves lead oxide. To be crystal, there must be a minimum of 10% lead. |
Cultured Pearl
Created through a painstaking process of mimicking the natural pearl process in live mollusks. A pearl is formed as a result of implanting a piece of mantle from a mollusk into another host mollusk. |
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D
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Diamante
Faceted, glittery glass bead; rhinestone.
DiamondA precious gemstone composed of pure carbon. It is the hardest of all known substances and rated 10 on the Mohs scale. |
Diopside
A mineral that ranges in color from white, deep green, to almost black. |
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E
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EmeraldA green beryl and one of the most valuable of all gemstones.
Electroplated
Jewlery mechanically plated with gold. |
EnamelColored, opaque glassy material fused onto metal, pottery or glass.
Engrave
To decorate metal by gouging a design with graver's tools. |
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European Cut
A style of diamond cutting distinguishable by a smaller table in relation to the diameter of the stone.
European WireA curved wire that passes through the earlobe of a pierced ear and clasps shut. |
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Eyepin
A wire used for linking beads.
Extender ChainA chain that may be attached to another in order to provide a longer length. |
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F
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FacetedA gem of plane faces or facets.
Fetish
An amulet, pendant, or charm often representing an animal or person.
Filigree
A technique used to produced fine intricate patterns in metal.
Findings
All types of fasteners and construction components used in jewelry making. |
Fish HookA fishhook-shaped finding used to make earrings with the hook end passing through the pierced ear.
Florentine Finish
Finish has a brushed or striated appearance.
Fob
A short chain with a decorative seal or other device attached to the end.
Foilback
A method of coating the back of a stone with silver, gold, or colored foil to enhance the brilliancy of the stone. |
French Wire
A curved wire that passes through the pierced earlobe and has a catch closure. Used mostly in dangling earrings. |
Freshwater Pearl
An irregularly shaped pearl formed naturally by a mussel living in a lake or river. |
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GarnetA family of crystals whose name is derived from their resemblance to red pomegranate seeds. A semi-precious stone, usually a reddish-brown color; can range from true red to violet- or blackish red but can often be semi-opaque.
Gemstones
Includes: Diamonds, brilliant, beryl, emerald, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, onyx, plasma, tourmaline, chrysolite, sapphire, ruby, synthetic ruby, spinel, spinelle, oriental topz, turqouise, zircon, cubic zirconia, jacinth, hyancinth, carbuncle, amethyst, alexandrite, cat's eye, bloodstone, hematite, jasper, moonstone, and sunstone. |
Genuine PearlA smooth, round growth formed naturally within the shell of a mollusk due to an irritant; used as a gem.
Gilt
Gold plating |
Gold
A heavy, yellow, metallic element used for coins and jewelry since prehistoric times. |
Gold Filled
The jewelry is not actually filled, but is made of base metal (usually brass or copper) covered by sheets of gold in a mechanical bonding process. |
Gold PlatedA thin coating of electroplated or mechanically plated gold on top of a base metal.
Gold Tone
Gold colored, not measurable in karats.
Gold Washed
An extrememly thin layer of electroplated gold. |
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Hessonite
A variety of garnet that is yellow in color. |
Hoop Earring
A circular-shaped earring made from metal wire or tubing . Variations include the traditional shape as well as hoops with charms and other ornaments to be hung from the hoop. |
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IoliteA mineral used as a gemstone and appears as deep blue, light blue-gray, and yellow-white.
Iridium
A metal often alloyed with platinum to improve workability. |
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J
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Jade
An ornamental gemstone, typically greenish in color. |
Jadeite
A variety of jade that is rarer than the other varieties of nephrite. It is hard and translucent and comes in many colors such as orange, pink, yellow, brown, blue, violet, and black. |
Jasper
A semi-opaque to opaque rose quartz that is usually yellowish, reddish, or brown. The U.S. and Brazil are the most common sources. Jasper was once believed to have curative powers. |
JetOrganic in origin which was formed from the remains of wood immersed in stagnant water millions of years ago then compacted by the pressure of burial.
Jump Ring
A small wire ring, not soldered shut, used to link elements of jewelry |
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K
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Karat
A measure, from 1 to 24, used to indicate how much of a piece of jewelry is gold content and how much an alloy. |
Kyanite
This crystal is a cut stone that is pale to deep blue or white, gray, or green. |
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L
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LabradoriteIt is a faceted gemstone that may be orange, yellow, colorless or red. Occurs in metamorphic and igneous rocks in Labrador.
Lapidary
Cutting, shaping, polishing and creating jewelry from precious and semi precious stones. |
Lapis Lazuli
A semi-precious stone of an azure blue color. |
Lariat
An open-ended, long strand necklace. Sometimes looped into a knot or used with a slide so that the two ends hang free. |
Lever BackAn earring with a unique back that delicately bends and latches behind the ear. This is an old-fashioned design that has come back in style
Living Jewelry
Jewelry materials derived from living organisms. |
Lobster Claw ClaspA clasp used for necklaces and bracelets that features an elongated hook (like a lobster claw). It contains a spring mechanism and can be opened to catch the ring from the other end of the chain.
Lucite
A clear, strong plastic that can be molded and carved. |
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M
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Mabe
A Japanese term for half-sphere cultured pearls, which are cultured against the shell so that only half a cultured pearl is formed. |
Malachite
A mineral that is characterized in appearance by bands of light and dark green. |
Maltese Cross
A cross with four broad arms of equal length, with tops that look like inward-pointing arrowheads. |
MarcasiteCrystallized iron pyrites ("fool's gold") mounted in groups, cut or uncut, in pins and other pieces of jewelry. Marcasite is a gray, lustrous mineral.
Marquise
An oval stone which is pointed at both ends.
Millefiori
A method of creating glass or clay beads with intricate patterns using canes.
Mine Cut
A style of diamond cutting featuring a cushion shaped outline with different facet arrangements.
Mobe
A half sphere or domed stone, usually a fake pearl. |
Morganite
A variety of beryl that is pink. Named after J.P. Morgan. Found in California, Brazil, and Madagascar. |
Moonstone
A translucent stone that is often bluish in color, yet sometimes white. |
Mother-of -pearl
A hard, iridescent substance that forms on the inside layer of a pearl-bearing mollusk. |
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Nacre
A shiny, iridescent substance made from the lining of mollusk shells or fish scales. |
NephriteA hard type of jade with colors ranging from white to dark green and shades of gray or brown to black.
Nickel Silver
A white metal mixture of copper, zince, and nickler which contains no silver. |
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Obsidian
Is a natural glass that is formed from lava that cooled too quickly to crystallize. |
Omega
Flat chain with a solid surface formed by the links and worn high on the neck. |
Onyx
A semi-precious stone composed of chalcedony (a variety of quartz) found naturally in white or gray. The white variety is generally dyed black for onyx. |
OpalA non-crystalline, iridescent silica.
Open work
A piece of jewelry that has open areas, see through, similar to filigree cut. |
Oxidation
Metal blackened by a reaction with oxygen. The appearance is accomplished by chemical means. |
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P
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Parure
A set of three or more matching pieces of jewelry.
Paste
A term for imitation gemstones.
Pave SettingA setting in which small stones are set as close as possible, so that the piece literally looks "paved" with stones. |
Pearl
A smooth, round growth formed naturally within the shell of a mollusk due to an irritant and used as a gem. |
Pendant
An ornament suspended from a single chain. |
PeridotA transparent gem that is olive green in color.
Pewter
Items that contain at least 90% tin. |
PlatinumPlatinum forms in igneous rocks, it may also occur in placer deposits in river sands and gravels. It is silvery gray, gray white, or white in color, opaque and has a metallic luster.
Plique a jour
A form of cloisonne in which the enamel in the cells have no backing, producing a translucent effect.
Pot Metal
A term used to describe many different mixtures of metal that do not have gold, silver, or platinum as a major component. |
PostA pin-like finding attached to an earring. It passes through the pierced earlobe, and may be held in place by a back.
Pronged
Stones set with individual prongs holding them in place. |
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Q
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Quartz
A crystalline mineral used for gems, usually colorless and transparent. |
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R
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Rhinestone
Real rhinestones are cut from rock crystal. Today, most rhinestones that are used in jewelry are made of glass that has the look of natural stone. |
RhodiumA white, metallic element.
Rhodium Plating
A thin plating of rhodium applied over either sterling or other alloy to give a bright, shiny, longlasting silver colored finish to a piece. |
Rhodolite
A variety of pyrope garnet ranging in color from rose-red to pale violet. |
Rhodonite
Named after the Greek word for pink, it is a reddish-pink color with thin veins or patches of gray to black. Found in the former Soviet Union, the U.S., India, and Australia. |
Rhodochrosite
Derives its pink color from Manganese. Rhodocrosite occurs in veins associated with Manganese, Copper, Silver, and lead deposits. |
Ribbed
A textured effect consisting of ridges. |
Rock Crystal
One of the most common minerals of the earth's crust. The crystals are usually found as colorless hexagonal prisms with pyramidal ends. |
Rose Gold
Rose gold is a gold and copper alloy widely used for specialized jewelry due to its reddish color. It is also known as pink gold and red gold.
Rose QuartzDelicate pink quartz with a somewhat milky appearance. Popular for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and other gift occasions. |
Ruby
A highly precious and valued red corundum whose color is obtained from chromium oxide. Rubies symbolize beauty, charity, love, passion, power, and royalty. |
Rutilated Quartz
A variety of quartz with inclusions of rutile crystals, which are minerals that sometimes appear in a needle-like fashion in a reddish-brown to red and sometimes yellowish appearance. |
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Sapphire
A highly valued and precious stone and a member of the corundum group. Most commonly seen in blue. |
Satin FinishA matte finish achieved by sandblasting, brushing with a stiff wire brush, or chemically altering a high shine surface. Satin finish has a soft, pearl-like luster instead of a bright polish.
Sautoir
A long rope style necklace often with a tassel or pendant at the end.
Seed Pearl
A very small round pearl or a very small imitation pearl.
Silver Tone
Silver plated or coated. |
Simulated Tortoise
Imitation of the mottled brown and yellow color found on tortise shells. |
Slide
An ornament that can be slid onto another piece of jewelry such as a necklace. |
Smoky Quartz
Quartz that's brownish in color with a smoky appearance. |
Smoky Topaz
see SMOKY QUARTZ |
Sodalite
Whose name reflects its sodium content, is found in all shades of blue and is a major constituent of the rock lapis lazuli. |
SpinelA gemstone found in a wide range of colors, the most valuable resembling ruby red.
Split ring
Small base metal finding, resembling a key ring. |
Sterling Silver
Silver that is at least 92.5 percent pure with 7.5 parts of another metal, usually copper, to make the piece harder. |
Stud
A single stone or metal ball on a straight post worn on pierced ears. |
Sunstone
This occurs in metamorphic and igneous rocks in Norway, the USA, India, and Russia. It has reflective inclusions of red, orange, or green platy crystals, which give it a metallic glitter. |
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TanzaniteA deep blue-violet variety of zoisite.
Tiffany Setting
The high pronged setting most common today for large stones such as a diamond solitaire. |
Tiger's Eye
The name given to a gem which when cabochon cut shows a single light streak across its face. A semi-precious variety of quartz found in South Africa, it may be yellowish-brown, bluish, or red in color. |
Toggle Clasp
A fastener consisting of a ring on one end of a necklace or bracelet and a short bar on the other end. The bar is slid through the ring and sits across it so it does not slide or pull. |
TopazA transparent gem, the most precious type is wine-yellow in color. It also may be found in other colors, such as white, blue, brown, orange, and pink. |
TourmalineA crystalline mineral that is used as a gemstone. It typically comes in a variety of colors, the most common of which is black.
Troy Weight
Gold and Silver are measured in Troy weight, a sytem that includes pennyweights, ounces, and pounds. |
Tsavorite
A transparent, emerald green variety of garnet. |
TurquoiseSemi-precious stone which is greenish-blue in color.
Two-Tone
| Jewelry having two colors or two shades of the same color, typically achieved through mixing metals. | |
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V
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Vermeil
A heavy gold electroplate over sterling silver. |
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W
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White Gold
An alloy of gold, nickel, copper, and zinc. |
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Y
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Y Necklace
This style gets its name from its shape which features its own delicate dangle forming a Y-shape around the neck. It is usually 16 to 18 inches in length. |
Yellow Gold
The most popular gold alloy. An alloy of gold, silver, copper, and often zinc. |
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