Jewelry Terms

A mixture of two or more metals created to enhance the strength and/or appearance of a particular metal.

An item is dipped into a chemical treatment and then hand buffed to create a look of aged metal, whether it be gold antique, bronze antique, silver antique, or copper antique.

E.A. Dion’s response for a high-value, non-plated “yellow” jewelry offering with a less demanding price point than Karat Gold Products. Avantus is an optimum mix of the most recognized “noble” metals in the world – Gold, Platinum (Palladium), and Silver.  The gold-led, precious metal alloy delivers a pleasing “Champagne” hue.

A stone cut into a small rectangular or tapered shape with a step cut and often used as an accent to larger stones.

A triangular finding that attaches a pendant to a necklace.

A stiff bracelet. Some bangles have a hinge; others are solid and must be slipped over the hand.

Two metal pieces on either end of a necklace or bracelet that screw or click together forming a clasp.

Adding a thin layer of gold or silver to the surface of an item by grouping them together in a “rolling barrel” container, which is then dipped into the appropriate plating solutions.  This is a faster and more economical plating process than rack plating. 

The top portion of a ring consisting of lettering and the center base-stone setting area. The outside area around a base-stone is also known as the bezel. 

Refers to non-precious metals. Base metals include copper, zinc, tin, and lead.

A shaped, natural, or synthetic-colored stone set in the base/top of the ring.

A decorative setting in which stones are set evenly with the metal surface and secured by small metal bead-like prongs.

Metal is wrapped around the girdle of the stone, making only its crown and table visible.  This setting is admired for its protection, security, and its ability to minimize inclusions.

A classic chain with small box-like links.

A piece of folded metal on one end of a chain or bracelet fits into the opening of a box on the other end and securely fastens the chain or bracelet together.

An alloy made up of copper and zinc, with other metals in varying lesser amounts.  By varying the copper content, several colors can be produced, from a gold tone (high brass) to a copper tone (gilding metal). 

This finish is made by rubbing a stiff metal brush across the surface of the jewelry, slightly reducing the metal's reflectivity.

In this process the epoxy overfills the recessed areas so that the entire surface can be buffed down to one smooth surface.  Colors can be PMS matched.

A common cut for gemstones that features a smooth, rounded surface rather than faceted.

Unit of measure of diamonds and gemstones. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 "points." A .75-carat stone is the same as a 75-point or 3/4-carat stone.

Jewels rest in a metal channel, held only by a slight rim that runs along the edges of the channel. Channel set jewels are usually round or baguette-shaped.

The clearness of a gemstone, or the lack of internal flaws. The clarity scale for diamonds runs from FL (flawless, with neither internal nor external flaws), to I3 (having many clearly visible imperfections using only the naked eye). A ten-power loupe is used to examine a diamond for clarity.

A fastener that can open and close, attaching two things together.

A metal prong that holds a stone securely in a setting.

A vitreous enamel that under extreme temperature is melted onto a piece of jewelry and when it cools it is polished to achieve a glossy, glass-like appearance.

Formed metal in either a round or square shape and set into a ring base stone for the purpose of holding a smaller stone – usually a diamond set-in-stone.

The upper part of a gemstone.

A high-quality glass containing at least 10% lead oxide. Lead added to the melt produces very clear glass resembling rock crystal.  Crystal is colored by adding various metallic oxides to the melt.

A stiff, relatively wide bracelet.

The stones are shaped like a cushion - they have a squarish shape that is rounded on the edges. These stones usually have facets similar to those of a brilliant-cut stone.

A specialized tool used in manufacturing to cut or shape material using a press. Dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create.

A viable alternative to die striking and rubber mold casting in which pressure injection is used to force a molten zinc aluminum alloy into a die made out of steel.  Two halves of a metal die are placed on a clamp inside a die-casting machine.  Under a tremendous amount of pressure, the dies are pressed together.  The molten metal is then forced into the cavity between the two halves.  The die is cooled; the metal solidifies and from one to eight pieces are removed. 

The classic method of manufacturing emblems is preferred when an emblem requires finer lines and crisper detail.  A paper design is translated into a solid metal die.  A flat piece of metal, slightly larger than the emblem itself, is placed in a press and struck one or more times, depending on the depth of the die and the amount of detail.  After the first striking, the metal emblem is annealed or re-softened so the material will flow easily into recessed areas of the die upon a second strike.  Once all detail is sharp and clear, excess metal is trimmed from the edges and the emblem is ready for finishing. 

A process in which one metal is coated with another metal using electricity. In jewelry, inexpensive metals are frequently electroplated with more expensive metals, like gold, copper, rhodium, chromium, or silver. The thickness of the metal coat varies.

The stones have a girdle that is rectangular with truncated corners. Emerald cuts are frequently used on emeralds and diamonds.

The ornamentation of metals by means of small hand-pushed or hammer-driven chisels; differs from carving in that depth is suggested by shaded lines. 

A thermosetting polymer formed from the reaction of an epoxide "resin" with polyamine "hardener". Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced plastic materials and general-purpose adhesives.

One of the flat surfaces of a cut stone or glass.

Open, lacy, decorative metal work.

The functional metal parts used in the construction of jewelry - clasps, jump rings, etc.

Refers to the type of look given to a finished piece using different variations of the plating, polishing, and color-filling techniques.

A hinged clasp used on necklaces and bracelets where a piece hinges and clips to closure.

A gemstone with 58 facets.

A mineral, rock, or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewelry.

The widest perimeter of a gemstone.

A soft, yellow, corrosion-resistant element that is the most malleable and ductile metal.  Gold in its pure 24K state is very soft.  It is alloyed with copper silver and zinc to make it harder and therefore more durable as a jewelry item.  The three karat grades we use are 10K, 14K, and 18K.  10K is approximately 41.5% pure gold; 14K is approximately 58.5% gold; and 18K is approximately 75.2% pure gold.

Made of a hard base metal (often brass) with a bonded layer of karat gold on top.  This is an excellent way to obtain a gold precious metal award item without the expense of 10K or 14K gold.  10K or 14K gold sheet is bonded through a soldering process or mechanically bonded through extreme pressures to a base metal substrate.  It is rolled repeatedly to obtain the desired thickness and percentage of gold required. 

Gold layer over base metal less than 1/20th of the total weight of the metal and marked GP.

Mark on the back of jewelry denoting gold or silver content.

A necklace or bracelet closure that consists of a flat slip piece that locks into a rectangular box hidden under the last link of the chain.

Lettering or detail is cut into the ring (below the main surface); on a ribbon top or smooth sides.

A particle of foreign matter contained within a mineral. Inclusions can be solid, liquid, or gaseous.

A circular metal ring with an opening. It is used to attach two other rings or links and is then often soldered or pressed shut.

Used to define the amount of pure gold found in a jewelry item.

• 24 karat (24K) gold is pure gold
• 18 karat (18K) gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts another metal or metals (75.2% gold)
• 14 karat (14K) gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts another metal or metals (58.5% gold)
• 10 karat (10K) gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts another metal or metals (41.5% gold)

An earring closure that consists of a hinged lever that bends and latches behind the ear.

A jewelry fastener that resembles the claw of a lobster. A tiny spring keeps the arm of this clasp closed. It is used to attach two other rings or links to a necklace or bracelet.

A process of casting metal in which the original model is sculpted in wax. The wax is then enclosed in clay and the wax is melted out, making a hollow mold. The mold is then filled with molten metal. The clay is broken off and the cast metal remains.

A gemstone cut in an oval shape, pointed at both ends creating a boat-shaped design.

A unit of length equal to 0.001 mm (millimeter).

Conceived by German mineralogist, Moh’s, it is the most commonly used scale of relative hardness of minerals.  Each mineral of a given hardness scratches all of those with a lower number.  The highest number in the Moh's Scale is 10 and only the diamond fits this category of hardness.

Stones are placed in a row, with metal bordering on either side.  In a nick setting, small prongs are nicked from the surrounding metal to secure the stones.

A straight piece of metal (a post) goes through the earlobe while a hinged curved arm supports the back of the earring.

E.A. Dion’s response for a “white” precious metal offering with wear properties exceeding Sterling Silver, priced more agreeably than White Gold and does so while maintaining its luxurious white appearance without the need for rhodium plating. The Palladium based alloys’ membership in the Platinum Metals Group (PMG) only adds to the credibility and desirability of the offering. Opulite delivers a platinum family metal, Palladium, with a permanent, un-enhanced, luxurious white appearance combined with greater wear properties such as, tarnish resistance and durability when compared with Sterling Silver. Opulite also compares favorable to white gold economically and for maintaining its brilliant white color over time.

A chemical process in which oxygen atoms bond to atoms of a material (like a metal) and electrons are transferred from the oxidized material to the reduced material. Iron oxidizes when exposed to air and moisture, forming iron oxide (rust). Silver oxidizes (tarnishes, turning the surface black) when it is exposed to hydrogen sulfide in the air.

A white precious metal similar to platinum, but weighs and costs must less.

A stone setting in which multiple small stones are set close together and very close to the surface of a piece of jewelry, making it look like the jewelry has been paved in gemstones.

The lower part of a cut gemstone, below the girdle.

Gemstone cut that resembles a pear or teardrop - rounded on one end and pointed on the other.

A heavy silver-white precious metal that is 35X rarer than gold. Platinum is 95% pure with a brilliant luster that does not tarnish. Its purity also makes it hypoallergenic and perfect for sensitive skin or those with jewelry allergies. It is highly pliable and can be shaped into very intricate patterns.

This metal group is generally defined as referring to platinum, gold and silver, which are valued for their rarity, color, and malleability.

This Factor is used to adjust the price of Gold and Silver jewelry as the commodity price of an ounce of gold or silver fluctuates up & down.  There are three key components used to determine an individual product's PAF. They are Metal Purity, Product Weight and the Market Price of Gold/Silver.

Precious metals are measures in Troy Ounces. A Troy ounce is equivalent to just over one (1) ordinary ounce: 1 Troy ounce = 1.097 ordinary ounces

A Troy ounce is further divided into 20 Pennyweight. Pennyweight is the most common unit of measure for precious metal products

The PAF is used to re-price, up or down, the precious metal content (purity & product weight) of a jewelry product that has had a price change based on the free market price of the commodity.

A square-cut stone. This fancy cut is also known as a Quadrillion cut.

Stones held in place by metal claws or prongs.

A plating process where pieces are hung on a rack individually, then dipped into the appropriate plating solutions.  Best for pieces that have hand polished surfaces.

A method of cutting rectangular stones so that they have the sparkle of brilliant cut round stones. The shape is a rectangle with the corners clipped off.

Non-tarnishing white precious metal that resembles platinum.  It is often used to plate precious and base metals, giving jewelry a hard, platinum-like sheen.

Gold of a pinkish color (alloyed with copper).

Provides a rich, textured look for the background of the item, while the raised detail is hand polished to an exquisite shine.

This semi-glossy finish is done by making shallow parallel lines on the surface of the metal, reducing its reflectivity.

A highly secure earring fastening similar to a standard post but the back or “nut” actually screws onto the post. Many diamond stud earrings use this secure fastener.

A jewelry piece or enclosure that holds gem stones in place.

The part of a ring that encircles the finger.

A very thin layer of color which is sprayed, usually through a cut out stencil, onto parts of the background of an item.  This does not fill recessed areas.  Can be PMS matched.

A common clasp for necklaces and chains made from a circle with a small spring-tension knob that can open a gap in the circle, allowing the circle to hook onto the other end of the chain.

A diamond or gemstone setting with four prongs that hold a stone, usually a square or princess-cut gemstone.

Made from steel (iron combined with various other metals) this is then alloyed with chromium.  It is virtually immune to rust or corrosion and is a very cost-effective metal.  Exceptionally durable; cannot be resized if a ring.

Decorating technique where a relief design is achieved by means of die stamping or a mechanical stamping machine.

Generally used for colored stones. This cut is rectangular to square and has many facets parallel to the edges of the stone.

A durable jewelry metal consisting of at least 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy.

The large, flat area at the top of a cut gemstone.

Undesirable dulling or discoloration due to the effects of heat, humidity, chemicals or aging on certain precious metals.

A ring with a high, six-pronged solitaire diamond on a simple circular band.

A jewelry fastener in which a bar can be inserted into a ring to fasten a piece of jewelry. It is used to attach the two ends of a necklace or bracelet.

Used to describe the effects of light passing through a stone. Translucent stones appear frosted instead of clear or transparent.

Used to describe the effects of light passing through a stone. Transparent stones are clear and easy to see through.

Used for trimming excess material from the edges of a struck emblem.

Sterling silver that has been plated with at least 10K or better gold with an average thickness of 100 mills.

Alloy of gold with nickel, palladium or platinum.