- AMETHYST: A variety of
crystalline quartz occurring in colors that range from a pale violet to
a deep, intense purple. Gemstones cut from this material range from
translucent to opaque. The finest of this February birthstone comes
from the Ural Mountains near Siberia, regions in Brazil, and in Uruguay.
- AMETRINE: Bi-colored variety of crystalline quartz that exhibits both Citrine and Amethyst colors.
- AMBER: A yellow to
brownish, translucent to transparent fossil resin that was exuded from
certain species of pine trees during the Oligocene period (20 million
years ago). Amber can sometimes be found with embedded insects.
- BERYL: An important mineral species that includes varieties such as Aquamarine, Emerald, Goshenite, Heliodor and Morganite.
- BEZEL: A thin strip of
metal used to surround and secure a gemstone on a piece of jewelry.
Also refers to the sloping facets between the girdle and the table of a
brilliant cut gemstone.
- BIRTHSTONE: A gemstone assigned to denote the wearer's month of birth.
- CABOCHON: A gemstone fashioned with a domed or convex, smooth surface. Cabochons can be any basic shape, round being the most common.
- CARAT: A unit of measurement pertaining to the "Weight" of
Gemstones. One Carat is equal to .2 grams. Not to be confused with "Karat".
-
CASTING: As in "Lost Wax Casting":
A manufacturing technique that reproduces an object in metal from a wax
model. The wax model is encased in a special plaster. The wax is melted
or "burned out" from the plaster, the resulting cavity in the plaster
is then filled with the desired metal.
- CELTIC: (KELTIC), Pertaining to the CELTS, or an individual of any Celtic speaking peoples like the ancient Gauls and Britons.
- CHALCEDONY: As opposed to
Crystalline Quartz, (clearish with a discernible crystal structure),
Chalcedony is Cryptocrystalline Quartz, (cloudy and lacking a
discernible crystal structure). The varieties are so numerous as to
deserve a page to themselves. A good example of a Cryptocrystalline
Quartz would be any member of the Agate family.
- CITRINE: Another variety of Crystalline Quartz,
Citrine ranges in color from a pale yellow to a deep orange-yellow or
brown-yellow. Gemstones cut from this material range from translucent
to opaque. Brazil is an important source of this material.
- CUBIC ZIRCONIA: An inexpensive Diamond Simulant. On the wholesale
market, a one carat Cubic Zirconia is only worth a few dollars.
- EMERALD: The important gemstone Emerald is a green variety of the mineral Beryl. Colors range from light to very intense shades of Green, Blue-green, or Yellow-green. Emeralds most often posess numerous Inclusions which affect the appearance of the gem. Colombia is an important source of this, the May Birthstone.
- FACET: One of many small, flat, polished surfaces on a faceted gemstone.
- FINDINGS A term used in the "Jewelry Trade" to describe any small
part or assembly used to create a finished piece of jewelry. ie: Prong Ettings, Bezels, Jump Rings, Etc.
- GIBEON: A desolate area in Namibia.
- GOLD: A rare metallic
element frequently used in Jewelry. Most often it is combined with
other metals to create a strong workable alloy, such as 14 Karat, 18
Karat, Etc.
- INCLUSION: In the
"Gemstone World", an Inclusion is any foreign mineral or substance
"included" within a gemstone. There are MANY types of Inclusions, and
Inclusions are not always considered a bad thing.
- IRISING: An optical phenomenon occurring in some "Translucent Gem" species, where "thin air filled cracks" display Iridescence.
- JUMP RING: A term used to describe any small wire ring used to
connect,or suspend a piece of jewelry.
- KARAT: A term used to describe the gold content of an alloy. (ie: 14 karat (58.5% pure gold), 18 karat (75% pure gold) etc.)
- METEORITE: A piece of metal or stone of Extraterrestrial origin that has collided with the Earth.
- MOONSTONE: A popular
Gemstone composed of Orthoclase Feldspar, Moonstones exhibit a
phenomenon called Adularescence. This shows up as floating sheen within
the stone, often moving around when the stone is turned.
- OPAL: An Amorphous variety
of Hydrous Silica that occurs with various body colors, often
exhibiting "Play of Color", where small areas within the Opal flash
with bright Prismatic colors. The most sought after type of Opal would
be "Black" opal, where the body color is dark grey and the "Play of
Color" is intense. Varieties of Opal include Black, White, Water,
Boulder, Matrix, Hydrophane and Fire.
- PLATINUM: One of the
Metallic Elements, Platinum is quite heavy, soft, and has a Greyish
color. Platinum is presently more costly than Gold. For jewelry
purposes: Platinum is usually alloyed with a small amount of Iridium.
This makes the metal harder and more suitable for jewelry work. When
properly prepared, Platinum takes an "Exceptional Polish". Because of
it's very high melting temperature, Jewelers must wear special dark
glasses while melting or soldering the metal.
- PLATINUM "FAMILY" METALS:
The Platinum "Family" or "Group" metals include: Platinum, Iridium,
Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, and Osmium. Platinum and Iridium are the
family members used the most in jewelry, with the remaining members
being used as alloys for manufacturing jewelry "Findings". Rhodium is commonly Electroplated over other metals to produce a durable highly polished surface.
- PRONG SETTING: Either the setting itself, a small part or Finding used on a finished piece of jewelry to secure a Gemstone, or the act of setting a Gemstone in Prongs. Prong Findings come in many types, ie: three, four, or six prong, gallery, filligree, etc.
- QUARTZ: Probably the most
common of all minerals, Quartz can be found in almost any color and
transparency. Quartz is primarily composed of Silicon Dioxide and comes
in such well known varieties as Amethyst, Bloodstone, Citrine, Agate, Adventurine and many more.
- RUTILE: A mineral that forms needle-like inclusions in many different Gemstones, Quartz being one.
- STERLING SILVER: An alloy
consisting of 925 parts fine (pure) Silver and 75 parts Copper or
Copper/Zinc. The addition of these metals enhances the strength and
durability of the Silver. Most Silver Jewelry and Silverware are made
from Sterling Silver.
- TANZANITE: The mineral
Zoisite, when properly heat treated becomes the rich Violet-Blue
Gemstone we know as Tanzanite. A good Tanzanite can rival a fine
Sapphire in color. Tanzanite is found only in Tanzania, Africa.
- TOURMALINE: A gem species
that ranges from transparent to opaque, occurring in an unusual number
of colors. Some more common colors include shades of Green, Blue, Pink,
Red, and combinations thereof. Names that imply a certain color include
Indicolite (Blue Tourmaline) and Rubellite (Red Tourmaline). Watermelon
Tourmaline is Pink in the middle and Green around the outside. Chrome
Tourmaline is an intense Green. Sources include Brazil, California,
Russia, Africa. Birthstone for October.
- WIDMANSTATTEN PATTERN: A
crystal structure pattern peculiar to Iron/Nickel Meteorites. The
pattern is produced by etching a polished surface of a Meteorite with
Nitric Acid. Patterns often show crystal deformation caused by violent
atmospheric breakup.
- WHOLESALE: A term often
misused in the jewelry trade, as in "wholesale to the public". True
wholesale involves the trading of large quantities of a commodity, or
smaller quantities on a regular basis.
|