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	Glossary of Terms Amethyst Amethyst (Greek for "not drunken") is a form of the mineral quartz, and is a relatively common gemstone. Amethyst is usually purple, but can range in color from pale lavender to a very deep, reddish purple to a milky color to green. Aquamarine Aquamarine is a transparent, light blue or sea green stone that is porous. Aquamarines belong to the Beryl family of stones. Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5-8. Art Deco Originally a French movement in the 1920s reacting against the ornate art nouveau style, which preceded WWI. Popular in the US the style laid emphasis on bold geometric patterns and abstract forms. Brillian Cut The standard round brilliant consists of a total of 58 facets: the brilliant style was devised to give maximum brilliancy and fire to a stone. Briolette A pear-shaped stone that is faceted. A briolette (or drop cut) is a pear-shaped cut gemstone with triangular facets on top. Brooch A large pin; an ornamental piece of jewelry with a pin and clasp to be attached to clothing, from the French word "broche", meaning "to pierce" or an object / weapon made for piercing. A brooch (also called a pin) is an ornament that can be pinned to a garment. Carnelian Carnelian (also called cornelian and carneole) is a reddish form of chalcedony (a type of quartz). This translucent stone has a waxy luster. The best carnelian is from India. Carnelian has a hardness of 7 and a specific gravity of 2.61 Carat A carat (ct.) is a standard measure of weight used for gemstones. One carat weighs 0.2 gram (1/5 of a gram or 0.0007 ounce). A hundredth of a carat is called a point. The carat unit was introduced in 1907. Cabochon A cabochon is a stone that has a rounded, domed surface with no facets. Chandelier Earrings Called so because of their likeness to chandeliers. They hang off the ear like a chandelier hangs. Cherry Quartz See 'Quartz' definition. Citrine Citrine (from the French for "lemon") is a rare, yellow type of quartz, a semi-precious stone that ranges in color from pale yellow to orange to golden brown. Citrine has a hardness of 7 and a specific gravity of 2.65. Clasp Types Spring Ring A spring ring (also known as a bolt ring) is a hollow circular metal fastening ring with a spring opening. A tiny spring keeps the arm of this clasp closed. It is used to attach two other rings or links of a necklace or bracelet. The spring ring was invented early in the 1900's. Lobster Claw Clasp A lobster claw clasp is 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 of a necklace or bracelet. Hook & Eye Clasp A hook and eye clasp is a simple and ancient jewelry fastener that is composed of a hook and a circular piece that the hook can latch onto. It is used to attach the two ends of a necklace or bracelet. Toggle Clasp A toggle clasp (also called a bar and ring clasp) is 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. Fold Over Clasp A fold over clasp is a jewelry fastener that is composed of a device that opens and closes with a hinge, and latches shut. It is used to attach the two ends of a necklace or bracelet. Cushion Cut Cushion cut 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. Double-Backed Leather Finished leather on both front and back. Emerald Cut A form of "step cutting." It usually is rectangular, but sometimes is square, in which case it is known as a square emerald cut. It has rows (steps) of elongated facets. Enamel Enamel is a glassy substance (powdered glass with colorants) fused onto metal using heat (see cloisonné, champlevé, guilloche, and plique à jour). Facet A facet is one of the flat surfaces of a cut stone or glass. Faceted A faceted stone has small, flat-cut surfaces that make a sparkling effect on transparent stones, although translucent and even sometimes opaque stones are faceted. Traditionally, diamonds, rubies and sapphires are faceted to show off their brilliance. Freshwater Pearl A freshwater pearl is a pearl that was harvested from a freshwater mussel (a mollusk). These pearls are frequently shaped like crisped rice cereal, and are less valuable than oyster pearls. Biwa pearls, from Lake Biwa, are very good quality freshwater pearls. Flip Closure For a cufflink, this kind of closure means the end of the cufflink flips to a straight position for easy one handed maneuvering. Then flips back to a perpendicular position for closure. Garnet A family of stones having many varieties differing in color and in their constituents. The most common color of garnets range from light red to violet or plum-red, but can also be white, green, yellow, brown, and black varieties. The name is derived from its resemblance in color and shape to the seeds of the pomegranate. It seems as though every shade and color of garnet is given its own name. Known varieties of garnet include Andradite, Tsavorite, Grossularite, Essonite, Pyrope, Almandite, Spessartite, Melanite, Allochroite, Ouvarovite, Demantoid, and Rhodalite. Garnets have a hardness that varies between 6-8 on the Mohs scale. It was believed that the wearer of garnets was kept in good health and protected while traveling. Garnets are worn to signify truth and faith. Red garnet is the birthstone for January. Hardness On the Mohs scale of hardness, the scale is 1 Ð10, 10 being the hardest and most durable (diamond is a 10) 1 being the softest and least durable. Hessonite Hessonite (also called "cinnamon stone") is a cinnamon-brown to orange gemstone variety of grossular garnet. Hessonite is found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar, Canada, and California, USA. This stone is not enhanced. Inlay An inlay is a piece of material (often stone or glass) that is partially embedded in another material (usually metal) such that the two materials make a level surface. Karat Karat (abbreviated K) is a measure of the purity of gold. 24 karat gold is pure gold. 18 karat gold is 18/24 gold (about 75% gold - three quarters gold). 14 karat gold is 14/24 gold (about 58% gold - a little over half gold). 12 karat gold is exactly half gold. Keshi Pearls Possessing a whimsical charm, these small, roundish natural pearls are entirely different from the perfectly round, large pearls.Ê Seedless keshi pearls arise spontaneously in the culture of Akoya and South Sea pearls and in Japanese, keshi means "poppy seed". These small freeform pearls make fascinating necklaces in colors ranging from silvery white to silvery gray.Ê Large or small, keshi pearls are appreciated by pearl fanciers worldwide and generally command high prices. Labradorite Labradorite is a fairly abundant grayish mineral that has brilliant flashes of color (usually green, blue or red) after it is polished (called labradorescence). The crystals are transparent to translucent. Lapis Lapis Lazuli is a rich blue opaque, semi-precious stone that has been used in jewelry since ancient times. Lapis has a hardness of 5.5; it chips and scratches easily. It has a specific gravity of 2.4 to 2.9. Lariat A lariat is a necklace that does not form a circle. Usually worn tied or worn like a scarf. Marquis Cut Marquis Cut (pronounced Mar-KEY): Faceted, elongated oval stone, which tapers to a point at both ends; named for the Marquise de Pompadour, Mistress of King Louis XV (sometimes also called "Navette cut"). Matte Finish A matte finish on a metal's surface is a soft, lustrous finish that reduces the metal's reflectivity. Moonstone Moonstone (orthoclase) is a semi-translucent stone that is made of albite and orthoclase feldspar. It is usually whitish-blue, but can be colorless, yellow, orange, gray, or even reddish. Moonstone is usually set as a cabochon. Moonstone was very popular early in the 20th century and was extensively used in Art Nouveau jewelry. Adularia is a common type of moonstone. Oligoclase is another type of moonstone; Labradorite and albite are rare forms. Moonstones are often referred to as "mood stones", said to change color according to the mood of the wearer. Mother-Of-Pearl Mother-of-pearl is the iridescent coating on the inside of oyster shells. Omega Back Omega back earrings come with post and clips. Most of the time the posts can be converted so that the earrings can be worn as clip only. Onyx Onyx is a semi-precious stone that is black and white, generally arranged in layers. It is a form of agate with parallel banding. Onyx is a species of chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz). Opal Many adore opals, known for their iridescent, luminous qualities. Opals contain a large amount of water and need to be cared for properly since experts warn of potential cracking. This semi precious stone contains a wide-ranging mixture of colors that produce a fire-like quality, which are actually inclusions, which can refract hues in a rainbow of colors. Pavé (pronounced - 'pa-vay') Pavé settings are stones set very close together. They are usually set in prongs. Pear Shape Shaped like a tear drop. Pendant A pendant is a hanging ornament. Necklaces, pins, and earrings often have a pendant. Peridot Peridot (also known as the "evening emerald" and chrysolite) is a yellow-green semi-precious stone with an oily luster; peridot is a transparent, green form of olivine. Peridot exhibits double refraction; when you look through the stone, things appear double. For example, when looking into a faceted peridot gemstone, the number of bottom facets appears to be double the actual number of facets. Most peridots are from a volcanic island in the Red Sea, Zebergit / St. John, the "Serpent Isle." Peridots have been found in meteorites. Peridot has a hardness of 6.5. Peridot cat's eye also exists. Quartz Quartz is a crystalline mineral that comes in many forms, including amethyst, aventurine, citrin, opal, rock crystal, tiger's eye, rose quartz, and many others. Rutilated quartz and tourmalinated quartz have needle-like inclusions of other minerals. Quartz has a hardness of 7.0. Found worldwide. Rose Cut A style of stone cutting that produces a gem with a flat, unfaceted base and a somewhat dome-shaped top that is covered with a varied number of triangular facets and terminates in a point. This style of cut has been in use since the 16th century. It is an early style of cutting that is thought to have originated in India and to have been brought to Europe by the Venetians. The rose cut is now used primarily on small diamonds. Sapphire Sapphire is a precious gemstone (a type of corundum) that ranges in color from blue to pink to yellow to green to white to purple, to pink-orange. Sapphires are related to rubies. Sapphires were once thought to protect the wearer from poisonous creatures. Sapphire has a hardness of 9. Sapphires are often heat treated to improve their color. Satin Finish A satin finish on a metal is between a matte finish and a brilliant one. This semi-glossy finish is done by making shallow parallel lines on the surface of the metal, reducing its reflectivity. Semi-Precious Stones A stone that is less rare and less expensive than precious stones but is still valued for its beauty. Examples are Peridot and Amethyst, Aventurine, Carnelian, Garnet, Opal, Rose Quartz, etc. Setting A setting is a method of securing a stone (or other ornament) in a piece of jewelry (or other object). Some settings are closed (there is metal behind the stone), while others are open (there is no metal behind the stone), letting light shine through the stone. Spinel Spinel is a very hard semi-precious stone. Spinel ranges in color from red to black to yellow, frequently resembling rubies. Iron and chrome are components of spinel, giving it its color. Spinel is found in Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Spinel has a hardness of 8. Tennis Bracelet A tennis bracelet is a simple, flexible, one-line diamond bracelet. The name tennis bracelet was first used when the great tennis player Chris Everett dropped a diamond bracelet during a tennis match in the summer of 1987 (at the US Open Tennis Tournament). She had to stop the match until she found her bracelet. Since then, that style of bracelet has been called a tennis bracelet. Tourmaline Tourmaline is a gemstone that comes in many, many different colors; it also appears to have different colors depending on the angle at which it is seen. Tourmaline has the greatest color range of any gemstone. It ranges in color from pink to green to red (which is called rubellite) to purple to blue-green (which is called indicolite) to colorless (which is called achroite) to black. Watermelon tourmaline is both pink and green. Tourmaline is mined in Brazil, The Ural Mountains in Russia, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and California. Tsavorite Tsavorite is a rare, deep green variety of grossular garnet, a type of garnet. The emerald green color comes from vanadium and chromium. Tsavorite is similar to emerald, but is more rare and more durable. Tsavorite has a hardness of 7.5 and a specific gravity of 3.6. Tsavorite is found in east Africa; Tsavorite is not enhanced. Turquoise Turquoise is a semi-precious stone, and is known for its true "robin's egg blue". Although turquoise is very opaque, it is also porous and is predominantly found in desert regions worldwide. It was originally discovered in Turkey, and green hued turquoise can be found in North America. This unique stone is usually cut into cabochons, or domes, to enhance the natural beauty of the gem. White Gold White gold is gold that has been alloyed with a mix of nickel, zinc, copper, tin, and manganese (and sometimes palladium). Yellow Gold Yellow gold is gold that has been alloyed with a mix of 50% copper and 50% silver. Topaz Topaz is a very hard gemstone that ranges in color from brown, to yellow to blue to pink. Imperial topaz is golden orange-yellow topaz; it is the most valuable topaz. Topaz has a hardness of 8. Blue Topaz: A topaz that is light brown or colorless when mined but turns a vivid blue when exposed to heat. Blue Topaz is an alternate birthstone for December. Smoky Topaz: Smoky quartz is a popular variety of quartz. It has an unusual color, is easily recognized. Smoky quartz is also popular as an ornamental stone and is carved into spheres, pyramids, obelisks, eggs, figurines and ornate statues Source: (zoomschool.com, crystalsandjewelry.com, nin-sd.com, cooljools.com)