A

Alloy

A blend of metals, often employed to enhance the properties of gold and silver, making them more durable or altering their colour.

Assay

A test to ascertain the metal's purity in jewellery.

B

Baguette

A long, rectangular cut often applied to gemstones.

Base Metal

Non-precious metals such as copper or nickel, commonly used in more affordable jewellery.

Bezel Setting

A metal surround that holds a gemstone securely at its perimeter.

Birthstones

Gems linked to each month of the year, frequently worn for their personal meaning.

Black Pearls

Dark-hued pearls, typically originating from the Tahitian variety.

Blemishes

Small surface flaws on pearls that may impact their value.

Blister Pearls

Pearls that form attached to a mollusk's inner shell, usually with an irregular shape.

Blood Diamonds

Diamonds extracted from conflict zones, often associated with ethical issues.

Blue Pearl

A pearl exhibiting a natural blue shade, often found in Akoya pearls.

Brilliant Cut

A diamond cut celebrated for its outstanding brilliance, achieved through numerous facets.

Briolette

A teardrop-shaped, fully faceted gemstone cut designed to maximise sparkle.

C

Carats

A unit used to measure the weight of jewels, such as diamonds, and is equivalent to 200 milligrams.

Channel Setting

A technique for setting stones in a line, embedded into a channel groove or between two parallel metal strips.

Clarity

The absence of internal flaws or inclusions in a gemstone, affecting its value.

Claw or Prong Setting/Claw Setting

A setting style where metal prongs secure a gemstone in place, allowing maximum light exposure.

Cluster Setting

A setting where numerous small stones encircle a larger central stone.

Cocktail Ring

A large, statement ring typically featuring a sizable gemstone.

Crown

The top part of a cut gemstone, usually featuring a flat top known as the table.

Cushion Cut

A square or rectangular gemstone cut with rounded corners, akin to a cushion.

E

Embossing

A technique for crafting raised patterns on metal, contributing texture.

Emerald Cut

A rectangular gemstone cut, renowned for its sophistication and stepped facets.

Enameled Jewellery

Jewellery adorned with a coloured, vitreous coating on the metal surface.

Engraving

The process of inscribing designs or text onto metal surfaces.

Eternity Ring

A band encircled with continuous gemstones, symbolising perpetual love.

F

Facets

Flat surfaces on a gemstone, designed to enhance its sparkle and brilliance.

Facetted Gemstone

A stone with multiple facets to increase its reflective qualities.

Fineness

The measure of purity for gold or silver, expressed in parts per thousand.

Flush Setting

A style where the gemstone is set level with the metal's surface.

Freshwater Pearls

Pearls cultivated in freshwater mollusks, known for their variety of shapes and colours.

G

Girdle

The widest perimeter of a gemstone.

Grain

A measurement unit for pearls, equating one grain to 50 milligrams.

Gilding

Applying a slender layer of gold to a surface.

Gipsy Setting

A setting where the gemstone is flush within the metal, creating a seamless appearance.

Gold

A valued, yellow precious metal, extensively used in jewellery manufacture.

H

Hallmarks

Stamps on jewellery indicating purity and origin.

I

Inclusions

Imperfections inside a gemstone, such as air bubbles or foreign materials, impacting its look and worth.

Inlaid

A design method where materials are embedded into the surface of another, achieving a level finish.

Iridescence

A phenomenon where surface colour shifts with the angle of view, commonly observed in pearls and opals.

K

Karat

A measure of gold purity, with 24 karat being pure gold and lower values indicating a mix with other metals.

L

Lab Grown Gemstones

Identical to natural stones but created in a laboratory.

Lustre

The quality of light reflection from a pearl's surface, crucial in determining its value.

M

Marquise

A gemstone cut into an elongated shape with pointed ends.

Mother-of-Pearl

The iridescent inner layer of mollusc shells, used in jewellery and decoration.

N

Nacre

Also known as mother of pearl, utilised in pearl formation.

Navette

A marquise-shaped gemstone, pointed at both ends and elongated.

O

Orient

The soft iridescence or lustre on the surface of pearls, contributing to their beauty.

Oxidised Silver

Silver treated to have a darkened surface appearance.

Opalescence

The optical phenomenon in which a gemstone displays a play of colours, akin to opals.

P

Pavé

A setting where stones are set so closely together that the metal is barely visible, creating a continuous surface of sparkle.

Pavilion

The lower part of a gemstone, below the girdle, often faceted to enhance the stone's brilliance.

Pear Cut

A teardrop-shaped gemstone cut.

Pearlescent

Describes a surface or finish that resembles the lustre of a pearl, with a depth of shimmering colours.

Plating

Covering metal with a thin layer of another metal.

Platinum

A dense, valuable silver-white metal used in fine jewellery.

Plique-à-jour

Translucent enamelling resembling stained glass.

Princess Cut

A square gemstone cut known for its brilliance.

Q

Quartz

Quartz is Earth's most prevalent mineral and encompasses various types such as amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz, among others. These forms range from transparent to opaque, each with unique colours and patterns.

R

Refining

Purifying metals to achieve desired levels of purity.

Rhodium Plated

A process where jewellery is coated with rhodium to enhance durability and provide a reflective white surface.

Ring Shank

The part of a ring that encircles the finger.

Rose Cut Gemstone

A gemstone with a flat base and a dome top covered in facets.

Rose Gold

Pink-tinted gold created by alloying gold with copper.

Rubover

A setting technique where metal encases and secures the stone, offering a minimalist alternative to a bezel setting.

S

Semi-Precious Gemstones

Gemstones valued for their beauty but not classified as precious.

Silver

A widely utilised, shiny precious metal.

Simulated Gemstone

A synthetic material designed to mimic natural gemstones.

Soldering

The process of joining metal parts using a fusible alloy.

Solitaire

A single gemstone mounted in a straightforward, elegant setting.

Stacking Rings

Rings intended to be worn together on the same finger.

Stainless Steel

A robust, corrosion-resistant alloy used in contemporary jewellery.

Sterling Silver

An alloy made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, enhancing its durability.

T

Tarnish

The result of metal reacting with elements, leading to discolouration.

Titanium

A robust, lightweight metal favoured for modern jewellery designs.

V

Vermeil

Gold-plated sterling silver, known for its quality and durability.

W

White Gold

An alloy of gold with white metals, such as nickel or zinc. Often rhodium-plated for shine.