Glossary of Terms
Agate
Agate is the banded form of the mineral Chalcedony, which is a microcrystalline variety of quartz
Alloy
An alloy is a combination of two or more metals. Common alloys used in jewellery are: gold under 24 Karat (mixed with silver, copper, and/or other metals), sterling silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper)
Amethyst
Amethyst is a form of the mineral quartz. Amethyst is usually purple, but can range in colour from pale lavender to a very deep, reddish purple to a milky colour to green.(Greek for "not drunken")
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a transparent, light blue or sea-green stone that is porous. Today, blue aquamarines are more highly valued
Bangle
A rigid bracelet that is slipped over the hand or clasped in place on the wrist.
Bracelet
An item of jewellery worn on the wrist. They can be of plain precious metal, decorated designs of precious metal or set with stones
Brooch
An ornamental piece of jewellery which has a pin back for affixing it to clothing or hats. Usually larger in scale than the ones referred to as "pins"
Carat and Karat
A carat (ct.) is a standard measure of weight used for gemstones. One carat weighs 0.2 gram. A hundredth of a carat is called a point. A Karat (kt.) is a unit of purity of gold
Charm
Charms are tiny, representational ornaments that are worn on bracelets and necklaces
Choker
A choker is a type of necklace that fits tightly around the neck
Citrene
Citrine is a rare, yellow type of quartz, a semi-precious stone that ranges in colour from pale yellow to orange to golden brown
Clip-on earrings
Earrings that are designed for people who do not have their ears pierced. There are many styles of clip that we have in stock feel free to contact us if you would like any of our earrings adapted for free
Cufflinks
Cufflinks are men's jewellery that close the buttonholes of the cuff of a long-sleeved shirt.
Cultured pearl
Cultured pearls are pearls produced by oysters that have been surgically injected (nucleated) with bits of mussel shell.
Emerald
Very hard, green precious stones. Flaws and cloudiness (called jardin) are very common in emeralds so many emeralds are treated to improve their look. Emeralds were long thought to have healing powers, particularly for eyesight.
Facet
One of the flat, polished surfaces on a cut gemstone
Facetting
The cutting and polishing of the surface of a gemstone into a distinctive, and specifically proportioned, pattern of flat panels, or 'facets'
Freshwater pearl
A freshwater pearl is a pearl that was harvested from a freshwater mussel.
Garnet
Any of a group of semi-precious silicate stones that range in colour from red to green (garnets occur in all colours but blue).
Hallmark
This is the authorised stamp from an assay office which is found on items of gold, silver, palladium and platinum. If you would like to know more the UK assay office has a wealth of information
https://theassayoffice.co.uk/help-with-hallmarks/anatomy-of-a-hallmark
UK Silver Standard Hallmarks
UK Gold Standard Hallmarks
Jade
A semi-precious stone that ranges in colour from green to white to lilac to brown to almost black. Two different minerals are known as jade: jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite is the harder of the two; it is usually used in jewellery production. Nephrite is slightly softer is often veined and is used in carving
Jump ring
A jump ring is a circular metal ring with an opening. It is used to attach two other rings or links, and is then soldered or pressed shut.
Labradorite
Is not from Labrador and is a greyish mineral with brilliant flashes of colour usually green, blue or red after it is polished (called labradorescence). The darker variety of labradorite is called black moonstone which has bluish inclusions.
Natural Pearl
As it says.
Pin
A pin (also brooch) is an ornament that can be pinned to a garment.
Rhodium
A noble metal, member of the platinum group of metals.
Rhodium is often used to give a reflective white finish and durability to silver or gold by applying a top layer coating using electroplating.
Sapphire
Sapphires are one of the four most valued stones the others are rubies - sapphires that are red, emeralds, and diamonds.
Setting
The most common method of securing a gemstone or pearl in a piece of jewellery.
Shank
The shank is the portion of a ring encircling the finger.
Shoulders
The upper part of a ring that joins the shank and the setting.
Silver
A noble metal with a characteristic shiny white colour and a metallic lustre. Silver is quite soft when pure and is used in a variety of industrial applications but when used in jewellery is alloyed with other metals to form Sterling Silver (typically 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper).
Britannia silver was introduced in 1697 by the government of England in The Britannia Standard Act of Parliament passed, which implied that the coins would be made using an alloy that contained 95.84% silver and is still available today.
Argentium is a high quality, 93.5 or 96%, silver with germanium introduced to reduce tarnish
Generally these are the types of silver found in the UK.
The name of the monetary unit "pound" derives from a very old value of one troy pound of sterling silver.
The word "Silver" comes from the Anglo-Saxon: seolfor.
The four C's
Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity are the basic measurements for valuing diamonds.
White & Rose Gold
An alloy of yellow gold that has been 'bleached' using silver, zinc or platinum as a whitening agent. Often rhodium-plated to give extra whiteness. Similarly Rose gold has been alloyed with copper to give it that warm colour. These both can be found in most purities of gold
Yellow gold
Yellow is the natural colour of pure gold the third noble metal.
Birthstones:
January Garnet
February Amethyst
March Aquamarine
April Diamond
May Emerald
June Pearl or Moonstone
July Ruby
August Peridot
September Sapphire
October Opal
November Topaz or Citrine
December Turquoise or Zircon.
