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. This pear shaped
AMETHYST weighs a hefty 57.34 carats. (44k JPEG)
AMETRINE* A bi-colored variety of crystalline quartz that exhibits
both Citrine and Amethyst colors. A
PICTURE is worth a thousand words. (27.7k JPEG)
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
included insects.
BERYL* An important mineral species that includes varieties such as
aquamarine, emerald, heliodor, morganite, and goshenite.
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. See Birthstone List
CABOCHON* A gemstone fashioned with a domed or convex, smooth
surface. Cabochons can be any basic shape, round being the most common.
See the JPEG in the moonstone entry in this glossary for a good example
of a cabochon.
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
settings, 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. What
makes the cabochon in this RING
interesting are the rutile inclusions in the stone. From our catalog
(42.4k JPEG).
IRISING* An optical phenomenon occurring in some translucent gem
species, where thin air filled cracks display iridescence. Here is an
example of IRISING in an aquamarine crystal.
Image size=12k JPEG.
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. A closeup of the large MOONSTONE cabochon
on the silver chalice shows adularescence.(11.1k JPEG)
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. Our image catalog has a nice photo of a
BLACK OPAL set as a pin.(33.9k JPEG)
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.
HOTRING (26.9K JPEG)
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 variaties as amethyst,
bloodstone, citrine, agate, adventurine and many more.
RUTILE* A mineral that forms needle-like inclusions in many
different gemstones, quartz being one. A good example is the JPEG
image, (from our catalog), of the rutilated sphere
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. A rare crystal
and cut stone is PICTURED HERE.. The uncut crystal
weighs 182 grams, the faceted green stone weighs 18.7 carats. (52.5k JPEG)
See THE MINERAL section for more details.
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 oftem 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.
