Glossary

Art Deco: A bold and distinctive jewelry style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by geometric shapes, clean lines, and contrasting materials. Art Deco pieces often feature a mix of colored gemstones, diamonds, and enamel.

Bezel Setting: A bezel setting holds a gemstone securely in place using a thin metal rim that encircles the stone’s edge. This setting style is known for its sleek look and provides extra protection to the gemstone.

Cabochon: A type of gemstone cut where the stone is polished but not faceted. Cabochons are usually oval or round with a smooth, convex surface and are often used for opaque or semi-opaque gemstones.

Channel Setting: This setting style involves placing gemstones in a continuous row between two metal strips, creating a seamless appearance with no visible prongs. Channel settings are commonly used for eternity bands and wedding rings.

Chasing: A metalworking technique used to refine and enhance surface details in a piece of jewelry. Chasing involves using hammers and punches to create intricate designs by pushing and shaping the metal from the front.

Clarity: Clarity measures the internal and external imperfections (inclusions and blemishes) in a gemstone, particularly diamonds. The fewer the imperfections, the higher the clarity grade, which ranges from Flawless (no visible inclusions) to Included (visible imperfections).

Cocktail Ring: A large, statement ring, often set with a prominent gemstone or a cluster of smaller stones. Cocktail rings are bold and designed to draw attention.

Cut: Refers to how well a diamond or gemstone is shaped and faceted. The quality of the cut influences the stone’s brilliance and sparkle. Popular cuts include brilliant-cut, rose-cut, cushion, marquise, and pear.

Dancing Diamond: A setting mechanism that allows the central diamond to move freely with subtle movements, enhancing the diamond’s sparkle as it catches the light.

Diamonds: Known as the most coveted gemstone, diamonds are formed deep within the Earth under extreme heat and pressure. The quality of diamonds is evaluated using the Four Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight.

Enameling: A decorative process where colored powdered glass is fused to metal surfaces to create vibrant and intricate designs. Enamel work is often used in jewelry to add colorful detailing.

Facets: Flat, polished surfaces on a gemstone that are carefully angled to maximize light reflection and enhance the stone’s brilliance. Diamonds and gemstones are often cut with multiple facets to create their characteristic sparkle.

Four Cs: A standardized grading system for diamonds based on four key factors: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight. These criteria are used to determine the quality and value of diamonds.

Inclusions: Natural imperfections found within a gemstone. Inclusions can vary in size and type, including crystals, clouds, or needles. Diamonds with fewer inclusions are considered higher quality.

Iridescence: The phenomenon where light is refracted within a gemstone, creating a shimmering, rainbow-like play of colors. Iridescence is commonly seen in pearls, opals, and certain other gems.

Karat (Kt): A unit of measurement used to define the purity of gold. Pure gold is 24K, while 18K and 14K gold contain a mixture of gold and other metals to increase durability. It should not be confused with “carat,” which measures gemstone weight.

Kundan Setting: An ancient Indian jewelry-making technique where gemstones are set with pure gold foil between the stone and its mount. Kundan jewelry is known for its intricate and ornate designs, often featuring uncut gemstones.

Lustre: The level of shine or gloss that a gemstone exhibits when light reflects off its surface. Lustre is affected by the quality of the polish and the gemstone’s refractive properties.

Navratna: A traditional jewelry style featuring nine specific gemstones, each representing a celestial body in Indian astrology. The stones typically used are ruby, pearl, emerald, coral, yellow sapphire, diamond, blue sapphire, zircon, and cat’s eye.

Pavé Setting: A setting technique where small gemstones or diamonds are set closely together, creating the appearance of a continuous surface of stones. This design is often used in rings, bracelets, and earrings to create a brilliant, sparkling effect.

Prong Setting: A popular setting style where metal claws or prongs are used to hold a gemstone in place, allowing maximum exposure to light and enhancing the stone’s brilliance.

Shank: The part of a ring that wraps around the finger, often referred to as the band. The shank provides support for the ring’s top or setting, and its design can influence the overall look of the ring.

Tennis Bracelet: A flexible bracelet set with a continuous line of small, uniform diamonds or gemstones. The name originated when tennis star Chris Evert famously lost her diamond bracelet during a match, and the piece became known as a “tennis bracelet.”