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Pictorial
Glossary of Jewelry Terms
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FLORENTINE FINISH A
finish applied to metal, usually applied by hand, consisting of a series of
parallel lines engraved in two directions perpendicular to each other. |
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FOUR C’S
An abbreviation used to describe the Color, Clarity, Carat
Weight
and Cut of a gemstone. Curt does not refer to the shape. |
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FRICTION BACK An earring back, also called a push back, which uses
friction to secure itself against an earring post and hold an earring
against the ear. |
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GOLD an
element, whose symbol is AU on the atomic charts, gold is very malleable,
meaning it can be hammered, bent, drawn, shaped or formed with relative ease
compared to other metals. Gold is usually mixed with other metals called
alloys to give it rigidity or change its color. See 14kt, 18kt. 22kt.
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GOLD
ELECTROPLATE A final finish applied to non-gold jewelry equal to
7-millionths of an inch of fine gold or more. |
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GOLD
FILLED An item made of a base metal such as brass or copper, to which a
sheet of gold is bonded by pressure or other means. To qualify as gold
filled; an article of jewelry must have a layer of gold at least 1/20th, or
5% of the weight of the entire article. |
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GOLD OVERLAY
Has the same meaning as "gold filled". |
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GOLD PLATED A
thin layer of electroplated gold on base metal. All gold plated items are
not plated with fine gold; some are only plated gold in color. A marking of
14K H.G.E. or 18K H.G.E. (Heavy Gold Electroplate) for example would
indicate that some amount of fine gold was actually used. |
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GOLD TESTING
The gold content or karat can be tested in a piece of jewelry by rubbing the
item to be tested on a testing stone, similar to slate (slate is sometimes
used) and using Hydrochloric acid, in different strengths to determine the
gold content. |
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GREEN GOLD
An alloy of gold that appears green in color. The green color of gold is
achieved by mixing silver, zinc, and cadmium with gold. |
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HEAD A
finding, typically the prong portion of a ring that holds a gemstone. |
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HEART
A gemstone cut into the shape of a heart. The shape of love. |
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HAND
MADE Created completely by hand. Not assembled from parts or made in a
die or mold. |
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HIGH POLISH
A finish achieved by buffing the surface of metal so it shines brightly,
often with a mirror-like finish. |
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IDEAL CUT
A set of proportions used
when cutting a round Diamond, created by a man named Tolkowsky, believed by
many yield the best balance of fire and brilliance. |
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ILLUSION SETTING
A setting used to make Diamonds appear larger than they are. |
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IMITATION GEMS Any gems made of material other than the gemstone they
are intended to mimic. This stone is glass and made to look like a
Tanzanite. |
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INITIAL RING A ring
with an initial. |
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INLAY
The process of setting stones into a channel or cut out so that they are
flush with the surface of the metal. A stone is said to be inlaid when it
is set in this manner. |
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INVISIBLE SETTING
Gemstones set next to each other, usually in multiple rows, with no metal
between them, giving the appearance that they are set invisibly (without
prongs, beads or channels). The stones actually have tiny grooves sawn on
the bottom of them so they interlock or are held in place with wires like a
puzzle. |
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IRRADIATED
A gemstone treated with radiation for the purpose of changing the color of
the gemstone. |
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KARAT
A unit of measure of gold content. Pure gold is 24 karat and one karat is
equal to1/24 part pure gold in an alloy. (14kt. gold is 14 parts gold and 8
parts other metal.) |
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LAPIDARY A
gem cutter or polisher, usually well versed in finishing all types of gems
other than diamond. |
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Member
American Gem Society