Copy of `Jewelry Design - Jewelry terms`
The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.
|
|
Jewelry Design - Jewelry terms
Category: Hobbies and Crafts > Jewelry Designs
Date & country: 31/08/2013, USA Words: 160
|
Altered StoneAny stone that has been changed in appearance,particularly in color, by an artificial process. Also referred toas an Enhanced Gemstone or a Treated Gemstone. Heating,irradiation, and dyeing are among the processes used to changegemstone appearance.
AmethystineThe color violet to purple in gemstones.
Angle of IncidenceThe angle at which a ray of light enters a stone asmeasured from normal.
Angle of ReflectionThe angle at which a reflected ray of light leaves asurface as measured from normal.
Angle of RefractionThe angle at which a reflected ray of light leaves asurface as measured from normal.
AnisotropicTerm used in gemology for double refraction.
Artificial StoneA man-made, imitation or synthetic gem.
AsterismThe appearance of a rayed figure or rayed star in agemstone, caused by the reflection of light from minuteinclusions. Star Sapphires and Star Rubies are two well-knownexamples of gemstones featuring a rayed star.
AventurescenceA glittery appearance of the surface of a gemstone,caused by the reflection of light off small mineral inclusions.Aventurine Quartz and Goldstone (glass) both have aventurescence.
Balas RubyTrade name for Red Spinel.
BaroqueMay apply to certain gemstones or pearls. Either agemstone or pearl with an irregular shape, such as Tumbled Stonesor Baroque Pearls.
BaseThe portion of a facetted gemstone below the Girdle.Also known as the Pavilion.
BatonThe English name for the Baguette cut.
Bead SettingA method of securing a facetted stone. A small burr ofmetal is raised with a graver and worked to the edge of the stone.This burr is then burnished with a concave tipped punch into asmall ball over the girdle of the stone. Normally used to securevery small gemstones, usually in multiples.
BearingThe supporting ledge of a stone setting.
BezelA thin strip of metal that holds a gemstone in place.Used in place of prongs.
BiaxialA double-refractive gemstone, which has two directionsof single refraction or optic axes.
BirefringenceThe numerical measurement of double refraction ingemstones.
BlockingThe process of placing the facets on a stone.
Body AppearanceThe optical characteristic of a gem produced by internalinclusions, fractures or layers.
Body ColorThe dominant hue within a gemstone.
Box SettingA method of stone setting in which the gem is enclosedin a box and the edges of the metal are pressed down to securethe stone.
BrilliancyThe total amount of white light returned to the viewerby a gem. This includes internal and external reflections.
Bristol Stone/Bristol DiamondOld trade-term for colorless crystal quartz. Also atrade name for colored glass imitations, Bristol Glass orBristows.
BrutingA method of rough-diamond fashioning by rubbing onediamond against another.
CabochonA gemstone with an unfacetted domed form. The oldestform of gem cutting.
Calibre CutGemstones cut to a specific, standardized size formounting. Also, small gem material cut for pave' setting.
CameoA gem or shell material--usually with two or moredistinct colored layers. The top layer is carved in relief andthe bottom layer acts as a contrasting background.
CaratA unit of weight measure for gems.
Change of ColorA phenomenon seen in some gems which have a differentcolor in natural light than in artificial light. The color-changeis caused by selective absorption and transmission of light.Alexandrite has become a very well known color-change gem, butother gemstones may exhibit the phenomenon.
ChatoyancyThe appearance of well-defined bands or threads of lightacross the surface of a gemstone. This appearance is caused bythe reflection of light off small parallel mineral inclusions.May appear as a single-band chatoyancy--Cat's Eye--or a series ofbands--Tiger's Eye.
CheckingThe tendency of Opals to crack when exposed to heat ordrying air. Also known as Crazing.
CheveeA gemstone with a smooth concave depression.
ChipA popular, common name for a small rose-cut or single-cutgemstone.
Claw SettingA stone setting of projecting metal claws which grip thestone at--and just above--the girdle.
CleanA trade term for gemstones which are free of noticeableflaws.
CleavageA smooth, flat break or separation in a gem along thedirection of its atomic structure.
Cloud/CloudyA group of small, white inclusions that give a cloudyappearance to a diamond.
Cluster SettingClosely set gemstones arranged to give the illusion of asingle, larger gemstone.
Coated StoneA gemstone covered by an artificially appliedtransparent material to enhance its color. Often used with Topaz.
Collet SetA variation on box setting in which the sides of the boxare filed away to sallow more light to enter the gemstone.
Color ZoningUneven color in gemstones in irregular patches. Can beeither different colors or different tones of the same color.
Colored StonesA gemstone other than a diamond.
CrazingThe tendency of Opals to crack when exposed to heat ordrying air. Also known as Checking.
Critical AngleGreatest angle measured from normal at which light canbe refracted out of a stone. Small angle at which light istotally internally reflected.
CrownThe part of a facetted gemstone above the girdle.
Crown SettingA collet setting consisting off a flared cylinder withone end of the cylinder notched to form prongs.
CryptocrystallineExtremely small crystals which cannot be seenseparately, even under high magnification.
CrystalA solid made up of atoms, bounded by natural planarsurfaces.
Crystal SystemThe classification of minerals according to thegeometric form in which their crystals grow. Each mineral has adistinct system--Isometric, Tetragonal, Hexagonal, Orthorhombic,Monoclinic and Triclinic.
CrystallineHaving a regular crystal structure.
CrystallographyThe science of the internal structure of crystals.
Cubic SystemThe Isometric crystal system which consists of threeaxes, each of equal length and perpendicular to others.
CuletA small polished surface placed at what would be thepoint or ridge of a facetted stone, used to reduce chipping.
CutThe specific from into which a stone is fashioned. Oneof the deciding factors in gemstone value.
CuvetteA raised relief carved into a gemstone in a concavedepression.
DensityMass per unit volume. The amount of matter in a givenspace. The higher density/atomic mass of a gemstone, the more itweighs for a given size.
DentellesAn early term for glass imitation stone without foilbacking.
DichroismThe transmission of two different colors in twodifferent optical planes as light passes through a gemstone. Maybe used as a method of distinguishing one type of gemstone fromanother.
DichroscopeAn instrument used to view the light passing through agemstone to determine the presence of dichroism.
DispersionThe separation of light into its spectral colors as itpasses through a gemstone.
DodecahedronA twelve-sided geometric solid. One of the crystal formsfound in the Isometric crystal system.
Double RefractionThe separation of a beam of light into two separatebeams as it enters a gemstone. The two beams travel at differentspeeds. May be used to distinguish one gemstone material fromanother. Occurs in all crystal systems except Isometric.
DoubletAn assembled stone of two parts. Colorless cement orheat is used to join the parts together. Often used with Opals.
DurabilityThe combined characteristics of hardness, toughness andstability in gemstones. One of the deciding factors in gemstonevalue.
Dyed StoneA gemstone to which an artificial stain is added toimprove color or to imitate a more valuable gemstone.
FaceThe plane surfaces which form the sides of a crystal.
FacetA planar surface which is polished onto a gemstone.
Fancy Cut/Fancy ShapeAny style of gemstone cutting other than the roundbrilliant or single cut.
Fancy DiamondAny diamond with a body color strong enough to beattractive.
FeatherA trade term referring to any inclusion within a gem,usually a jagged irregular fracture which appears white.
Fingerprint InclusionLiquid and/or gas or solid flaws in gemstones whichalign in the form of a human fingerprint.
FinishThe quality of a prepared surface. In facettedgemstones, the placing of the facets and the quality of polish.In cabochon gemstones, the quality of the polish.
FireThe play of color on or within a gemstone as a result ofdispersion. Prominent valued feature of Opals and Fire Agates.
FlawAny visible imperfection within a gemstone.
FluorescenceThe emission of visible light when a gemstone is exposedto ultraviolet light. Used a method of distinguishing onegemstone from another and a natural gemstone from a syntheticgemstone.
Foil BackedThe adding of a layer of metallic foil to the back of agemstone to improve its color or brilliancy.
FractureA break or chip in a gemstone in any direction otherthan along a cleavage plane.
GemologyThe study of gemstones--identification, grading,appraisal, marketing, and fashioning.
GemstoneA cut and polished stone which possesses the beauty,durability and rarity necessary for use in jewelry.
GeodeA rock which contains a cavity lined with quartz orother gemstone crystals.
GirasolA gemstone with a glowing, milky sheen that moves as thestone is moved in the path of a light source. Opalescence.
GirdleThe outer edge of a gemstone.
GlypticThe art of engraving or carving gems.
GroupTwo or more chemically related gemstone materials,similar in structure and physical properties.
Gypsy SettingA setting in which the crown of a gem is the onlyportion exposed and the table of the gemstone is nearly levelwith the surrounding metal. No prongs or separate bezel isevident; all means of setting the gemstone are below the metal'ssurface.
HabitThe most common form in which a mineral occurs.
HardnessA gemstone material's ability to resist scratching.
HeadAn added finding to secure a gemstone in a prong setting.
Heat-TreatmentHeating a gemstone material to improve color.
Heavy LiquidA liquid of known specific gravity, used to test thespecific gravity of a gemstone.
Hexagonal SystemA crystal system which consists of four axes, threeintersect at a 60-degree angle of each other while the fourth isperpendicular to the other three.
Hollowed CabA cabochon hollowed from the back. Technique is sued tolighten the color of the stone.
Illusion SettingA setting in which the surrounding metal's surface iscut or shaped to appear to be part of the gemstone. Technique isoften used to enhance the perceived size of small diamonds.
InclusionA visible irregularity in a gemstone.
IntaglioA design carved into the surface of a gemstone--theopposite in character of a cameo.
IntensityThe color of a gemstone from bright to dull.
Interference ColorsColors revealed by a polarisope as polarized light passthrough a gemstone. Used to detect the presence of doublerefractivity in a gemstone.
IridescenceSpectral colors observed inside or on a gemstone. It iscaused by light passing through layers of differing refractiveindexes. The colors seen in Opals are a result of iridescence.
Isometric SystemThe Cubic crystal system which consists of three axes,each of equal length and perpendicular to others.