The mixture of two or more metals which strengthens the metal, and/or enhances its appearance.
Alloy
Bangle
A bracelet that is rigid and slides over the hand. Bangle bracelets sometimes don’t have a clasp.
Bead Setting
Diamonds or color gemstones are set evenly with the surface of the metal, and secured by bead-like prongs between the stones.
Bezel Setting
A diamond or gemstone is wrapped with the metal, where only the crown and table can be seen.
Blemish
An imperfection on the surface of a diamond.
Brilliance
The amount of sparkle or shine which is reflected from the diamond.
Cabochon
A gemstone cut which is polished into a smooth, rounded dome-like surface, instead of having facets.
Carat Weight
A diamond’s measurement for weight, which is equal to 0.2 grams, as described in the four Cs of diamonds.
Cathedral Setting
A setting that has cathedral-like arches on each side of the diamond or gemstone.
Channel Setting
Diamonds or color gemstones are arranged adjacent to one another in a channel, with no metal between each stone.
Clasp – Lobster Lock
A device which is used to fasten the end of chains, necklaces, bracelets and watches. Lobster lock’s are longer and heavier than the traditional round clasp.
Cluster Setting
Diamonds or color gemstones are grouped together, which can be arranged to look like one large stone.
Crown
The upper part of a diamond or gemstone, beneath the table and above the girdle. A crown on a watch is the piece on the side of the watch you typically pull out to set time and date.
Cuff Bracelet
A bracelet that spans the wrist but is open in the back
Culet
The small facet on the bottom point of a diamond, beneath the pavilion. Not all diamonds have a culet.
Facet
The flat surface on a diamond or color gemstones. The arrangement of a gemstone’s facets determines its cut and return of light.
Fire
The flashes of color that can be seen when a diamond or gemstone is moved or rotated
Flawless
The highest grading on the diamond clarity scale, which has no visible inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification.
Flush Setting
A hole is created in the metal surface, and a diamond or gemstone is placed inside, where its table is evenly set with the surface of the metal.
Four C’s
The four characteristics of a diamond – color, clarity, cut and carat weight – which are used to establish the quality and value of diamonds.
Girdle
The middle section of a diamond or gemstone, which can be polished or faceted on a diamond, and typically unpolished on color gemstones.
Halo Setting
The halo setting encircles a center gemstone in a collection of round pavé or micro-pavé diamonds (or faceted color gemstones). … A high-carat center diamond looks enormous in a halo setting. And a quarter-, third- or half-carat diamond can look, by some estimates, as much as a half a carat larger.
Ideal Cut
An ideal cut diamond has the highest quality of proportions, symmetry and polish, and returns the maximum amount of light from the top of the diamond.
Inclusions
The natural unique “fingerprints” within a diamond or gemstone, which consist of other elements such as minerals, gases, or other substances.
Inlaid Setting
Diamonds or color gemstones are set flush within the surface of the metal, where a part of the metal setting is cut away and replaced by the stone.
Invisible Setting
A diamond or gemstone is set in an arrangement where the metal cannot be seen, making it appear as there is no setting behind the stone.
Karat
The standard measurement for gold, where 24 karats is pure gold. 14-karat or 18-karat gold is mixed with other metal alloys to strengthen it, and to enhance its appearance.
Pavé Setting
Small diamonds or color gemstones are held in place by small handcrafted prongs, where all the tables of the stones are set evenly with the metal surface.
Pavilion
The bottom portion of a diamond, between the girdle and the culet.
Polish
The amount of smoothness, or shininess on a metal’s surface. The more polished, the more light reflects off a metal’s surface.
Play of Color
The spectral colors that can be seen in an opal when it is rotated or moved.
Prong Setting
A diamond or gemstone is mounted to the metal with prongs that wrap around its girdle, and are usually secured to the crown of the stone.
Proportions
The relationship of a diamond’s parts to one another, such as crown angle, crown height and table percentage, which ultimately determine a stone’s brilliance.
Rhodium
Rhodium is a chemical element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45. Rhodium plating is often added onto white gold or silver jewelry — and engagement and wedding bands in particular — to increase shine, luster and durability.
Rose Gold
Rose gold is created when pure gold is combined with more copper than other alloys.
Scintillation
The flashes of light that can be seen in a diamond when rotated under a natural or artificial light source.
Solitaire
Rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, or necklaces that feature one diamond in its setting.
Symmetry
The precision of the alignment of a diamond’s facets. The more symmetrical, the better the return of light.
Table
The flat surface on the top of a diamond or gemstone.
Tension Setting
A diamond or gemstone is suspended inside the metal setting, where most of the diamond is exposed.
Toughness
The ability for a diamond or gemstone to resist breakage (or fracturing) from impact.
White Gold
Made by combining pure gold with copper, zinc and nickel (or palladium) alloy, such as rhodium.
Yellow Gold
Gold that retains its natural yellow color. Pure gold is typically combined with copper and silver alloys to enhance its durability.