Jewellery glossary

Jewellery glossary: key terms with definitions.

Do you sometimes feel out of your depth when you encounter jewellery jargon online? Or are you not entirely clear on what a term you often come across really means? What is vermeil? Or a lariat? Or a bail? What's the difference between semi-precious and precious gemstones?

Designers might often forget that not all non-jewellers are aware with the phrases we use, so we're here to assist with our comprehensive Jewellery Glossary, which includes simple definitions of major jewellery terms.

Always remember that information is power! When purchasing for jewellery, especially online, we strongly advise you to comprehend what you're getting.

The jewellery definitions below encompass the terminology we use in reference to Jwellix Jewellery, but the list also contains phrases you may see elsewhere. We'll be adding more, so bookmark this page and return to it later.

How to use this glossary

The list is organised alphabetically. To search for a certain word, utilise your browser's find function. Please keep in mind that we are in Pakistan and use regular English spellings rather than American ones (so jewellery rather than jewelry, etc.). It also implies that we refer to gold as 'karat' rather than 'carat'.

This glossary has been a labour of love: if you find it useful, please share it.

ALLOY

An alloy is a metal mixture or a metal and another element mixture. All gold that is less than 24ct in purity is an alloy of pure gold and one or more additional metals. Sterling silver is a 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5% copper alloy. Alloying is often done to improve the main metal: it can make it tougher, less prone to tarnish (or the contrary might be a disadvantage), a different colour, reduce cost, or add other desirable properties.

AMULET

An amulet or good luck charm is any artifact that is thought to protect or provide good luck to its owner. In the context of jewellery, the term amulet is sometimes used wrongly to refer to a 'pendant,' a purely ornamental piece affixed to a necklace (see below). A pendant can be an amulet, however it all depends on the piece's goal.

ASSAY

An assay is a method used to assess the purity of precious metals and to ensure that precious metals were manufactured to the specified purity.

BAGUETTE

A faceted gemstone with a more intricate rectangular cut than an emerald shape.

BAIL

A component that is typically used to hang pendants or charms from a necklace. It might be as basic as a wire jump ring or as elaborate as an intricate design.

BAROQUE PEARL

A baroque pearl is a pearl that has an irregular form. These pearls might be smooth egg or teardrop forms or more lumpy and complicated shapes. Large baroque pearls are frequently used in jewellery. Both produced and natural pearls may form baroque patterns, although cultured freshwater pearls are more prevalent.

BASE METAL

A common metal that is not regarded precious, such as copper, brass, tin, zinc, or nickel. These metals can be used to make low-cost jewellery. They may irritate the skin or create green or black skin discoloration, and they may also wear poorly over time. Wearing base metals against your skin is not recommended. We do urge that you always examine the sort of metal used to make a piece of jewellery before purchasing it because it may not be obvious. Unless otherwise noted, all Jwellix Jewellery creations are constructed of precious metals.

BEADED JEWELLERY OR BEADWORK

Beaded jewellery, often known as beading jewellery, is made by stringing, wrapping, sewing, or otherwise connecting beads. It can be as basic as a single bead fastened to an earwire or beads strung together to make a necklace. More intricate woven beaded designs are also created. Gemstones, pearls, glass, wood, bone, shell, and even plastic beads can be utilised.

BEZEL SETTING

A gemstone setting that is often used for cabochon gemstones, however a similar setting that uses a tiny tube can be used with facetted gemstones (this may be called a tube setting). A rim of metal is pressed and/or rubbed around the edge of the gemstone to secure it in place in a bezel setting. These settings are often composed of silver or gold.

BIRTHSTONES

A birthstone is a single gemstone (or often more than one) that is associated with a certain month of birth. People are said to have been wearing birthstones in this manner since the 16th or 17th century, although the praise truly took hold in more recent times. Various gemstone associations across the world have established more recent lists of birthstones, which do not necessarily agree, which is why your birth month may have more than one stone connected with it.

BOLT CLASP OR BOLT RING

A clasp in the form of a circle. It has a little spring inside that is attached to a bolt that you can open with your thumbnail or fingertip before it springs shut.

BLOOD DIAMONDS OR CONFLICT DIAMONDS

Blood diamonds or conflict diamonds are diamonds that have been mined in a war zone and sold to fund components of the conflict. In various regions of the world, the word has been used to emphasise major ethical issues with the diamond trade. The Kimberley Process was established to curb the trafficking in such diamonds, although it has been criticised as defective, owing mostly to corruption. Due to the ethical difficulties involved with genuine diamonds, as well as their exorbitant price, a growing number of jewellers are now creating jewellery with lab generated diamonds or substitutes such as moissanite.

BRASS

A yellow metal that is an alloy of copper and zinc. You may come across inexpensive jewellery that appears to be gold but is actually composed of brass. It may wear poorly over time, induce an allergic response, and leave a green stain on your skin. Wearing brass against your skin is not recommended. A low price indicates that a piece of gold-colored jewellery is not genuine gold: gold is an extremely costly metal.

BRILLIANT CUT

A diamond cutting technique. Brilliant cut stones are typically spherical and have 58 facets.

BRIOLETTE

A pear-shaped gemstone cut that is generally faceted for added brilliance. Briolette beads can be linked to jewellery by drilling holes through the sides at the top or all the way through the centre from top to bottom.

CABOCHON GEMSTONE

Cabochons are gemstone cuts with a flat back and a rounded top. Cabochon gemstones typically have a smooth, highly polished surface, but they can also be faceted on top in a rose cut pattern (see below).

CAMEO

Traditionally, this refers to a way of carving an object with a raised (positive) relief picture, generally in a colour that contrasts with the backdrop. These motifs were frequently carved with jewels, shells, or bone. Today, the word might refer to artefacts that are not carved and/or have no colour contrast. The phrase currently frequently refers to a picture of a head, usually in an oval frame.

CARATS AND KARATS: GOLD

A carat is a measure of purity when it comes to gold. In the Pakistan and certain other countries, the spelling is 'karat,' but the meaning is the same. The higher the number, the purer the gold, with 24 being the purest (pure gold). Lower carat gold is alloyed with other metals to make it more appropriate for use in jewellery. Jewellers will use 'ct,' 'kt,' or 'K' as shorthand or purity stamps to refer to gold carats or karats.

KARATS: GEMSTONES

When referring to diamonds and other gemstones, the term karat refers to the mass (or weight) of the stones: the higher the number, the larger the weight. In this example, the spelling is the same all around the world.

CHAIN NECKLACE

A chain necklace is just a necklace with a chain and no pendant. Chain necklaces are often created from a length of silver or gold chain with no extra characteristics, although the chain design itself may be fairly complicated.

CHANDELIER JEWELLERY

Chandelier jewellery designs employ a metal framework to support many beads or other findings, similar to how a chandelier light fitting employs crystals. This design feature is commonly found in long and complex statement earrings, but it can also be found in pendants.

CHANNEL SETTING

This is a type of gemstone setting in which the stones are slotted into a channel to make a continuous strip. It is most commonly found in rings.

CHARM BRACELET

Charms, which are decorative pendants or trinkets that may represent essential areas of the wearer's life and have sentimental meaning, are affixed to a charm bracelet. Charm necklaces are also available. You may wear charm jewellery that you add charms to over time for sentimental reasons, or you could pick a finished item with all charms in place because you enjoy the overall aesthetic rather than because it is emotional.

CHOKER

A necklace that is worn near to the base of the neck. It's typically 40cm (16.5") long.

CLARITY

The degree to which a gemstone contains defects is referred to as its clarity. The better the clarity, the higher the value of the stone. However, lab created gemstones typically have exceptional clarity while being reasonably priced (see below).

CLOISONNÉ

This is a type of enamelling in which the coloured enamel is placed in cells surrounded by metal, such that each cell is distinct from the others. This enables for the creation of incredibly complicated designs, with each piece of enamel separated by thin metal walls that are generally polished to make them stand out.

CLAW OR PRONG SETTING

A gemstone setting used to hold faceted stones. These settings contain notched claws or prongs that are slightly pushed over to retain the gemstone's edges in place.

CLUSTER SETTING

Smaller gemstones are put around a bigger stone as a focal point in this design. Most commonly found on rings.

COCKTAIL RING

To create a statement, a cocktail ring generally features a rather big focal point that rests on top of or in the centre of the band. These rings, which are frequently enormous, may not be suited for regular wear since they can interfere with day-to-day activities. But they're a lot of fun to wear when you're dressing up!

COPPER

A basic metal that is bright orange in colour and very soft. Because it tarnishes fast and can colour the skin green or black in its pure state, it is rarely used in jewellery on its own. However, it is frequently alloyed with pure silver or gold: sterling silver, for example, is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper, resulting in a more stronger metal than either pure copper or silver (the copper content in sterling silver is not high enough to stain skin).

COSTUME JEWELLERY OR FASHION JEWELLERY

Costume jewellery (or fashion jewellery) is generally defined as any jewellery that is not constructed of precious metals or gemstones. These words are from the early twentieth century. Costume jewellery was historically made from less expensive materials such as rhinestones, nickel, brass, or pewter. When supplies were limited or expensive during the Great Depression and World War II, it was very popular. Modern costume jewellery is made from a broader range of materials, including imitated gemstones, glass, plastic, shell, plated base metals, and much more.

CRIMP BEAD

A type of beading component that is commonly used to fasten the knotted ends of a necklace. Typically, little crimp beads are flattened or tightened in place using pliers.

CULTURED PEARLS

Pearls grown in regulated circumstances with the assistance of farmers. Freshwater river mollusks or conventional saltwater pearl oysters can be used to generate cultured pearls.

DANGLE EARRINGS

Dangle earrings, like drop earrings, dangle below the earlobe and swing back and forth or side to side. They might be fairly short or long enough to graze your shoulders. The phrases 'dangle earrings' and 'drop earrings' are sometimes used interchangeably.

DROP EARRINGS

Drop earrings are similar to dangle earrings, except the primary feature is lower on the earlobe. Unlike dangle earrings, which constantly swing, they may or may not swing depending on the design. The phrases 'drop earrings' and 'dangle earrings' are sometimes used interchangeably.

EARRING BACK, SCROLL OR NUT

The little component that connects to the back of a post earring to keep it from falling out of your ear. The strain created by the scrolling metal bits is what keeps the earring in place.

EARWIRE

A wire earring component that is used with pierced ears. The traditional shepherds hook, with the main focus of the design dangling from the front of the ear wire, is a popular style. These are also known as ear hooks and are commonly seen in dangle or drop earrings.

EMERALD CUT

This simple gemstone cut is square or rectangular and is typically used for big, clear gemstones.

ENAMELLED JEWELLERY

Items of jewellery with a rather thick ornamental coating applied to a metal. Enamel is usually coloured. Traditional enamel is composed of glass powder that is fused to metal at high temperatures, typically in a kiln. Today, cold enamel, an epoxy-based colouring solution that cures firm and adheres to the metal, can be employed. When acquiring enamelled objects, you should be aware of the kind you are purchasing.

ENGRAVING

This is the technique of carving a highly detailed design or text into the surface of metal using specialised instruments called as gravers. It can also be done using power tools and small burs, but the results are significantly inferior. Engraving properly needs a high level of talent and is frequently performed by a Master Engraver who specialises in this sort of work. Jwellix Jewellery does not provide engraving services, but you can inquire with a nearby manufacturing jeweller to see if they have an engraver that can engrave your jewellery for you.

ETCHING

This is the method of creating designs on metal by corroding away the section of the design that you want gone. This produces a less precise finish than engraving, but it has its own unique charm.

FACETS

Facets are the flat surfaces formed by a cut stone or glass. They can also occur naturally.

FACETTED GEMSTONE

Faceted gemstones have cut surfaces that help them catch light and glitter. A traditional diamond shape is the most prevalent cut. The gemstone has numerous facets on top and a point in the centre on the back. Is typically mounted in a claw or prong configuration. Cabochon cut gemstones can also be faceted on top and flat on the back, a style known as a rose cut (see below).

FILIGREE

A type of highly ornamental jewellery making in which precious metal wire is twisted to form delicate tracework patterns.

FINDINGS

Components used in the manufacturing of jewellery items to link or adorn them. They are typically not the focal point of a design and might include clasps, jump rings, earring backs, earring wires or hooks, brooch pins, and so on. All Jwellix Jewellery findings are sterling silver unless otherwise specified.

FINE JEWELLERY

Fine jewellery, as opposed to costume or fashion jewellery, is typically regarded to be jewellery produced of precious metals and gemstones (see above). There is some disagreement about whether the word fine jewellery should exclusively refer to items made of solid gold, platinum, and precious stones, but the definition is now widely recognised to include jewellery made of any precious metal and any gemstone. Jwellix Jewellery is an Pakistani company that creates beautiful jewellery.

FINE SILVER

Fine silver is, in essence, pure silver. The technical definition of pure silver is that it contains at least 99.9% silver. Although it tarnishes far less than sterling silver, its soft and malleable nature limits its usage in jewellery creation. The majority of jewellery is composed of the sterling silver alloy (see below).

FLUSH SETTING

The stone in this kind of setting is flush (at the same level) with the metal it is set into. To secure the gemstone in place, the metal around it is pressed over the largest area of the stone (the girdle).

FRESHWATER PEARLS

Freshwater pearls are grown in freshwater mollusks rather than oysters, which live in saltwater. These pearls are less costly than saltwater pearls and may be made in a variety of forms.

FRETWORK

A decorative design that is meticulously carved into metal (or historically wood) with a fretsaw or jeweller's pierce saw to remove portions of the design.

GEMSTONE

A gemstone is defined as a mineral crystal that has been cut and polished for use in jewellery or other ornamental products. However, some rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, and jade) and biological materials (such as pearl and amber) are utilised in a similar manner and are frequently regarded jewels. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires are precious gemstones, whereas all other gemstones are semi-precious. Man-made lab-grown or synthetic gemstones are less expensive than real stones, yet they may be more flawless. Pastes, glass beads, and Swarovski crystals are not gemstones.

GILDING

A variety of ornamental techniques for putting fine gold leaf, foil, or powder to a surface. In the jewellery industry, we occasionally apply an ancient process to attach gold foil to other metals, most notably sterling silver. Gilded finishes are fragile and should be handled with care.

GOLD

Gold is a naturally occurring valuable metal. It is a brilliant, somewhat orange yellow that is flexible and pliable in its purest form. It is one of the least reactive chemical elements, making it highly valued in jewellery manufacture since it tarnishes slowly and is unaffected by most substances. Solid gold is likewise incredibly expensive, often 50 times more expensive than silver by weight. To make gold tougher for use in jewellery, it is generally alloyed with other metals. The amount of carats (or karats if you're in the Pakistan) indicates the purity of the gold, with 24ct (or 24K) being pure gold and 9ct (9K) being minimum gold.

GOLD FILLED OR ROLLED GOLD

A coating of solid gold that is pressure bonded to other metals to generate exceptionally durable yet relatively inexpensive gold filled jewellery. The amount of gold used must be at least one-twentieth of the overall weight of the product, and the caratage of the gold will be indicated (we most often use 14ct gold filled). With proper care, gold-filled jewellery lasts a long time.

INCLUSIONS

These are imperfections that are apparent inside a gemstone. These can include foreign items, stone cracks, aberrant crystals, and so forth. In general, the more inclusions a gemstone has, the lower its value. Inclusions, on the other hand, may be highly attractive and distinguish any gemstone that has them. Some gemstones, such as moss agate, are prized for their exquisite inclusions.

HOOP EARRINGS

Earrings in the shape of a hoop, with a portion of the earring passing through an ear piercing to keep it in place. They may be as basic as wire circles or as complex and massive shapes. Hoop earrings are an old earring design.

JUMP RING

This is a very simple and extensively used jewellery component: it is merely a ring that serves as a connection for clasps, pendants, beads, ear wires, and other similar items. Jump rings are often relatively tiny and an accidental feature of the design that exists for practical purposes.

LAB GROWN GEMSTONES

Lab produced gemstones are created in labs rather than being found and mined in nature. They are usually manufactured in the same way as the natural variety, but in a more faster, less costly, and less destructive fashion. The end result is a gemstone that is nearly comparable to the mined original, however lab generated gemstones are often flawless in terms of quality and clarity. The advantages of lab generated and simulated gems are that they are significantly less expensive and, in many cases, more sustainable and ethical than high value mined stones. For these reasons, Jwellix Jewellery employs lab created gems wherever feasible, particularly in place of high-value wild stones.

LAPIDARY

The technique of cutting and polishing gemstones by skilled craftsman.

LARIAT NECKLACE OR LASSO NECKLACE

A lariat necklace is a type of necklace that is worn like a lasso, with one unclasped end strung through a loop to keep it in place. A lariat can also refer to a particularly long necklace that can be folded in half and both ends looped through the centre loop. Depending on how they are fastened, certain lariat necklaces can be much longer than other types of necklaces. Always double-check the length information.

LAYERING NECKLACE

Layered necklaces are simply more than one necklace worn together to produce a layered effect. The necklaces are usually of varying lengths. You may build your own appearance by layering necklaces that complement or contrast with one another, which takes some experience. Layering necklaces are examples of necklaces that we believe are suitable for layering.

LOBSTER CLASP

A strong sort of clasp with a lobster claw form and a little spring within for operation. Similar forms are known as parrot clasps or caribiner clasps. This sort of clasp may be found on several of our heavier Jwellix Jewellery necklaces and many of our bracelets.

LOCKET

A pendant with distinct front and back sections that open to expose a gap between the two. Historically, the area has been used to store a photograph or other tiny thing such as a curl of hair, implying that these pieces of jewellery have a strong personal significance. Look through our locket necklace designs, which include more trendy open locket styles.

MARQUISE

An oval-shaped gemstone cut with two pointed ends on its longest axis.

MATINEE LENGTH

A necklace that is somewhat longer than the regular length. It is generally 55-65cm (22-26") long and sits near the top of the cleavage for many women.

MOHS SCALE

This scale of 1 to 10 is used in jewellery to determine the hardness of gemstones. Diamonds are one of the hardest materials, with a hardness of 10.

MOTHER OF PEARL

The formation of an iridescent coating on the inside of oyster shells. Beads and pendants are made from it. Another name is nacre (see below).

NACRE

Nacre is sometimes referred to as mother of pearl (see above). It is also the substance from which genuine pearls are created.

NICKEL SILVER OR GERMAN SILVER

Don't be deceived by the name: nickel silver or German silver contains no silver. German silver may also contain zinc, whereas nickel silver is a copper and nickel alloy. Nickel allergies may affect anybody at any age, causing itchy skin rashes. If you have a nickel allergy, you will have it for the rest of your life. There are further worries concerning nickel's toxicity, and we strongly advise against wearing it. All of our silver jewellery is manufactured with genuine sterling silver and is nickel free.

OPERA LENGTH

A necklace that is quite lengthy in length. It is typically 70-85cm (28-34") long and sits near the breastbone for many women.

OXIDISED OR BLACKENED SILVER

Silver or sterling silver that has been blackened using a chemical as a decorative feature. It's a type of patination (see below). The recessed design is usually dark, while the elevated parts are shining silver. The most often utilised chemicals for this procedure are sulphur liver or a hydrochloric acid solution. After creating the blackened look, the chemicals are completely washed from the metal. The blackening is a thin surface finish that may fade with time, especially in exposed regions.

PASTE JEWELLERY

Pastes are hand-cut glass gemstone replicas. Glass is frequently coated or put atop metallic foil to produce a shimmer that resembles a gemstone. Paste jewellery is considered costume jewellery, yet it has its own attraction and provides a lot of dazzle for a low price.

PATINATION

This is a thin coating of metal on the surface that alters the colour or finish in some way. It is frequently a desired polish applied by a jeweller. Patinas are frequently colourful and may be manufactured by following a precise chemical recipe. Patinas can also occur naturally or unintentionally, such as copper becoming green when exposed to air over time.

PEAR CUT

A gemstone which is cut into a teardrop shape.

PENDANT NECKLACE

A necklace with pendant is a type of jewellery that includes a dangling ornament strung from a necklace. The pendant is typically the focal point of the necklace design. Pendants are often strung from chains, although they can also be suspended from a beaded necklace. Pendants are not used in all necklace designs. Walsh, Jwellix Pendants in jewellery are always sold with necklaces, however certain merchants may offer pendants separately.

PLATING

A surface coating in which a metal is put on a conductive surface; in jewellery, this is usually another metal, such as gold plating on brass or silver plating on nickel. Plating may be done in a number of thicknesses, which determines how durable it is. Flash plating is often quite thin, whereas vermeil plating is typically rather thick (and is applied to sterling silver rather than a base metal) - see below for more information on vermeil. Because all plating will ultimately wear through, such designs should be approached with caution.

PLATINUM

A naturally occurring metal that is white and very heavy. It, like gold, is typically non-corrosive. It is more difficult to work with and more costly than gold, making its usage in jewellery uncommon.

PLIQUE-À-JOUR

This is a form of cloisonné enamelling (see above) in which the metal cells have no backing, allowing light to pass through. This gives the enamel a stained-glass appearance.

PRECIOUS GEMSTONES

The only gemstones classified as 'precious' are: diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Traditionally these 4 gemstones were the most highly sought after and expensive, but that's no longer the case. This is not a scientific definition and we think it's a very flawed way to distinguish between gemstone types, but it is still commonly used and you will encounter the term when shopping for jewellery. See more info in the 'semi-precious stones' definition below.

PRINCESS CUT

A square-cut faceted gemstone with facets. It is sometimes referred to as a quadrillion or squarillion.

PRINCESS OR STANDARD LENGTH

The length of necklace that is most commonly worn. It is typically 45-50cm (18-20") in length.

REFINING

The process of refining is metallurgical. The process of extracting precious metals from other materials is known as precious metal refining. When gold is refined, the metals with which it is alloyed are removed, leaving 24ct (pure) gold. Jewellers will gather their precious metal scrap so that it may be refined, which means that the scrap metal can be reused to manufacture jewellery and other things.

RING SHANK OR BAND

This is the part of a ring that wraps around the finger and is also known as the band.

RING SIZE

This is a letter or number that indicates the size of a ring that will fit your finger: the size determines the circumference or diameter of the ring's interior circumference or diameter. The American numbered size system and the British alphabetical (or Wheatsheaf) system are the most regularly used ring sizing systems in the world. To assist you, we provide a ring size chart and a very useful ring size measurement instruction.

RONDELLE

A bead form that is flatter on top and bottom rather than round, like a doughnut. Rondelle beads can be smooth or faceted.

ROPE LENGTH

The longest necklace length, defined as being longer than opera length, which is measured as 85cm (25.5") long. Rope necklaces are typically long enough to be wrapped twice around your neck or folded in half and worn as a lariat, with one end threaded through the folded loop.

ROSE CUT GEMSTONE

A cabochon gemstone cut that has a flat bottom and a dome-shaped top. A rose cut gem's top, unlike a standard smooth cabochon, has a number of facets carved into it (anywhere from 3 to 24).

ROSE GOLD

Rose gold jewellery is made from a gold and copper alloy, with the copper element changing the colour of yellow gold. Rose gold is also known as pink gold and red gold, although the differing names mainly refer to the quantity of copper used: the more copper used, the more red the coloration.

SEED BEADS

Seed beads are little glass beads that are commonly shaped like tubes. They are mass-produced by making very thin glass tubes that are chopped into little segments. The beads are available in a broad range of colours and finishes and are frequently utilised in huge quantities.

SEMI-PRECIOUS GEMSTONES

Semi-precious stones are any natural gemstones that are not one of the four categories of 'precious gemstones' (see above). This comprises gemstones that are typically more valuable than the four precious stones, as well as gemstones that are related to the precious stones (eg. emerald is a type of beryl, as is aquamarine, but only emeralds are considered precious). These names are not scientific in any way, but they are nonetheless widely used. We don't care about them!

SIMULATED GEMSTONE

A simulated gemstone is created in such a way that it nearly resembles the natural stone that it is mimicking. In terms of composition, it may not resemble it at all, unlike a lab generated gemstone, which is nearly similar to the natural form. The advantages of simulated and lab generated gems are that they are far less expensive and, in many cases, more sustainable and ethical than high-value mined stones.

SILVER

Natural precious metal that is soft, white, and glossy. It boasts the maximum reflectivity of any metal and is commonly utilised in the production of high-value jewellery and other ornamental goods. To make it stronger, it is commonly alloyed with copper, especially when producing jewellery (sterling silver).

SOLITAIRE

This is a ring with a single diamond or other gemstone as the focal point. It's also used to describe pendants containing a single diamond.

SOLDERING

Although most jewellers refer to'soldering' their designs to produce joins, they really use the brazing procedure. This technique employs extremely high temperatures generated by a blow torch to form a very strong fused metal connection with specialised precious metal solders. Jewellers do not use a soldering iron in any of their work since it is a considerably lower temperature method of connecting metals and does not have the same fused strength or largely undetectable polish as brazing.

STACKING RINGS

Stacking rings can be layered in a variety of ways on one finger. If a stacking ring contains a gemstone setting, it will either be flush with the band or sit on top of the band, enabling other stacking rings to sit beneath the edges of the setting.

STAINLESS STEEL

A kind of steel that has a high chromium content. Unlike most other types of steel, stainless steel is very strong and resistant to corrosion by certain acids and air oxidation. It is utilised in several contemporary jewellery designs.

STAMPING

A way of embellishing metal jewellery that involves making markings on the metal with a punch or a die. Stamps are sometimes only letters that create words or names. Other times, they are an array of complex forms utilised by a competent craftsperson to produce complicated patterns and regions of shade.

STATEMENT JEWELLERY

Any piece of jewellery that stands out by making a statement. These patterns are frequently fairly enormous or bulky, but the primary need is that they be aggressive and capture the eye. Necklaces are most commonly linked with creating a fashion statement in jewellery, although earrings, bracelets, rings, and brooches all work well.

STERLING SILVER OR 925 SILVER

An alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper that produces a significantly stronger and more durable metal than pure silver. Sterling silver is often utilised in the manufacture of jewellery. The disadvantage of sterling silver is that it tarnishes easily, but the advantage is that it is easy to remove. You may come across the word 925 in reference to sterling silver: this is the purity mark that indicates a piece is 92.5% pure silver. Yes, sterling silver is genuine silver!

STUD EARRINGS OR POST EARRINGS

Stud and post earrings are designed for pierced ears. They are made of a metal post that is inserted into the piercing and attached to the back of the ear with an earring back or scroll (see above). Stud earrings are typically tiny in size, with the primary feature resting squarely on the post. Post earrings are similarly attached to the ear, but may have a feature dropped or dangling from them.

TARNISH OR OXIDISATION

This is a reaction that occurs on the surface of several metals (including sterling silver), causing it to seem duller, darker, and potentially discoloured. It is most usually produced by an oxygen reaction and is aggravated by dampness. But don't worry: it's totally natural and easily cleaned with silver dip or polishing cloths. To keep it at bay, wear and store your jewellery appropriately, and maintain a cleaning schedule for your jewellery.

TITANIUM

A naturally occurring metal that is durable, light in weight, and displays a broad range of stunning colours when heated. It is utilised in several jewellery designs, mostly due to its colour.

TOGGLE CLASP

A jewellery clasp made up of two parts: a straight bar that hooks through a circle and uses gravity and tension to hold the clasp in place.

TUMBLING

A process of cleaning and polishing components (jewellery or gemstones) by rolling them in a barrel or vibrating them for several hours at a time. For precious metal jewellery, we mostlt use stainless steel shot in various shapes with a basic soap combination, resulting in a lovely clean and polished finish on the metal's surface.

ULTRASONIC CLEANING

This is an extremely efficient way for cleaning fine jewellery and diamonds. It eliminates imbedded filth and debris using ultrasonic vibrations in water with a mild detergent. It should be noted that it does not remove tarnish from metal. In our workshop, we utilise a professional ultrasonic cleaner on a regular basis to remove dirt from the jewelry-making process. Domestic versions for home usage are also available, which we highly suggest. However, we do not advocate using this cleaning approach on softer gemstones such as pearls or opals, or on jewellery with patination or oxidisation (see our definitions for these).

VERMEIL OR GOLD VERMEIL

Gold vermeil jewellery findings and components are constructed of real sterling silver that has been highly plated in gold, typically yellow or rose gold. This provides the advantages of solid precious metal jewellery as well as long-lasting plating without the expensive expense of actual gold. Sterling silver can be hallmarked on gold vermeil.

WHITE GOLD

This is gold that has been alloyed with other metals to produce a colour that is closer to silver than ordinary yellow gold. Manganese, nickel, or palladium may also be utilised. Real white gold does not have the dazzling white polish seen in many jewellery stores; instead, it is frequently a warm grey colour. The dazzling white finish is usually produced by plating the white gold with rhodium, which will wear off and need to be replaced over time. We don't usually make jewellery out of white gold for this reason.

WIRE WRAPPING

Wrapping wire around stones or other components instead of soldering or using jump rings is a simple procedure. It's most frequently used in our designs to link little gemstone beads on a pin to a design or chain. Some talented artisans specialise in wire wrapping to create intricate and complicated designs.