Glossary of Terms
ABALONE
Often used as an inlay in jewelry because of its striking color, abalone comes from the iridescent inner layer of a mollusk shell.
ASSCHER CUT
An Asscher Cut diamond is an octagonal diamond with a square shape and layered facets. The Asscher Cut features a deep pavilion and high crown—offering brilliance and its signature appeal.
BAIL
A hooplike component used to attach a pendant to a chain or cord.
BANGLE
A bangle is a non-flexible bracelet that is sometimes hinged.
BAROQUE PEARL
Refers to the shape of naturally occurring irregular, non-spherical pearl.
BRILLIANCE
Brilliance is the total amount of light reflected from both the interior and exterior surfaces of a stone.
CARAT (ct.)
Carat is a unit of weight (not size) used to measure diamonds and gemstones.
CARAT TOTAL WEIGHT (Carat T.W.)
The combined carat weight of all diamonds or gemstones in a piece of jewelry is the carat total weight.
CARBONIUM
With an exceptional strength-to-lightness ratio, its marbled waves of brilliant and matte layers give it a vibrant fluidity that delights the eye and makes each watch case look absolutely unique.
CENTER STONE
A prominent, single stone found in the center of a piece of jewelry.
CERAMIC
An inorganic, non-metal materials that are hardened through heating and cooling.
CERTIFICATION
An unbiased, 3rd party grading report.
CLARITY
Refers to the number of imperfections in a stone.
CLARITY - FLAWLESS (F)
Flawless (F) - Flawless with no internal or external flaws. Extremely rare and valuable.
CLARITY - INCLUDED (I)
Included (I) - Inclusions that are likely to be visible with an unaided eye.
CLARITY - INTERNALLY FLAWLESS (IF)
Internally Flawless (IF) - No internal flaws.
CLARITY - SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (SI)
Slightly Included (SI) - Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, but may not be very visible with unaided eye.
CLARITY - VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VSI)
Very Slightly Included (VSI) - Difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. Typically, cannot see inclusions with the naked eye.
CLARITY - VERY VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VVSI)
Very Very Slightly Included (VVSI) - Very difficult to see inclusion under 10x magnification.
COLOR
Refers to the Color of a Diamond. D being absolutely colorless while colors L-Z are faint to light color, visible to the naked eye.
CUT
Refers to the shape of a stone and has the greatest influence on a diamond’s sparkle.
EBONY WOOD
A very dense black/brown hardwood. It is finely textured and has a mirror finish when polished, making it visually stunning.
EMERALD CUT
An emerald cut is a type of diamond or gemstone shape made to emphasize long parallel step cuts along with clipped corners to fashion a sort of octagon-like shape.
ENAMEL
Enamel is a substance applied to the surface of metal or glass to add a glossy finish and color.
ETERNITY BAND
Eternity bands feature a row of stones circling the entire band seamlessly. Eternity bands symbolize unending love.
FACET
The flat, polished surfaces of a cut stone are its facets.
FLEXIBLE
Refers to jewelry that we design that can be twisted and repositioned in a number of fashions.
GEMSTONE
A gemstone is a natural or manmade mineral or other substance (e.g., amber, coral or pearls) used in jewelry and other ornamentation.
GOLD
Naturally found in a distinct yellow color. Black, white and Rose gold are achieved through a chemical reaction.
GRADUATED
A term used to describe when elements gradually increase or decrease in size. For example, some necklaces feature diamonds that gradually become larger in size, with the largest diamond placed at the center of the strand.
INCLUSION
An inclusion is an internal flaw or imperfection caused during the formation of a diamond or gemstone. Each stone has a unique "fingerprint" based on its inclusions.
KARAT
Refers to the fineness or purity of gold. 24K being pure gold, but too soft to make jewelry. 18K is ideal for purity and strength when making jewelry from gold.
MARQUISE
Known for its long and narrow pointed shape, the marquise-cut is essentially a modified brilliant diamond and, as a result, appears larger than it actually is.
OMBRÉ
A pattern or setting in which colors gradually fade or transition from one color to the next.
PAVÉ
Refers to a setting of multiple small diamonds. The French word translates to “PAVED” because it resembles a paved or cobblestone road.
PLATINUM
A naturally white metal that will never fade or change color.
PRECIOUS STONE
Precious stone is a term often used to describe diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and pearls.
PRONG
A small metal claw used to securely fasten a gemstone to a piece of jewelry.
ROSE CUT
Refers to a diamond that is cut particularly thin, resembling a rose petal.
ROUGH CUT
Refers to a stone that has not been, or minimally polished.
SETTING
Refers to the way the diamonds or stones are secured in the jewelry. There are prong stings, which uses a minimal amount of metal, bezel, channel, tension or and pave stings, to name a few.
SHANK
The part of a ring that is elevated from the shank and holds the gemstones in place. The setting is also known as the "head" of a ring.
SIDE STONE
A stone that is set adjacent to the center stone of a ring. Side stones are designed to complement or enhance the center stone.
SLICED DIAMOND
Refers to thinly sliced – like a loaf of bread.
SOLITAIRE
A diamond, gemstone or pearl set alone on a piece of jewelry.
TITANIUM
A very lightweight and strong metal used in jewelry settings and can be adonized to achieve a variety of colors.
ZIRCONIUM
A very lightweight and strong metal used in jewelry settings. It’s extremely difficult to work with, making Zirconium jewelry rare and valuable.