Descriptionary

oxidation a darkening of metal, giving an antique appearance, that occurs over time due to exposure to air and humidity or to perspiration. Pure gold does not oxidize.

palladium a gray variety of platinum, useful in jew­elry because of its resistance to corrosion.

parure a matching set of jewelry that includes brace­let, earrings, necklace, and brooch.

paste a glass that is faceted to look like gemstones.

patina a discoloration that appears most notably on silver and bronze, due to aging.

pave setting a setting in which stones are placed very close together, reminiscent of paving stones.

pear cut any cut shaped like a pear or a teardrop.

pearlescent having the rainbowlike sheen of a pearl.

pendalique in a gemstone, a lozenge-shaped cut.

pendant an ornament suspended from a chain or necklace.

pierced earring any earring that is inserted through a hole in the earlobe.

pink gold see rose gold.

posy ring a ring, most often a gold band, engraved with a verse or inscription, such as "love is enough" or "dear love of mine my heart is thine," usually on the outer surface, and popular in the 15 th, 16th, and 17th centuries.

precious stones the most valuable of all gems, par­ticularly diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.

prong any one of the tiny claws used to secure a gemstone in a setting.

quadrillion cut in a gemstone, a square cut.

radiant cut a rectangular cut with clipped corners and 58 or more facets.

reconstituted stones ground-up stones bound with resin and then compressed and cut into beads and cabochons.

reticulation a textured surface of decorative ridges and ripples, created by heating metal to a near molten state with a blowtorch.

retro a style of jewelry popular in the United States in the 1940s, characterized by chunky, geometric forms and the frequent use of pink gold.

rhinestone an imitation gemstone made of glass.

rhodium flashing a highly reflective, silvery-white form of platinum, sometimes electroplated onto jewelry.

ring guard any ring worn in front of a more valu­able one, to prevent the more valuable one from slip­ping off.

riviere any necklace with a single strand of uni­formly sized and cut diamonds.

rolled gold a thin sheet of gold that is pressurized onto a cheaper base metal and used to make various jewelry pieces.

rope a string of pearls more than 40 inches (102 cm) long.

rope chain a metal chain of woven strands, resem­bling a rope.

rose cut in a diamond, a cut with a flat base and triangular facets, popular in the 17th and 18th cen­turies.

rose gold gold alloyed with copper and silver, creat­ing a pinkish hue. Also known as pink gold.

satin finish a pearl-like finish.

scintillation the sparkle or flashes of light created by a faceted diamond.

semiprecious stones gemstones such as amethyst, garnets, opals, and others that are valued in jewelry but not at the level of precious stones.

signet a ring having a flat plane setting on which is inscribed an insignia, monogram, or coat of arms.

silver-plated coated with a thin surfacing of silver.

silver tone having a silver color but without being actual silver.

simulated imitation; manufactured to look like something valuable, as gold or silver.

slave beads ornamental glass beads used by the Europeans as currency with African nations in the 16th through 19th centuries, to purchase goods and slaves.

snake bite a dual piercing of studs or balls, attached under the bottom lip, and resembling fangs.

solitaire a piece of jewelry with one stone in one setting.

square cut cut into the shape of a square and angled with facets along the edges.

sterling silver silver that is 92.5 percent pure.

stud an earring made of a single gem or small orna­ment and attached directly to the earlobe.

table the top surface of a gem.

tongue barbell a shaft pierced through the tongue and held in place with tiny balls at each end.

tragus piercing an earring piercing made in carti­lage in front of the ear canal, instead of in the lobe.

translucent allowing light to pass through in cloudy or scattered fashion, as in an opal or moonstone.

trillion shape a triangular diamond with 50 facets.

tumbling placing rough stones in a small rotating barrel with abrasive grit and lubricant, a process that smooths the stones over time.

white gold an alloy of gold and either nickel or pal­ladium.

Pants

bell-bottoms jeans or other pants having broadly flaring hems, popular in the late 1960s, early 1970s, and late 1990s.

breaker pants having a side zipper that reveals a contrasting lining when opened.

camouflage brown and green military pants.