Jewelry Glossary 2

C

Cabochon
Cabochon is a stone that does not have facets.

Calcite
Calcite is used in jewelry because its a mineral that is inexpensive and comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

California Ruby
California Ruby is another name for the Bohemian Ruby, which is a pyrope garnet, and is inexpensive compared to actual rubies.

Cameo
Cameo is a material generally stone or mother of pearl, whose design is carved in relief.  The design is commonly a profile of a woman's torso or head.  They were found during the Hellenistic period and renditions have been duplicated throughout history and into today.

Captive Bead Ring
Captive Bead Ring is a piece of body jewelry that consists of a ring with an opening with ring that clips into the opening, hence the name captive.  When putting on the ring, the bead is taken off and the ring is placed through a piercing via the hole in the ring, and then the bead is clipped into the ring and held into place.  The bead functions as an adornment as well as a device to keep the ring from falling off.

Carat
Carat measures the weight of a diamond or gemstone.  It should not be confused with Karat, the weight measurement for gold.  On carat is equal to 0.20 grams.  The carat alone does not determine a diamonds worth, although, generally the bigger the diamond the more expensive it is.

Casting
Casting is an ancient technique of pouring heated metal into a mold to produce a specific design.

Catch
Catch is a device that is used to secure a stud earring onto the ear.  It is placed on the post at the back of the earlobe in order to protect the earring from falling off.

Cathedral Setting
Cathedral Setting is an arched setting that rises above the band.

Celtic
Celtic is a type for jewelry that resembles classic Celtic designs.

Center Stone
Center Stone is usually the largest and most prominent stone in a cluster.

Channel Set
Channel Set is a type of setting where the gemstone, typically a baguette or round, sits in a metal channel.

Chaplet
Chaplet is an ornament band worn on the head.

Charms
Charms are an iconic ornament worn on jewelry typically as a necklace or bracelet.

Charm Holder
Charm Holder is a ring that holds multiple charms and links onto a chain.

Chasing
Chasing is a process of hammering metal to form a shape; it causes an effect similar to engraving or embossing.

Chaton 
Chaton is a stone with a metal foil backing, which causes a reflection.  The metal foil can be colored or the stone can be depending on the style of the jewelry and the stone.

Chaton Setting
Chaton Setting is the same as an Arcade Setting, which is a style of setting that holds a stone into a metal ring with multiple metal claws.

Choker
Choker is a short necklace that hugs the neck.

Chromium
Chromium is a hard metal that is typically used as a coating of costume jewelry.

Chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl is a relatively rare mineral that varies in color from gray, green, yellow, or brown and is used as a gemstone.

Cigar Band
Cigar Band is a type of ring that is looks like a wide strip of ribbon.

Citrine
Citrine is a variety of quartz that is rare and yellow in color.  The best citrine stones are found in Brazil. 

Claddagh
Claddagh is an Irish charm symbolizing love and commitment.  Its design is characterized by two hands holding a crowned heart.

Clarity
Clarity measures a diamonds purity or imperfections.  A diamond may have inclusions or blemishes, which are internal and external imperfections.  The fewer the flaws the higher the market value of a diamond.  Many times these flaws are not visible; however with close inspection they become apparent and could ultimately decrease the value of the diamond. 

Clasp
Clasp is a device used to fasten the ends of a piece of jewelry together, i.e. the ends of a necklace or a bracelet.

Claw
Claw is a device used to hold a stone into a setting.

Claw Setting
Claw Setting is a type of setting where multiple claws hold a stone into a setting.  There is no metal underneath the stone.

Cleavage
Cleavage are natural breaks that occur due to the formation of the crystallized structure.

Clip-on
Clip-on is a piece of jewelry that is fastened by a clip and does not require piercing, i.e. clip on earrings.

Closed Setting
Closed Setting is a type of setting that holds a stone securely with metal at the back of the stone.

Cloud
Cloud descriptive word for a group of inclusions in a gemstone that clouds its appearance.  Milky stones decrease its value.

Cluster Setting
Cluster Setting is a grouping of smaller stones or pearls around a larger one.

Collar
Collar is a type of tight fitting necklace like a choker.

Composite Suite
Composite Suite is a piece of jewelry that can be separated into different pieces, which can be worn as individual pieces.

Copper
Copper is a soft metal and is a fairly inexpensive material for jewelry.

Coral
Coral are red-orange, pinkish, or white rocklike deposits of calcareous skeletons located in warm seas.  Coral is used to adorn jewelry in many fashions.  In the past it was a common gift for children because it was thought to bring protection.

Coronet Setting
Coronet Setting is another name for an Arcade Setting, which is a style of setting that holds a stone into a metal ring with multiple metal claws.

Cowrie Shell
Cowrie Shell is the shell from marine gastropods from in the South Pacific and Africa, and is generally used as beads for jewelry.

Crimp Bead
Crimp Bead is a soft bead that is thread through a string and then squeezed in order to clamp the ends and hold the other beads in place.

Crown
Crown is the top part of a diamond or gemstone.

Crown Glass
Crown Glass used to make faux rhinestones, and is made up of glass without lead oxide.

Crystal
Crystal is a solid comprised of repeating patterns of three dimensional atoms, ions, and molecules that are arranged at fixed distances.  Crystal includes quartz, diamonds, and emerald.

Crystal Habit
Crystal Habit is a consistent pattern that certain solids form.  Common examples include Acicular, Dodecahedral, Octahedral, Platy, Prismatic, and Tabular. 

Cubic Zirconia's
Cubic Zirconia is a synthetic gemstone produced in a laboratory to be a cheap alternative to a diamond.

Cuff Bracelet
Cuff Bracelet is similar to a bangle but it does not close.

Cufflinks
Cufflinks are sold as a pair and are used to adorn the buttonholes of a man's long sleeved shirt.

Culet
Culet is the bottom point of a cut gemstone.

Cullinian Diamond
Cullinian Diamond or the Star of Africa is the largest found diamond at 3,106 karats, and was found in South Africa in 1905.

Cultured Pearl
Cultured Pearl is a pearl that formed with the help of harvesters.  The oysters are injected with a bit of mussel shell to induce the long process of forming a pearl.  This process was invented in 1893 by Kokichi Mikimoto.

Cultured Freshwater Pearl
Cultured Freshwater Pearl are manufactured pearls that come from oysters in freshwater.

Curved Barbell
Curved Barbell is a piece of body jewelry that resembles a barbell, but instead of having a straight bar, the bar is curved.

Cushion Cut
Cushion Cut is a square cut with rounded edges, like a cushion.

Cut
Cut of a diamond or gemstone is very important for both aesthetic reasons as well as its ability to increase market value.  The cut refers to the technique of changing the stone from in the ‘rough’ to a brilliant diamond. Probably the most important of the 4 C’s; it determines the shape, brilliance, and fire of diamonds.

Cut Beads
Cut Beads are glass beads that have been cut with facets, like gemstones to create more reflection.

Cut Stone
Cut Stone is a stone that has been altered into a particular shape, like the cushion cut, princess cut, emerald cut,etc.

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D

Damascening
Damascening is an inlaying technique where a soft metal is inserted into a harder metal.

Dangle Earring
Dangle Earring is a style of earring that hangs below the earlobe.

Demantoid Garnet
Demantoid Garnet is a rare variety of a garnet that is green in color.

Demi Parure
Demi Parure is a set of matching pieces of jewelry that are similar in shape and design.  For example, a set might include matching earrings, necklace, and bracelet.

Diadem
Diadem is a circular piece of jewelry worn on the head, known today as a crown.  

Diamond
Diamond is a precious crystallized gemstone that was created thousands of years ago at the Earth's surface under extreme heat.  It is solely comprised of carbon and is colorless, except in rare instances when other minerals are mixed in to produce colors.  Colored diamonds are extremely valuable because of their rarity.  Diamond have been valuable throughout ancient times and was worshipped for its incredible strength, and was used as a cutting tools by nobles and royalty.  Eventually it was valued as a beautiful ornament for the wealthy and today has become the universal symbol of love and fidelity.  For more information on diamonds and the 4 C's please visit our page dedicated to diamonds. 

Dichroism
Dichroism is a term to describe the multicolor spectrum seen from light reflecting off a gemstone.

Die Stamping
Die Stamping is a technique of making an impression on metal by pressing or stamping metal in between two dies.

Diffusion Treated
Diffusion Treated is stones that have had their colors altered or enhanced.

Dog Collar
Dog Collar is a tight fitting necklace like a choker.

Doublet
Doublet is a technique of adhering two stones together to create an inexpensive stone, the top layer is generally authentic like a gemstone and the bottom layer is synthetic like glass. 

Drop
Drop refers to a tear or pear shape.

Drop Cut
Drop Cut is another name for a briolette, which is a style of cut that is pear-shaped and most commonly used for pendants.

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E

Ear Cuff
Ear Cuff is another type of clip-on earring that is made to clip onto any section of the ear by attaching and closing onto the ear.

Earring
Earring is an ornament worn on the ear.

Earring Back
Earring Back or a Catch is a piece that fits onto the earring post in order to protect the earring from falling off.

Emboss
Emboss is a technique of creating a raised design on any workable material, commonly metal.  It is the opposite process of engraving which the design is impressed instead of raised.

Emerald
Emerald is a green to grass-green variety of beryl and is regarded as a precious gemstone.  

Emerald Cut
Emerald Cut is a royal style of cut, deemed emerald because the shape is most associated with the emerald gemstone.  It is the most expensive cut, because it generally has a higher clarity, but with a catch--the emerald cut diamond can appear dull, because it has fewer facets, which ultimately means less brilliance.

Enamel
Enamel is a material that is heated and placed on various ornaments to create a glassy look.

Engrave
Engrave is an etching technique where a design is impressed with a tool, it is the opposite of emboss.

Eternity Ring
Eternity Ring is a ring that has a row of gemstones.

European Cut
European Cut is an older style of round cut that has less facets and less brilliancy than present day round cut stones.

Eye Pin
Eye Pin is a tool that is used to link beads together.

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