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10
karat
10 karat (10K) gold is 10 parts
gold to 14 parts other metals. 12
karat
12 karat (12K) gold is 12 parts
gold to 12 parts other metals. 14
karat
14 karat (14k) gold is 14 parts
of gold to 10 parts other metal. 18
karat
18 karat (18k) gold is 18 parts
of gold to 6 parts other metals. 24
karat
24 karat (24k) gold is pure gold
containing no other metals.
back to page agate
A type of chalcedony quartz found in a variety of colors
and patterns, frequently with varying color layers. alexandrite
A stone which changes color or appears to change color as the source of light
changes. alloy
A mixture of two or more metals. amber
Fossilized resin of conifer trees. Colors range from honey through yellow
to reddish brown. amethyst
Transparent variety of crystallized quartz, typically purple or violet in
color. antiqued
Process by which something takes on the look associated with age. Usually
a darkened or tarnished appearance. applique
An ornamental piece which is created separately and then applied to a piece
of jewelry. aquamarine
A blue semiprecious stone in the beryl family. armoire
A moveable cabinet with doors and shelves. Art
Deco
see DECO STYLE Austrian
crystal
Imitation of natural or rock crystal
(quartz). see also CRYSTAL. aventurine
Transluscent greenish quartz mineral, internally granular. Often mistaken
for jade, another stone of a green color. azurite
malachite
A mineral which is characterized
in appearance by bands of light and dark blue.
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baguette
Small stones which are rectangularly-shaped and faceted.
bail
A metal finding that is folded closed, from which a pendant, watch, stone,
etc., may be hung from a chain or cord. bale
see BAIL band
A ring which is the same in width all around. bangle
A stiff bracelet that slips over the hand or is clasped on. bar
closure
A straight, hinged bar which fits
into a catch in order to secure a pin. base
metal
Any non-precious metal. basket
A fancy setting with numerous side piercings to provide a lacy or basket-looking
appearance. beveled
An angled part or surface, usually an angle other than a right angle. bombe'
Convex surface. bead
A stone cut in the shape of a small sphere. beryl
A lightly colored mineral which when transparent and dark green is called
emerald, and when blue in color, aquamarine. beveled
An angled part or surface, usually an angle other than a right angle. bezel
A form of any shape which incorporates a continuous groove to fit something,
generally a stone. The metal at the top of the groove is then burnished over the
edge of the mounted item to hold it, forming a setting. Black
Hills Gold
Made of 10k to 12k tricolor
gold (yellow, green, and pink); it must be made in the Black Hills area of South
Dakota. Characteristics of this unique jewelry are the grape leaf theme. bloodstone
A variety of chalcedony that is usually greenish in color with red spots
resembling blood. box
and tongue clasp
A clasp in which a V-shaped
wire fits into a small tube and locks into place. On broader necklaces, the snap
is square. box chain
A type of chain with links that are wide
and square so they form boxes.
brilliant
cut
A round cut of 58 facets mathematically
devised to produce the greatest brilliance. brooch
An ornamental piece of jewelry with a pin and clasp to be attached to clothing,
etc. buttercup setting
A deep six prong setting that resembles
a buttercup flower with prongs that flare from the scalloped looking base. butterfly
clutch
An earring back which slides onto
and secures post back earrings. button
earrings
A flat, usually round earring
which sits on the earlobe and has no dangling parts. Byzantine
chain
A type of chain with close-fitting
links that create an intricate design and form a tubular chain.
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cable chain
The links are round and uniform in size.
cabochon
A domed gemstone. Highly polished curved surface without faceting. cameo
A carved gem or shell in which the outer layers are cut away so that the
design stands out in relief against a background of a different color. carat
Unit of weight for gemstones with 100 points to a carat, with one carat equaling
one-fifth of a gram. carnelian
Pale red quartz. Once believed to benefit the wearer's health and love life.
Most carnelian comes from Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany. case
The box-like component that holds the watch mechanism. chain
A series of connected loops, links, rings, or beads used to create bracelets
or necklaces. chalcedony
Refers to various types of colored quartz, usually those with a milky appearance
like carnelian, agate, cat's eye, and jasper. channel
setting
Grooved metal built into a jewelry
setting for holding stones. Also a number of uniformly sized small stones set
in a row. charm
A decorative pendant or trinket to be worn on a bracelet, necklace or earring.
charm bracelet
A link bracelet which charms can be attached to. chevron
style
A motif consisting of short lines
joining at angles to form an inverted "V." chrysoprase
A variety of chalcedony which is apple-green in color. cigar
band style
see BAND citrine
A brownish-orange quartz variety. clasp
Any type of attachment that connects the two ends of a piece of jewelry.
clip-back
Earrings designed for non-pierced ears. Works like a hinge to secure the earring
to the earlobe. collar
A band worn close to the neck. cloisonne
Decorative enamel work which is set in thin strips of wire cluster
A setting in which stones are grouped together. cluster
ring
A ring with a setting in which stones
are grouped together. cocktail
ring
Large, oversized ring set with precious
or semiprecious stones. coin
style edge
see MILLGRAIN EDGE comfort
back
A rubber or plastic pad that goes
over the clip of a clip earring to cushion the earlobe. convex
Curving outward, like the surface of a ball. coral
The skeletal remains of marine animals, and has a range in color from red,
pink, and salmon. corundum
A gem mineral of crystallized aluminum and oxygen. Ruby and sapphire are
the most valuable corundum. crown
Upper part of a gem. crystal
A top-quality colorless, transparent glass resembling natural or rock crystal.
About 200 kinds of crystal are associated with jewelry. Made through an ancient
process that involves lead oxide. To be crystal, there must be a minimum of 10%
lead. See also AUSTRIAN CRYSTAL. cuff
link
A decorative fastener worn to close
the French cuff (a cuff without buttons) of a shirt. cultured
pearl
Created through a painstaking process
of mimicking the natural pearl process in live mollusks. A pearl is formed as
a result of implanting a piece of mantle from a mollusk into another host mollusk.
curb link
A type of chain with links that are oval and twisted so they lie flat. curb
link chain
A type of chain where the links
are oval and twisted so they lie flat. cushion
cut
A square cut with rounded corners.
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dangle
see DROP
dangle
earrings
see DROP EARRINGS
deco
style
Derived from the style of Art Deco,
which originated in France in the 1920's and 1930's, and is typified by abstract
designs and linear, geometric patterns.
demi-hoop
see HALF-HOOP DESIGN
demi-hoop
style
see HALF-HOOP DESIGN diamond
A precious gemstone composed of pure carbon. Hardest of all known substances.
Rated 10 on the Mohs scale. diamond cut
same as BRILLIANT CUT diamond-cut
rope
A portion of the chain is cut away
at an angle and then polished to a high shine. see also ROPE NECKLACE. Diamonique
(R)
Diamonique jewelry is made from the
best quality cubic zirconia - a man-made simulated gemstone that most clearly
resembles natural diamonds. Diamonique stones offer the best refractive index
and clarity possible. dinner ring
see COCKTAIL RING diopside
A mineral which ranges in color from white, deep green, to almost black.
disc earrings
A flat, usually round earring which sits on the earlobe and has no dangling parts. door
knocker earring
An earring with a hinged
bottom that hangs below the earlobe.
drop
A small ornament suspended from a piece of jewelry.
drop
earring
Any earring which hangs below
the earlobe. Also called a dangle earring.
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earring back
A disk or bead that fits over an earring post and holds the earring securely in
place.
earring jackets
An earring accessory designed to be worn
with a stud as a decorative backdrop. electroplating
The process of covering a base metal with
a thin film of gold. The base metal is set in a chemical solution which an electric
current flows through to coat it with precious metal. embossed
A mechanical process, done under considerable heat and pressure, which permanently
imprints a variety of unique grain effects into the leather surface. emerald
A green beryl and one of the most valuable of all gemstones. emerald
cut
A cut which is usually rectangular,
but sometimes square, with rows of step cuts along the edges and at the corners.
enamel
Colored, opaque glassy material fused onto metal, pottery or glass. epidote
A mineral which occurs in colors of green and brownish-green. epoxy
A resin used in strong glues and enamels. Eterna
Eterna Gold, a QVC exclusive, is the result of years of advanced technological
research resulting in a new standard in 14k gold jewelry. It is more durable,
more luminous and more resistant to tarnishing than other 14k gold products European
wire
A curved wire which passes through
the earlobe of a pierced ear and clasps shut. extender
chain
A chain which may be attached to
another in order to provide a longer length.
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facet
A polished surface; a small plane which is cut into a surface and enhances
its reflection of light.
faceted
A gem of plane faces or facets. faille
A light, soft silk or synthetic fabric with tiny ribs. fancy
cut
Refers to gems which are cut other
than in the round brilliant shape such as single cut marquise, emerald, pear,
heart, oval, square, baguette, triangle, etc. Also called fancy shape. felt
A compressed, non-woven fabric of wool and hair fibers made using heat and
steam processes. figaro
Similar in style to a curb chain, but instead of uniform links, the links
alternate between long ones and round ones. figaro
chain
Similar in style to a curb chain,
but instead of uniform links, the links alternate between long ones and round
ones. figure eight
safety catch
A type of safety catch in
which a hinged wire in the shape of a figure eight snaps over the pin. filigree
Lace-like ornamental work made from intricately arranged, intertwined wires.
finish
The way the surface of a piece is polished or textured. fish
hook
A fishhook-shaped finding used to
make earrings with the hook end passing through the pierced ear. fleur-de-lis
The royal insignia of France. It's often
used in ornamentation and has a design resembling a flower such as a lily or iris.
Florentine finish
A surface in which parallel lines are engraved in one direction, then crossed
with lighter perpendicular lines. Florentine
texture
A surface in which parallel lines
are engraved in one direction, then crossed with lighter perpendicular lines.
fluted
A surface ornamented by channels or grooves. foldover
clasp
A type of clasp in which a hinged
part opens, fits through a ring and snaps closed to hold the ring in place. French
wire
A curved wire which passes through
the pierced earlobe and has a catch closure. Used mostly in dangling earrings.
freshwater pearl
An irregularly shaped pearl formed naturally by a mussel living in a lake or river.
full cut
see BRILLIANT CUT
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gallery
A strip of metal used to make settings for jewelry.
garnet
A family of crystals whose name is derived from their resemblance to red
pomegranate seeds. A semi-precious stone, usually a reddish-brown color; can range
from true red to violet- or blackish red. Often semi-opaque. gem
A stone which has been cut and polished for use in jewelry and fulfills the
requirements of beauty, durability, and rarity. A fine stone of unusual quality.
genuine pearl
A smooth, round growth formed naturally within the shell of a mollusk due to an
irritant; used as a gem. girdle
The outermost edge of a cut gem. gold
A heavy, yellow, metallic element used for coins and jewelry since prehistoric
times. gold filled
The jewelry is not actually filled, but
is made of base metal (usually brass or copper) covered by sheets of gold in a
mechanical bonding process. gold
plated
A thin coating of electroplated
or mechanically plated gold on top of a base metal. gold
tone
Jewelry done in a gold color. golden
finish
Jewelry done in a finish so that
it has the look of gold. green
gold
An alloy of gold, silver, zinc, and
often cadmium.
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half-hoop design
Earring which appears to be hoop shaped but is not fully circular. hallmark
The mark stamped on some items of gold and silver to certify the purity of
the metal. hammered
Tapped with a small hammer to create a wavy texture. herringbone
chain
Created by small, slanting links
which gives it a flat effect.
hessonite
A variety of garnet which is yellow in color. hidden
box clasp
A box hidden under a chain or
link. The opposite end of the chain has a tongue which snaps into the box to secure
the clasp. high polish
A surface which is polished to a mirror-like finish. hoop
earring
A circular-shaped earring made
from metal wire or tubing . Variations include the traditional shape as well as
hoops with charms and other ornaments to be hung from the hoop.
back to page i.d.
bracelet
Identification
bracelet; a curved plate is engraved with the name or initials of the wearer.
Imperial Gold
A fourth generation manufacturer of 14k and 18k gold jewelry that's hand-assembled
in Houston, Texas. ingot
Metal cast into a bar or other shape.
inlay
A decorative element, such as a stone, which is imbedded into another surface
so it is flush (or level) with it. iolite
A mineral used as a gemstone and appears as deep blue, light blue-gray, and
yellow-white. iridescent
An interplay of various rainbow-like colors.
j
hoop
An earring design where the hoop
is not totally circular, but elongated in a manner similar to the letter "j".
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jacquard
Patterns of flowers, geometrics, etc., which have been woven into the fabric.
jade
An ornamental gemstone, typically greenish in color. jadeite
A variety of jade which is rarer than the other varieties of nephrite. It
is hard and translucent and comes in many colors such as orange, pink, yellow,
brown, blue, violet, and black. jasper
A semi-opaque to opaque rose quartz. Usually yellowish, reddish, or brown.
The U.S. and Brazil are the most common sources. Jasper was once believed to have
curative powers.
karat
A measure, from 1 to 24, used to indicate how much of a piece of jewelry is gold
content and how much an alloy.
back to page lapis
lazuli
A semi-precious
stone of an azure blue color. lariat
An open-ended, long strand necklace. Sometimes looped into a knot or used
with a slide so that the two ends hang free. lead
crystal
A top-quality colorless, transparent
glass resembling natural or rock crystal. About 200 kinds associated with jewelry.
Made through an ancient process that involves lead oxide. To be crystal, there
must be a minimum of 10% lead. lever
back
An earring with a unique back that
delicately bends and latches behind the ear. This is an old-fashioned design that
has come back in style
links
Series of loops which make up a chain. liquid
silver
Produced by drawing small ribbons
of sterling silver through a draw plate that forms a thin, silver tube. These
tubes are carefully cut & hand strung together. Liquid silver is an example
of the Native American jewelry making technique of Heishi. LMW
Limited Manufacturer's Warranty. lobster
claw clasp
A clasp used for necklaces
and bracelets which features an elongated hook (like a lobster claw). It contains
a spring mechanism and can be opened to catch the ring from the other end of the
chain.
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mabe
A Japanese term for half-sphere cultured pearls, which are
cultured against the shell so that only half a cultured pearl is formed.
malachite
A mineral which is characterized in appearance
by bands of light and dark green. Maltese
cross
A cross with four broad arms of
equal length, with tops that look like inward-pointing arrowheads. marcasite
Crystallized iron pyrites ("fool's gold") mounted in groups, cut
or uncut, in pins and other pieces of jewelry. Marcasite is a gray, lustrous mineral.
marquise
An oval shape gemstone cut with pointed ends. It's named for the Marquise
de Pompadour, Mistress of King Louis XV. matte
A non-shiny, frosted surface. mesh
A chain which is fabric-like and woven of fine wire. mesh-style
An item which is fabric-like and woven
of fine wire. metallic
A shiny, lustrous appearance. millgrain
edge
A look which is knurled, or has the
look of small beads or ridges, such as the edge of a coin. mineral
crystal
see QUARTZ morganite
A variety of beryl that is pink. Named after J.P. Morgan. Found in California,
Brazil, and Madagascar. moonstone
A translucent stone which is often bluish in color, yet sometimes white mother-of
-pearl
Hard, iridescent substance that
forms on the inside layer of a pearl-bearing mollusk.
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nacre
A shiny, iridescent substance made from the lining of mollusk shells or fish scales.
nephrite
A hard type of jade with colors ranging from white to dark green and shades
of grey or brown to black. nugget
A lump or irregularly shaped mass.
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Flat chain with a solid surface formed by the links and worn
high on the neck.
onyx
A semi-precious stone composed of chalcedony (a variety of quartz) found
naturally in white or gray. The white variety is generally dyed black for onyx.
opal
A non-crystalline, iridescent silica. opaque
Something which is not transparent and does not reflect light; dull. open
work
A ring setting with open sidework
which may also allow for viewing of the bottom of a stone, if included in the
setting. overlay
A decorative layer. oxidation
Metal blackened by a reaction with oxygen. The appearance is accomplished
by chemical means.
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link
A flat chain in which
solid links are arranged like bricks.
patent
leather
A highly glossy finished leather.
pave setting
A setting in which small stones are set as close as possible, so that the piece
literally looks "paved" with stones. pearl
A smooth, round growth formed naturally within the shell of a mollusk due
to an irritant and used as a gem. pendant
An ornament suspended from a single chain. peridot
A transparent gem which is olive green in color. pierced
earrings
Earrings designed for wear in
ears which are pierced. A wire or post is inserted through the ear lobe. point
Unit of weight for gemstones equal to one-hundredth of a carat. polish
Process used to make metal smooth and glossy. Increases shine and eliminates
flaws. post
A pin-like finding attached to an earring. It passes through the pierced
earlobe, and may be held in place by a back. precious
stones
Rare and costly gems such as diamonds,
emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. princess
cut
A modification of a brilliant square-cut
gemstone. prong
One of several claw-like wires used to hold a gem or stone in place.
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quartz
A crystalline mineral used for gems, usually colorless and
transparent.
quartz
movement
An electronic movement in a watch
powered by a battery that causes vibrations in a tiny piece of quartz.
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radiant cut
A type of faceting.
rhinestone
Real rhinestones are cut from rock crystal. Today, most rhinestones that
are used in jewelry are made of glass which has the look of natural stone. rhodium
A white, metallic element. rhodolite
A variety of pyrope garnet ranging in color from rose-red to pale violet
rhodonite
Named after the Greek word for pink. A reddish-pink color with thin veins
or patches of gray to black. Found in the former Soviet Union, the U.S., India,
and Australia. ribbed
A textured effect consisting of ridges.
ring
A piece of jewelry which is worn on the fingers and slides on and off. ring
guard
A ring worn above another ring to
keep it from slipping off the finger. rock
crystal
A mineral; see also QUARTZ rope
chain
Chain with a spiral appearance,
with the effect of two thick strands woven together.
rose
gold
An alloy of gold and copper. rose
finish
Jewelry done in a finish so that
it has the pink look of rose gold. rose
quartz
Delicate pink quartz with a somewhat
milky appearance. Popular for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and other gift occasions.
ruby
A highly precious and valued red corundum whose color is obtained from chromium
oxide. Rubies symbolize beauty, charity, love, passion, power, and royalty. rutilated
quartz
A variety of quartz with inclusions
of rutile crystals, which are minerals that sometimes appear in a needle-like
fashion in a reddish-brown to red and sometimes yellowish appearance.
back to page safety catch
Added to a closure to prevent the opening of a clasp sapphire
A highly valued and precious stone and a member of the corundum group. Most
commonly seen in blue. satin
finish
A matte finish achieved by sandblasting,
brushing with a stiff wire brush, or chemically altering a high shine surface.
Satin finish has a soft, pearl-like luster instead of a bright polish. scalloped
An ornamental edge that consists of a series of curves. scarab
A gemstone cut in the shape of a beetle and copied from the ancient Egyptian
fertility symbol. screw
back
A vise-like clamp that holds a non-pierced
earring on the ear by a screw that can be tightened against the earlobe. semi-precious
stones
Natural stones including amethyst,
aventurine, carnelian, garnet, opal, rose quartz,etc. Some semi-precious stones
are quite costly (up to thousands of dollars) They are used in fine jewelry as
well as fashion jewelry. shank
Part of the ring that circles the finger and to which the setting is attached.
shoulder
The part of the ring that extends from the shank to the center of the setting.
signature
A certain touch a designer is famous for and makes over and over. signet
A ring with a flat table or face on which there is an inscription of a coat
of arms, family crest, or some other type of insignia or monogram.
silver
tone
Jewelry with the look of silver.
silvery finish
Jewelry done in a finish so that it has the look of silver. simulated
aquamarine
Manufactured imitation of a
genuine aquamarine -- a greenish-blue semiprecious stone. simulated
diamond
A manufactured imitation of a
genuine diamond. see also SIMULATED STONES. simulated
emerald
Manufactured imitation of a genuine
emerald -- one of the most valuable of all gemstones, which is green. Emeralds
are the symbols of spring, rebirth, hope, and faith. simulated
pearl
Glass beads coated in the ground-up
iridescent nacre from fish scales. simulated
sapphire
Manufactured imitation of a genuine
sapphire which is a blue stone. simulated
stones
Any substance which is meant to
resemble or take the place of a gem. For example, cubic zirconia is a simulated
diamond. simulated
tortoise
Imitation of the mottled brown
and yellow color found on tortise shells. slide
An ornament that can be slid onto another piece of jewelry such as a necklace.
smoky quartz
Quartz that's brownish in color with a smoky appearance. smoky
topaz
see SMOKY QUARTZ snap
bar closure
A straight, hinged bar which
lifts up and down in order to secure or release an earring. snake
chain
A type of chain with links that
fit together to form a bendable, often tubular chain. sodalite
A mineral which is a component of lapis and generally translucent, usually
blue in color. solitaire
A single stone which is in a simple setting. spinel
A gemstone found in a wide range of colors, the most valuable resembling
ruby red. spring ring
clasp
A rounded, hollow, circular wire
which fits into a hollow, circular tube and is kept shut by a coiled spring on
the inside. square
cut
A style in which the stone is square
an bordered by four long narrow facets that are step cut. Similar to emerald cut.
square setting
The setting is square shaped with four prongs forming the corners. stack
ring
Rings which are designed to wear
two or more on the same finger. stainless
steel
Steel containing chromium and resistant
to rust and corrosion. stamping
Cutting or embossing a sheet of metal with a punch or a die. step
cut
A gem cut with a varying number of
sloping parallel rows of four-sided facets which give the impression of steps.
sterling silver
Silver that is at least 92.5 percent pure with 7.5
parts of another metal, usually copper, to make the piece harder.
stickpin
A
straight pin worn vertically on a scarf, tie, or a lapel. Has some kind of ornamentation
on the top. stippled finish
A technique in which the design is formed by a series of pricks made with a steel
punch. straight bar closure
A hinged bar which fits into a catch in order to secure a pin. stud
A single stone or metal ball on a straight post worn on pierced ears. synthetic
Man-made, but having the same physical, chemical and optical characteristics
as the natural stone.
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table
The large, flat, horizontal top facet of a ring.
tanzanite
A deep blue-violet variety of zoisite. tapestry
A woven cloth with decorative designs. tarnish
A dulled luster or finish. tassel
An ornamental bundle of threads bound at one end and loosely hung. tennis
bracelet
A flexible bracelet made up of
evenly matched stones, commonly diamonds. There are variations on the style, such
as alternating stones. tennis-style
Continuous, evenly matched stones, as seen with tennis bracelets. There are variations
on the style, such as alternating stones. tie
tac
A short pin with an ornamental top
or face that goes through the tie, pinning it to the shirt. tiffany
setting
A generally round, six-prong setting
with long, slender prongs that flare out from the base. tiger's
eye
The name given to a gem which when
cabochon cut shows a single light streak across its face. A semi-precious variety
of quartz found in South Africa, it may be yellowish-brown , bluish, or red in
color. titanium
A metallic element that has been used mainly in industry, but also used in
some jewelry because of the range of colors it produces when heated. toggle
clasp
A fastener consisting of a ring
on one end of a necklace or bracelet and a short bar on the other end. The bar
is slid through the ring and sits across it so it does not slide or pull. toggle
necklace
A fastener consisting of a ring
on one end of a necklace or bracelet and a short bar on the other end. The bar
is slid through the ring and sits across it so it does not slide or pull. topaz
A transparent gem, the most precious type is wine-yellow in color. It also
may be found in other colors, such as white, blue, brown, orange, and pink. tourmaline
A crystalline mineral which is used as a gemstone. It typically comes in
a variety of colors, the most common of which is black. translucent
Allowing light to pass through, but not transparent. transparent
Easily seen through; light rays are transmitted. triangle
cut
A modified brilliant cut stone. trilliant
see TRILLION CUT trillion cut
A modified brilliant cut triangular stone with 44 facets. tsavorite
A transparent, emerald green variety of garnet. turquoise
Semi-precious stone which is greenish-blue in color.
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A soft fabric with a short, dense plush on one side. vermeil
A heavy gold electroplate over sterling silver.
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water resistant
Able to withstand splashes of water from rain or a shower. Higher degrees of resistance
indicated by phrases such as water resistant to 100 meters. white
gold
An alloy of gold, nickel, copper,
and zinc.
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y
necklace
This style gets
its name from its shape which features its own delicate dangle forming a Y-shape
around the neck. Usually 16 to 18 inches in length. yellow
gold
The most popular gold alloy. An alloy
of gold, silver, copper, and often zinc.
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