Featured Jewellery

Numbers and Symbols
4Cs The four main characteristics used to determine quality in a diamond
or colored gemstone: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.
A
akoya A type of cultured pearl that originates from saltwater mollusks, usually
in Japan or China; the pearls are typically white, round pearls ranging from
3 millimeters to around 9 millimeters in size.
alloy The mixture of two or more metals, usually to create a harder and
more stable substance for the creation of jewelry, coins, and other objects.
antique jewelry Jewelry that is more than 100 years old.
Art Deco A style of jewelry designed circa 1920 to 1935 and characterized
by geometric and symmetric shapes.
Art Nouveau A style of jewelry designed circa 1880 to 1914 and characterized
by flowing, organic lines and whimsical flower, plant, and insect motifs.
Arts and Crafts A style of jewelry designed circa 1890 to 1914 that acted
as transition between Art Nouveau and Art Deco, with designs that were
still organic but that took on more geometrical shapes.
automatic watch A mechanical watch that winds itself as the wearer moves
his arm.
B
bench jeweler A professional who specializes in designing, manufacturing,
casting, and repairing jewelry.
black pearl A type of cultured pearl that originates from saltwater mollusks
in the South Seas, usually French Polynesia and surrounding areas; the pearls
usually have a black or gray base but feature overtones of green, pink, blue,
and violet, and typically range in size from 8 millimeters to 11 millimeters.
brilliant cut A style of cutting a diamond that produces a round shape with
58 facets; often the most expensive cut for a diamond, because a round
stone often weighs more than other shapes.
C
cabochon cut A gemstone cut that is rounded and polished into a dome
shape rather than faceted.
carat A unit of weight used to measure the size and value of a diamond or
colored gemstone; 1 carat equals 0.2 grams, or a little more than 0.007
ounces.
certificate A document issued by an independent gemological laboratory
that grades a diamond on its main quality characteristics: carat weight,
color, clarity, and shape; some, but not all, certificates also grade the quality
of a gemstone’s cut. Certificates are also sometimes available for colored
gemstones, but typically only offer physical descriptions of the gemstone
rather than a grade.
channel setting A style of setting gemstones in which several stones are set
side by side into an indentation, or “channel,” in a ring, then held in place
by rims at the top and bottom of the channel.
chargeback The reversal of a payment made from a credit card or online
payment service, restoring the money back to the owner of the account.
Appendix
248 Part 4
clarity The measure of the inclusions, or flaws, in a diamond or colored
gemstone.
clarity enhancement A process that helps to hide flaws or inclusions in a
diamond or colored gemstone; popular techniques include fracture filling,
laser drilling, heating, and oiling.
color A grade that measures a diamond or colored gemstone’s color; grades
are based on a diamond’s whiteness or a colored gemstone’s hue and richness
of color.
costume jewelry Jewelry that is made primarily of materials that have relatively
no value, including plated metals, beads, or glass or crystal stones;
however, depending on the jewelry’s age, style, and design, the jewelry itself
might have value.
counter An icon or graphic that appears on an auction page and tallies the
number of “hits,” or visits, a listing has received.
created Commonly called synthetic or lab-created, a diamond or gemstone
that has been produced in a controlled laboratory environment, which simulates
the conditions that are present when gemstones are formed in the
earth; created gemstones have the exact same optical, physical, and chemical
properties as their natural equivalents. This term is sometimes incorrectly
used to describe simulants.
crown The top facets of a round brilliant diamond, between the table and
the girdle.
cubic zirconia (CZ) A white, relatively valueless gemstone often used to
simulate the look of diamonds.
cultured pearls Pearls that are formed by placing a bead or other irritant
into mollusks to provoke the release of nacre, which coats the bead to
become a pearl.
cut The way a gemstone is faceted—the number of facets and their dimensions
and angles—to allow light to refract through the stone; also sometimes
refers to the shape of a diamond or colored gemstone.
249
Glossary Appendix A
D
disclosure The process of notifying potential buyers about any enhancements
made to the gemstones they’re buying.
Dutch auction An auction format sometimes used to sell multiple, identical
items; items are sold first to the highest bidders, and next to lower bidders
on a first-come, first-served basis, at a final price that is the lowest bid from
one of the winning bidders.
E
Edwardian A style of jewelry designed circa 1901 to 1915 and characterized
by lacy, filigreed designs in platinum metal.
enhancements Processes used to alter or improve the appearance of a gemstone,
either by disguising flaws or by changing the chemical makeup of the
stone to change its color.
escrow A service that acts as an intermediary to securely hold a payment
from a buyer until an item is received.
estate jewelry Jewelry that has been pre-owned.