Featured Jewellery - F-L

Goals for Buyers
facet A flat surface cut into a gemstone; most diamonds and colored gemstones are cut with many facets, sometimes several dozen. fashion jewelry Another term for 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. filigree A design technique that creates open, intricate patterns in metal. fine jewelry Jewelry that is made primarily of materials that are considered precious, including gold and platinum (and occasionally sterling silver) and precious gemstones. Appendix 250 Part 4 finished jewelry Jewelry sold as a complete piece, with the gemstones already set in metal (as opposed to selling loose gemstones). fixed price A type of auction in which buyers only have the option of paying a flat price for an item, rather than bidding for the item. fracture filling A technique for hiding the flaws or inclusions in a gemstone (primarily diamonds), in which a chemical substance, such as a type of glass or resin, is used to fill any fissures that reach the surface of the gemstone; the treatment is reversible if the gemstone is later exposed to extreme heat. G gemology The science of identifying and evaluating gemstones. gemstone beads Gemstones that have been rounded or faceted into spheres or oval or tube shapes, and then drilled through the middle so they can be strung. girdle The widest part of a diamond or gemstone, with a thin band that separates the top (crown) and the bottom (pavilion). gold A precious metal, the purest of which is 24 karats and very soft; often mixed with other metals to create alloys so the gold can be worked to create jewelry, coins, or other objects. granulation A technique that adds tiny beads, usually gold, to the surface of a piece of jewelry; often found in designs inspired by the ancient world. H–J hallmark A stamp on the underside of a piece of precious metal jewelry that indicates the metal content and therefore complies with legal standards for selling precious metals. ideal cut A diamond cut in which the angles and proportions are designed to allow the maximum amount of light to shine through the diamond’s crown. inclusion An imperfection in a diamond or gemstone, either from a mineral crystal lodged inside the stone or tiny fissures that occur inside the gemstone. 251 Glossary Appendix A invisible setting A way of setting square-cut gemstones in a piece of jewelry that creates a checkerboard look, with stones set side-by-side with no visible prongs or bezels holding them in place; the jewelry is designed to hook the stones into place using notches made in each gemstone’s girdle. irradiation A gemstone enhancement that involves exposing gemstones and pearls to small amounts of radiation to change their atomic makeup, thereby changing their color. K karat The unit used to measure the purity of gold. keyword spamming The process of attracting more traffic to an auction listing by using words in the auction title or description that are popular searches but do not actually pertain to the item for sale.