Featured Jewellery - L-S

lab-created Sometimes known as created or synthetic, a diamond or gemstone
that has been produced in a controlled laboratory environment that
simulates the conditions present when gemstones are formed in the earth;
lab-created gemstones have the exact same optical, physical, and chemical
properties as their natural equivalents.
laser drilling An enhancement process in which lasers are used to remove
inclusions in diamonds.
lampwork A process used to make patterned and intricately designed beads
out of molten glass.
loupe A jeweler’s magnifying glass, used to study the interiors of gemstones.
luster A sheen, sometimes described as a three-dimensional glow, on the
surface of a cultured pearl that often provides a sign of the pearl’s quality.
Appendix
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M
mechanical watch A wind-up watch.
merchant account A service, often provided by banks or other financial
institutions, that allows a seller to accept and process credit cards.
metalsmith A professional who specializes in designing and creating preciousmetal
jewelry and other objects.
metallurgy The science of metals and alloys.
mint A term used to describe a vintage object that is in perfect condition
and has never been used.
moissanite A white gemstone that has many of the same optical properties
as a diamond, but that has different physical and chemical properties.
N–O
nacre The substance that makes up a pearl, produced by the mollusk from
which the pearl originated; in cultured pearls, nacre is a thick outer coating
but is not present throughout the entire pearl.
oiling A gemstone enhancement, mostly used with emeralds, that involves
injecting oil to into a stone’s fractures to hide the flaws.
online payment service A service that protects buyers’ privacy and safety by
accepting payments from a buyer’s credit card or checking account, then
transferring funds to the payee’s account.
P
pavé A style that involves setting many tiny diamonds or gemstones sideby-
side all over the surface of a piece of jewelry, to create a sparkly look.
pavilion The bottom part of a diamond or gemstone.
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Glossary Appendix A
phishing An e-mail scam in which an e-mail appearing to be from a legitimate
institution requests that the recipient click a link and enter account or other
personal information; the link often appears to point to the institution’s
Web site but actually directs recipients to a different server altogether.
plating The process of overlaying a precious metal on top of nonprecious
metal, for an expensive look at a lower price.
platinum A strong, heavy, lustrous white metal that is very rare and expensive.
polished A gemstone that has been cut and buffed to create a smooth, mirrorlike,
finished look.
point A unit of measurement for a diamond or gemstone; 100 points
equals 1 carat.
precious gemstones A term historically used—though somewhat out of
favor these days—to describe sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, the three
most highly valued colored gemstones.
precious metals Gold, silver, and platinum, the three most valuable metals,
as well as the metals whose sales are closely regulated by law.
princess cut A square cut used for diamonds that creates an exceptional
amount of brilliance.
proxy bidding The standard style of bidding on an auction, in which a
buyer enters the maximum amount she is willing to pay and allows the
online auction system to place bids on her behalf up to that amount.
Q–R
quartz watch A battery-powered watch with a tiny quartz crystal that keeps
time extremely accurately.
radiant cut A rectangular-shaped gemstone cut with clipped corners.
reproduction Jewelry that has been designed in the style of vintage or
antique jewelry but that is actually brand new.
reserve A price threshold, not revealed to auction bidders, below which a
seller will not sell an item.
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Retro A style of jewelry designed circa 1940s and characterized by big, bold
styles; very large gemstones; and the use of yellow and rose gold.
rough A gemstone that has not been cut or polished, and so appears as a
rock-like crystal.
round brilliant cut The most popular diamond cut, which creates the most
light refraction and sparkle compared to any other diamond cut.