Jewellery Glossary: Common Jewellery Terms Explained

Handcrafted sterling silver daffodil necklace displayed on a traditional jeweller’s workbench surrounded by silversmithing tools and workshop equipment at Twelve Silver Trees. Jewellery


From vermeil and pavé to cabochon and carat weight, jewellery terminology can sometimes feel overwhelming. This glossary has been created to help explain common jewellery terms, gemstone cuts, precious metals and design details used throughout the world of jewellery making and collecting.

At Twelve Silver Trees, we believe understanding the craftsmanship behind jewellery makes every piece even more meaningful.

A

Alloy 

  • The mixture of two or more metals which strengthens the metal, and/or enhances its appearance.

Annealing

A jewellery-making process where metal is heated and cooled to soften it, making it easier to shape or hammer.

Art Deco

  • A design style popular during the 1920s and 1930s, known for geometric shapes, symmetry and bold decorative details.

Art Nouveau

  • An artistic style inspired by flowing natural forms, flowers and organic curves, popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Artisan Jewellery

  • Jewellery created by skilled makers using traditional craftsmanship techniques, often produced in small batches or by hand.

B

Bangle

  • A bracelet that is rigid and slides over the hand. Bangle bracelets sometimes don't have a clasp.

Bail

  • The component which connects a pendant or charm to a chain or necklace.

Bead Setting

  • Diamonds or colour gemstones are set evenly with the surface of the metal, and secured by bead-like prongs between the stones. 

Bezel Setting

  • A diamond or gemstone is wrapped with the metal, where only the crown and table can be seen.

Blemish

  • An imperfection on the surface of a diamond.

Bio Resin

  • A plant-based resin alternative used in some jewellery and decorative objects as a more environmentally conscious material.

Birthstone

  • A gemstone traditionally associated with a specific month of the year.

Box Clasp

  • A clasp where a tab is inserted into a decorative box-shaped fastening, commonly used on bracelets and necklaces.

Brilliance

  • The amount of sparkle or shine which is reflected from the diamond.

Brilliant Cut

  • A gemstone or diamond cut designed with multiple facets to maximise sparkle and light reflection.

C

Cabochon

  • A gemstone cut which is polished into a smooth, rounded dome-like surface, instead of having facets.

Carat Weight

  • A diamond's measurement for weight, which is equal to 0.2 grams, as described in the four Cs of diamonds. 

Cathedral Setting

  • A setting that has cathedral-like arches on each side of the diamond or gemstone.

Certificate of Authenticity

  • A document provided with jewellery confirming details such as materials, gemstones or craftsmanship.

Chain Extender

  • An additional length of chain attached to jewellery to allow adjustable sizing.

Channel Setting

  • ADiamonds or colour gemstones are arranged adjacent to one another in a channel, with no metal between each stone.

Charm

  • A small decorative ornament worn on a bracelet or necklace, often carrying symbolic or sentimental meaning.

Clasp

  • A device which is used to fasten the end of chains, necklaces, bracelets and watches.

Cleavage

  • Crack's, openings, or fractures in diamonds or colour gemstones.

Cluster

  • Setting Diamonds or coloured gemstones are grouped together, which can be arranged to look like one large stone.

Crown

  • The upper part of a diamond or gemstone, beneath the table and above the girdle.

Culet

  • The small facet on the bottom point of a diamond, beneath the pavilion. Not all diamonds have a culet.

D

Drop Earrings

  • Earrings which hang below the earlobe and move freely when worn.

E

E-Coat

  • A transparent protective coating applied to jewellery to help reduce tarnishing, improve durability and protect the metal surface from everyday wear and moisture exposure.

Electroplating

  • A process where a thin layer of metal is applied to another metal using an electrical current.

Enamel

  • A decorative technique where powdered glass is fused onto metal surfaces using heat to create colourful designs.

Engraving

  • A decorative technique where words, symbols or patterns are carved into the surface of metal.

Etched Finish

  • A textured surface created by using chemicals or tools to produce decorative patterns on metal.

F

Facet

  • The flat surface on a diamond or color gemstones. The arrangement of a gemstone's facets determine its cut and return of light.

Fire

  • The flashes of colour that can be seen when a diamond or gemstone is moved or rotated.

Filigree

  • Delicate ornamental metalwork created using fine twisted threads or beads of metal.

Flawless

  • The highest grading on the diamond clarity scale, which has no visible inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification.

Flush Setting

  • A hole is created in the metal surface, and a diamond or gemstone is placed inside, where its table is evenly set with the surface of the metal.

Four Cs

  • The four characteristics of a diamond - colour, clarity, cut and carat weight - which are used to establish the quality and value of diamonds.

G

Gem Silica

  • A rare blue-green gemstone material formed from chrysocolla and quartz, valued for its vibrant colour and glass-like translucency.

Gemstone

  • A natural or laboratory-created mineral, organic material or rock that has been cut and polished for use in jewellery and decorative objects.

Girdle

  • The middle section of a diamond or gemstone, which can be polished or faceted on a diamond, and typically unpolished on coloured gemstones.

Gold Vermeil

  • Sterling silver jewellery coated with a thick layer of gold plating.

H

Hallmark

  • Official stamped markings applied to precious metals to certify their purity and authenticity.

Hammered Finish

  • A textured surface created by striking metal with specialised tools to produce small decorative indentations.

Handcrafted Jewellery

  • Jewellery made largely by hand using traditional tools and techniques rather than mass-production methods.

Hardness

  • The ability of a diamond or gemstone to resist scratches, which is measured using the Moh's scale of hardness from 1-10, with 10 being the hardest.

Heirloom Jewellery

  • Jewellery treasured and passed down through generations due to its sentimental, historical or material value.

Hypoallergenic Jewellery

  • Jewellery designed to minimise the risk of skin irritation, often made using metals such as sterling silver, titanium or palladium.

I

Ideal Cut

  • An ideal cut diamond has the highest quality of proportions, symmetry and polish, and returns the maximum amount of light from the top of the diamond.

Inclusions

  • The natural unique "fingerprints" within a diamond or gemstone, which consist of other elements such as minerals, gases, or other substances.

Inlaid Setting

  • Diamonds or colour gemstones are set flush within the surface of the metal, where a part of the metal setting is cut away and replaced by the stone.

Invisible Setting

  • A diamond or gemstone is set in an arrangement where the metal cannot be seen, making it appear as there is no setting behind the stone.

J

Jewellery Findings

  • Small components used in jewellery making, including clasps, jump rings, earring hooks and connector pieces.

Jewellery Patina

  • The natural surface character or ageing effect that develops on metal over time.

Jump Ring

  • A small metal ring used to connect components in jewellery making.

K

Karat

  • The standard measurement for gold, where 24 karats is pure gold. 14-karat or 18-karat gold is mixed with other metal alloys to strengthen it, and to enhance its appearance.

L

Lab-Grown Gemstone

  • A gemstone created in controlled laboratory conditions with the same chemical composition and appearance as its natural counterpart.

Layering Necklace

  • A necklace designed to be worn alongside other chains or pendants to create a layered jewellery look.

Lobster Clasp

  • A secure jewellery fastening named for its resemblance to a lobster claw.

Lost Wax Casting

  • A jewellery-making technique where a wax model is replaced with molten metal to create detailed designs.

M

Marquise Cut

  • An elongated gemstone shape with pointed ends, designed to maximise visual size and sparkle.

Milgrain

  • A decorative jewellery detail featuring tiny metal bead-like edging, often seen in vintage-inspired designs.

Mixed Metals

  • Jewellery designs that combine two or more metal colours, such as silver and gold.

Moh's Scale

  • The scale which is used to measure the hardness of a diamond or gemstone, or its resistance to scratches, ranging from 1-10, with 10 being the hardest.

Mother of Pearl

  • The smooth iridescent inner layer of certain mollusc shells, commonly used in jewellery and decorative objects.

N

Natural Gemstone

  • A gemstone formed naturally within the earth over millions of years without artificial creation processes.

Nickel-Free Jewellery

  • Jewellery made without nickel alloys, often preferred by those with sensitive skin.

O

Organic Gemstone

  • A gemstone formed through natural biological processes, such as amber, pearl or coral.

Osmium

Oxidised Silver

  • Sterling silver that has been intentionally darkened to create an antique or aged appearance.

P

Palladium

  • A naturally white precious metal belonging to the platinum family, valued for its lightweight strength and tarnish resistance.

Patina

  • A natural or intentionally created surface finish that develops on metal over time, often adding character or an antique appearance.

Pavé Setting

  • Small diamonds or coloured gemstones are held in place by small handcrafted prongs, where all the tables of the stones are set evenly with the metal surface.

Pavilion

  • The bottom portion of a diamond, between the girdle and the culet.

Pear Cut

  • A gemstone shape combining a rounded end with a pointed tip, resembling a teardrop.

Pendant

  • A decorative jewellery piece designed to hang from a chain or necklace.

Pink Gold

  • Pink gold is created when pure gold is combined with more copper than other alloys, and is sometimes called rose gold.

Platinum

  • A rare precious metal valued for its strength, purity and naturally white colour.

Polish

  • The amount of smoothness, or shininess on a metal's surface. The more polished, the more light reflects off a metal's surface.

Play of colour

  • The spectral colour that can be seen in an opal when it is rotated or moved.

Precious Gemstone

  • Traditionally refers to diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald due to their rarity and historical value.

Precious Metal

  • Rare metallic elements valued for their beauty, durability and rarity, such as gold, silver and platinum.

Prong Setting

  • A diamond or gemstone is mounted to the metal with prongs that wrap around its girdle, and are usually secured to the crown of the stone.

Proportions

  • The relationship of a diamond's parts to one another, such as crown angle, crown height and table percentage, which ultimately determine a stone's brilliance.

Q

R

Reconstituted Stone

  • A material created by combining fragments or powder of natural stone with resin to form a solid decorative surface.

Recycled Silver

  • Silver that has been refined and reused from existing jewellery, industrial materials or scrap metal.

Resin

  • A material used in jewellery making that can be coloured, polished or combined with decorative elements such as flowers, glitter or pigments.

Rhodium Plating

  • A bright protective coating often applied to white gold or sterling silver jewellery to improve shine and tarnish resistance.

Rolled Gold

  • A material created by bonding a layer of gold to a base metal using heat and pressure.

Rose Cut

  • A gemstone cut featuring a flat base and domed top with triangular facets.

S

Satin Finish

  • A soft, brushed surface finish with a subtle sheen rather than a high polish.

Scintillation

  • The flashes of light that can be seen in a diamond when rotated under a natural or artificial light source.

Semi-Precious Gemstone

  • A traditional term used to describe gemstones other than the classic precious stones of diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.

Shepherd Hook

  • A curved wire finding commonly used in drop earrings.

Signet Ring

  • A ring traditionally engraved with initials, family crests or symbolic designs.

Silversmith

  • A craftsperson who designs, shapes and creates objects or jewellery using silver.

Solitaire

  • Rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, or necklaces that feature one diamond in its setting.

Solitaire Setting

  • A jewellery setting featuring a single central gemstone as the main focus of the design.

Spring Ring Clasp

  • A small circular clasp opened by a spring-loaded mechanism.

Statement Jewellery

  • Bold or eye-catching jewellery designed to stand out as the focal point of an outfit.

Statement Ring

  • A bold or decorative ring designed to stand out as the focal point of an outfit.

Sterling Silver

  • A precious metal alloy containing 92.5% pure silver combined with other metals for added strength.

Sustainable Jewellery

  • Jewellery created with consideration for environmental impact, ethical sourcing or recycled materials.

Symmetry

  • The precision of the alignment of a diamond's facets. The more symmetrical, the better the return of light.

T

Table

  • The flat surface on the top of a diamond or gemstone.

Tarnish

  • The natural darkening or discolouration that can occur on the surface of metals over time through exposure to air, moisture or chemicals.

Tension Setting

  • A diamond or gemstone is suspended inside the metal setting, where most of the diamond is exposed.

Textured Finish

  • A decorative metal surface featuring patterns or irregular detailing rather than a smooth polish.

Tiffany Setting

  • A classic six-prong diamond setting designed to maximise light exposure and brilliance.

Titanium

  • A lightweight, highly durable metal valued in jewellery for its strength, corrosion resistance and modern appearance.

Toughness

  • The ability for a diamond or gemstone to resist breakage (or fracturing) from impact.

Trace Chain

  • A fine chain style made from simple oval links, commonly used for pendants.

Transparency

  • The degree to which light passes through a gemstone, ranging from opaque to transparent.

Translucent

  • A material or gemstone that allows some light to pass through, but not enough to see clearly through it.

U

Ultrasonic Cleaner

  • A cleaning device that uses high-frequency sound waves and liquid solution to remove dirt and residue from jewellery.

Undertone

  • The subtle secondary colour visible within a gemstone or precious metal, influencing its overall appearance.

Unisex Jewellery

  • Jewellery designed to be worn by any gender, often featuring versatile or minimalist styling.

V

Vermeil

  • High-quality sterling silver jewellery coated with a thick layer of gold.

Vintage Style

  • Jewellery inspired by designs and aesthetics from previous historical eras.

W

White Gold

  • Made by combining pure gold with copper, zinc and nickel (or palladium) alloy, such as rhodium.

Wire Wrapped

  • A jewellery-making technique where metal wire is shaped and wrapped around gemstones or decorative elements without soldering.

X

X-Cut

  • A specialised gemstone cutting style designed to maximise light reflection and brilliance through the arrangement of intersecting facets.

XRF Testing

  • A non-destructive testing method using X-ray fluorescence technology to analyse the metal composition and purity of jewellery and precious metals.

Y

Yellow Gold

  • Gold that retains its natural yellow colour. Pure gold is typically combined with copper and silver alloys to enhance its durability.

Z

Zinc Alloy

  • A metal alloy commonly used in fashion jewellery and decorative components due to its affordability and versatility.

Further Reading