Jewellery Glossary
A plain-language reference for the words that come up when you are buying an engagement ring or fine jewellery. Every term gets its own page with a clear definition, a few questions people usually ask next, and links to the related terms worth knowing.
If a setting name, a diamond grade or a metal stamp has you second-guessing, look it up here before you decide. The definitions are written the way we would explain them in the studio, with the Australian context where it changes the answer.
How to use it
Browse the A to Z index below, or follow the related terms at the foot of any entry to read around a topic. The glossary is growing, with new terms added regularly.
Browse every term
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- 14k Gold14k gold is the most popular gold for fine jewellery in the United States, made of 58.5% pure gold blended with 41.5% of other...
- 18k Gold18k gold is 75% pure gold blended with 25% other metals, which makes it the richest, most golden colour you can get while still...
- 24k Gold24k gold is pure gold, over 99.95% with no other metals blended in, which gives it that intense, almost orange-yellow colour an...
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- AgateAgate is a banded variety of chalcedony, which is itself a form of quartz, and it forms in just about every colour you can imag...
- AlexandriteAlexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl, famous for one remarkable trick: it changes colour depending on the l...
- AlloyAn alloy is a blend of two or more metals, or a metal mixed with another element, melted together to create something better th...
- AluminiumAluminium is a lightweight, silvery-white metal that is soft, malleable and highly resistant to corrosion, making it easy to sh...
- AmazoniteAmazonite is a semi-precious stone and a variety of potassium feldspar, ranging in colour from soft pastel mint to a vibrant aq...
- AmberAmber is fossilised tree resin, not a mineral or stone, formed over millions of years from the sticky sap of ancient coniferous...
- AmethystAmethyst is the purple variety of quartz, ranging from the palest lilac to a deep, wine-rich violet, with the colour coming fro...
- AmuletAn amulet is an object worn or carried for protection, good luck or guidance, with the meaning sitting in the wearer's intentio...
- AnodisingAnodising is an electrochemical process where metal is submerged in an acid bath and an electrical current is passed through it...
- Antique JewelleryAntique jewellery is any piece made at least 100 years ago, which is the standard definition used by customs authorities and th...
- AquamarineAquamarine is a transparent blue to blue-green variety of beryl, the same mineral family as emerald, and its name comes from th...
- ArabesqueArabesque is a decorative style built from flowing, interlaced lines, curling tendrils and stylised plant forms, typically repe...
- Art DecoArt Deco jewellery emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, taking its name from the 1925 Paris exhibition L'Exposition Internationale d...
- Arts and CraftsThe Arts and Crafts movement began in Britain in the late 1800s as a reaction against the poorly designed, machine-made goods f...
- AssayAn assay is the formal testing of a precious metal to determine how much pure gold, silver, platinum or palladium it actually c...
- Asscher CutThe Asscher cut is a square step-cut diamond with cropped corners that give it an octagonal outline, developed by the Royal Ass...
- Aurora BorealisIn jewellery, aurora borealis refers to a thin iridescent coating applied to glass or crystal beads and stones, developed by Sw...
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- BandeauIn jewellery, a bandeau is a narrow ornamental band worn horizontally across the forehead, sitting lower than a tiara and follo...
- BangleA bangle is a rigid, inflexible bracelet, usually circular or oval in shape, that is slipped over the hand and worn around the...
- Belle ÉpoqueBelle Époque, French for beautiful era, refers to the period in European history from roughly 1880 to 1914, and in jewellery it...
- Bezel SettingA bezel setting holds a gemstone inside a custom-shaped collar or rim of metal that is pushed or rubbed over the edge of the st...
- BirthstoneA birthstone is a gemstone associated with a particular month of birth, and wearing your birthstone is a tradition that traces...
- Black DiamondBlack diamonds are real diamonds, but they differ from white or coloured diamonds in that their colour comes from dense interna...
- BlemishA blemish is a flaw or irregularity on the external surface of a gemstone, as distinct from an inclusion, which is an internal...
- BlingBling is informal slang for jewellery or accessories that are deliberately flashy, heavily encrusted with stones, or oversized...
- BlockchainBlockchain is a decentralised digital ledger that records transactions or data across many computers so that no single entry ca...
- Blue Lace AgateBlue lace agate is a variety of chalcedony quartz known for its delicate, lacy banding in soft shades of pale blue, periwinkle,...
- BraceletA bracelet is any ornamental band, chain or cuff worn around the wrist, and it encompasses one of the broadest categories in je...
- BroochA brooch is a decorative jewellery piece designed to be pinned to clothing, bags or scarves, fastened at the back with a hinged...
- BurnishingBurnishing is the process of polishing metal by pressing and rubbing a smooth, hard tool called a burnisher firmly across the s...
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- Cable ChainA cable chain is one of the most classic necklace styles, made from a series of uniform oval or round links connected so that e...
- CabochonA cabochon is a gemstone that has been shaped and polished into a smooth, convex dome rather than cut with facets.
- CADCAD, short for computer-aided design, is the use of software to create precise three-dimensional digital models of a jewellery...
- CaliperA caliper is a precision measuring instrument with two adjustable jaws used by jewellers and gemologists to measure the exact d...
- CaratCarat has two separate meanings in jewellery and it is worth knowing which is which.
- CarbideIn a jewellery context, carbide almost always refers to tungsten carbide, a compound of tungsten and carbon that is one of the...
- Carbon FibreCarbon fibre is a strong, lightweight material made from thin strands of carbon that are woven or compressed together and set i...
- CarnelianCarnelian is a translucent variety of chalcedony quartz that comes in warm shades of orange, red-orange and deep brownish-red,...
- CartoucheIn jewellery, a cartouche is an oval or oblong frame, inspired by the ancient Egyptian royal cartouche, which enclosed a pharao...
- CelluloidCelluloid is one of the earliest synthetic plastics, made from nitrocellulose and camphor and developed in the 1860s and 1870s.
- Chain NecklaceA chain necklace is a necklace formed from a series of connected metal links or elements, worn on its own or with a pendant.
- ChalcedonyChalcedony is a variety of quartz with a microcrystalline structure, meaning its crystals are too small to see individually, gi...
- CharmA charm is a small decorative object, usually made from metal and sometimes set with gemstones or enamel, attached to a bracele...
- Charm BraceletA charm bracelet is a chain or bangle bracelet to which small decorative charms are attached, with each charm representing some...
- ChatelaineA chatelaine is a decorative clasp or hook worn at the waist, from which multiple small chains hang to carry useful or ornament...
- ChokerA choker is a close-fitting necklace designed to sit at the base of the neck, typically measuring 35 to 40 cm in length.
- ChrysopraseChrysoprase is a variety of chalcedony quartz coloured by trace amounts of nickel, which gives it a vibrant apple-green to blue...
- CitrineCitrine is the yellow to orange variety of quartz, with colour ranging from the palest straw yellow through warm golden tones t...
- ClarityClarity is one of the four main quality factors used to assess diamonds and other gemstones, measuring how free the stone is fr...
- CloisonnéCloisonné is an enamelling technique in which thin strips or wires of metal are bent into shapes and soldered or glued onto a m...
- Cocktail RingA cocktail ring is a large, bold statement ring built around a prominent central gemstone or cluster of stones, designed to sta...
- ColletA collet is a band or collar of metal formed into a ring or cup that wraps around the edge of a gemstone to hold it in place.
- Compressed TurquoiseCompressed turquoise is made by collecting small pieces and offcuts of natural turquoise, pressing them together under high pre...
- CopperCopper is a reddish-orange metal used in jewellery for thousands of years.
- CorundumCorundum is the mineral species that includes both ruby and sapphire.
- CountersinkA countersink in jewellery making is the widening of the entry to a drilled hole, cut at an angle so the opening forms a shallo...
- CrownThe crown is the upper portion of a cut gemstone, all the facets above the girdle.
- CrystalIn jewellery, crystal refers to two related but different things.
- Cuban LinkA Cuban link chain is made from thick, slightly oval or round links that interlock with one another in a tightly woven, uniform...
- Cubic ZirconiaCubic zirconia, shortened to CZ, is a synthetic gemstone made from zirconium dioxide, grown in a laboratory and cut to resemble...
- CufflinksCufflinks are decorative fasteners for dress shirts that have buttonholes on both sides of the cuff rather than a button, known...
- Cullinan DiamondThe Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered, weighing 3,106.75 carats when found at the Premi...
- Cushion CutA cushion cut is a square or rectangular gemstone cut with gently rounded corners, giving it the soft, pillow-like shape that l...
- Custom JewelleryCustom jewellery is a piece designed and made specifically for one person, rather than selected from a jeweller's existing coll...
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- DepthIn gemstone grading, depth is the measurement from the flat top surface of the stone, called the table, down to the lowest poin...
- DiademA diadem is a jewelled headband or crown worn around the head as a symbol of royalty, authority or high honour.
- DiamondA diamond is a gemstone made entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal structure so tight and regular that it becomes the...
- Diamond CutDiamond cut refers to how well a diamond has been shaped, proportioned and faceted to interact with light, and it is widely con...
- Dog Collar NecklaceA dog collar necklace is a wide, snug necklace worn very high on the neck, close to the throat, traditionally made from multipl...
- Drop EarringsDrop earrings are earrings where the main feature sits slightly below the earlobe, typically as a single element suspended from...
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- Ear CuffsEar cuffs are pieces of jewellery that clip around the outer rim or cartilage of the ear without needing a piercing, making the...
- EarringsEarrings are ornaments worn on the ear, most commonly through a piercing in the lobe, and they come in a wider range of styles...
- Eco-Friendly JewelleryEco-friendly jewellery is made with materials and processes that aim to reduce harm to the environment, covering everything fro...
- ElectroplatingElectroplating is the process of depositing a thin layer of metal, most often gold, silver or rhodium, onto the surface of an o...
- EmeraldEmerald is a variety of the mineral beryl coloured a rich, vivid green by traces of chromium and vanadium, and it is one of the...
- Emerald CutAn emerald cut is a rectangular gemstone cut with long parallel facets arranged in steps along the sides and a flat, open table...
- Engagement RingAn engagement ring is a ring given when one person proposes marriage to another, worn as a visible symbol of the commitment bet...
- EngravingEngraving is the technique of cutting lines, letters, patterns or images directly into the surface of metal using sharp steel t...
- Eternity BandAn eternity band is a ring set with a continuous, unbroken row of identically cut gemstones running all the way around the band...
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- FacetA facet is one of the flat, polished surfaces ground onto a gemstone by a cutter or lapidary.
- Fancy Colour DiamondA fancy colour diamond is a natural diamond with a clear, distinct hue that falls outside the standard colourless-to-light-yell...
- FerrousFerrous simply means containing iron, from the Latin ferrum.
- FiligreeFiligree is a technique in which fine threads or beads of precious metal wire are twisted, bent and soldered into delicate, lac...
- Fine JewelleryFine jewellery is jewellery made with precious metals such as gold, platinum or sterling silver and set, where stones are used,...
- FlawIn gemmology, a flaw is a general term for any imperfection in a gemstone, whether inside or on its surface.
- FluorescenceDiamond fluorescence is the visible glow a diamond emits under ultraviolet light, most often blue-white, though yellow and oran...
- Free FormA free form gemstone is one that has been cut and polished into an organic, irregular shape rather than a standard symmetrical...
- Freshwater PearlFreshwater pearls are cultured in freshwater mussels living in rivers and lakes, rather than in saltwater oysters.
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- GarnetGarnet is a large family of silicate minerals that share a similar crystal structure but come in an impressive range of colours.
- GemologistA gemologist is a specialist trained in the identification, grading and valuation of gemstones, including diamonds, coloured st...
- GemologyGemology, also spelled gemmology in British usage, is the science concerned with the study of gemstones.
- GemstoneA gemstone is a mineral crystal, rock or organic material that is valued for its beauty, rarity and durability and cut or polis...
- GIAGIA stands for the Gemological Institute of America, a non-profit organisation founded in 1931 and based in California.
- GoldGold is a naturally occurring precious metal, warm yellow in its pure state, prized for thousands of years for its beauty, rari...
- Gold FilledGold filled jewellery is made by pressure-bonding a layer of solid gold to a base metal core under heat, creating a durable gol...
- Gold-PlatedGold plated jewellery has a very thin layer of gold applied to a base metal, usually brass or copper, through an electroplating...
- GrillzGrillz are removable jewellery pieces designed to fit over the teeth, typically over the upper or lower front teeth or both, an...
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- Igneous RockIgneous rock forms when molten magma or lava cools and solidifies, either deep underground or at the earth's surface, and it is...
- InclusionAn inclusion is any internal characteristic trapped within a gemstone during its formation, including tiny crystals of other mi...
- IngotAn ingot is a bar or brick formed by pouring molten precious metal into a mould and letting it solidify, creating a solid, stan...
- Initial NecklaceAn initial necklace is a piece of personalised jewellery featuring a letter-shaped pendant, worn to represent your own name, a...
- IntaglioAn intaglio is a design carved down into the surface of a gemstone or hardstone, so the image sits below the surrounding level...
- IridescentIridescent describes a surface that produces shifting, rainbow-like colours as the angle of light or the viewing angle changes,...
- IrradiationIrradiation is a treatment applied to gemstones and pearls to alter or enhance their colour by exposing them to controlled radi...
- IvoryIvory is the hard, creamy white dentine that forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and a few other animals, and it has been ca...
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- JadeJade is the name given to two distinct minerals, jadeite and nephrite, which look similar but have different chemical compositi...
- JadeiteJadeite is a sodium aluminium silicate mineral and the finer, rarer of the two minerals known as jade.
- Jump RingA jump ring is a small, circular or oval ring made from a single loop of wire with a cut that allows it to be opened and closed...
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- Lab-Grown DiamondA lab-grown diamond is a real diamond grown in a laboratory rather than mined from the earth, and it has exactly the same chemi...
- LabradoriteLabradorite is a feldspar mineral first collected on the Labrador coast of Canada, and it is prized in jewellery for an optical...
- LapidaryLapidary refers to the craft of cutting, shaping and polishing gemstones and minerals, and also to the person who practises it.
- Lapis LazuliLapis lazuli is an opaque metamorphic rock prized for its intense royal blue colour, used in jewellery and art for over five th...
- Lobster ClaspA lobster clasp is a small, spring-loaded clasp shaped roughly like a lobster claw, with a hinged gate that opens when you pres...
- LocketA locket is a pendant with two hinged halves that opens to reveal a small space inside, traditionally used to hold a photograph...
- London Blue TopazLondon Blue Topaz is the darkest and most intensely saturated variety of blue topaz, showing a deep steely blue with subtle gre...
- LustreLustre is the way a material's surface appears to reflect light, determined by the quantity of light returned and the quality a...
- Luxury JewelleryLuxury jewellery is fine jewellery made from precious metals such as gold and platinum, set with high-quality diamonds or gemst...
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- MalachiteMalachite is an opaque green copper carbonate mineral known for its striking concentric bands and swirling patterns in shades o...
- MarcasiteMarcasite jewellery uses small, faceted stones cut from iron pyrite, set into silver or white metal to create a dark, glinting...
- Matte FinishA matte finish on jewellery is a surface treatment that creates a smooth, flat, non-reflective appearance rather than the brigh...
- MeleeMelee is the term used in the diamond trade for small diamonds, generally those weighing less than around 0.20 carats each, use...
- Metamorphic RockMetamorphic rock is rock that has been transformed by intense heat, pressure or hydrothermal fluids deep within the earth, chan...
- Mohs Hardness ScaleThe Mohs hardness scale is a ranking from 1 to 10 that describes how resistant a mineral or gemstone is to being scratched, whe...
- MoissaniteMoissanite is a gemstone made of silicon carbide, originally discovered in 1893 by Henri Moissan in a meteorite crater in Arizona.
- Money ClipA money clip is a small, flat device, usually made from metal, that holds folded banknotes and a few cards together in a compac...
- MoonstoneMoonstone is a variety of feldspar mineral, ranging from white and grey through peach, champagne and occasionally blue, and it...
- MorganiteMorganite is the pink to peach variety of beryl, the same mineral family that includes emerald and aquamarine, with its colour...
- Mother of PearlMother of pearl is the iridescent inner lining of mollusk shells, also called nacre, and it is the same material that makes up...
- Mourning JewelleryMourning jewellery is jewellery made and worn to commemorate the death of a loved one, a tradition with deep roots in the Georg...
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- NacreNacre is the iridescent material that mollusks such as oysters and mussels secrete in thin crystalline layers as a protective c...
- Natural DiamondA natural diamond is a diamond formed in the earth's mantle under extreme heat and pressure over billions of years, brought clo...
- Natural PearlA natural pearl is one that forms entirely without human involvement, produced when a wild mollusc, most often an oyster, respo...
- NecklaceA necklace is an ornament worn around the neck, ranging from a delicate chain with a single pendant to a multi-strand statement...
- NumismaticsNumismatics is the study and collection of coins, banknotes, tokens and medals, with an interest in their history, artistry and...
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- Old Mine CutThe old mine cut is the earliest form of modern-style diamond cutting, originating in the 1700s and remaining popular through t...
- OnyxOnyx is a variety of chalcedony quartz that forms with parallel banding of alternating colours, most commonly black and white.
- OpalOpal is a mineraloid, not a crystal, formed from silica and water, and it is prized for its play of colour, the shifting spectr...
- OpaqueOpaque, in the context of gemstones and jewellery, means that no light passes through the stone at all.
- OreOre is naturally occurring rock or mineral material that contains metal in high enough concentrations to make extraction worthw...
- Oval CutAn oval cut is a faceted, elongated gemstone shape, rounded at both ends and wider in the middle, cut in the brilliant style so...
- OxideAn oxide is a compound that forms when a metal reacts with oxygen, and in jewellery making these surface reactions are a consta...
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- Padparadscha SapphireA padparadscha sapphire is one of the rarest and most coveted varieties of corundum, distinguished by its unique blend of pink...
- PallionsPallions are the tiny pre-cut pieces of solder used in jewellery making, snipped from sheet or wire solder into small squares o...
- Paste JewelleryPaste jewellery uses carefully formulated lead glass to simulate gemstones, cut and polished by hand into faceted stones that m...
- PatinaPatina is the surface layer that forms on metal as it ages and reacts with its environment, changing its colour and texture in...
- PavéPavé is a setting style in which many small stones are set closely together across the surface of a piece, with minimal metal v...
- Pear CutA pear cut is a teardrop-shaped gemstone that combines the rounded base of an oval with the pointed tip of a marquise, cut in t...
- PearlA pearl is an organic gem formed inside a mollusc, most commonly an oyster or mussel, when the creature responds to an irritant...
- PearlescentPearlescent describes a surface finish or material that has the soft, deep, slightly iridescent lustre associated with a fine p...
- PendantA pendant is a decorative element designed to hang freely from a necklace chain, cord or strand, making it the central feature...
- PeridotPeridot is a yellow-green gemstone and the gem-quality variety of olivine, one of the few gemstones that comes in only one colour.
- PlatingPlating is the process of depositing a thin layer of one metal onto the surface of another, most often by passing an electrical...
- PlatinumPlatinum is a naturally white, very dense precious metal found in small quantities in South Africa and Russia, and it has been...
- PorosityPorosity in jewellery refers to a manufacturing defect that occurs during casting, when air or gas bubbles become trapped insid...
- Precious MetalPrecious metals are naturally occurring metallic elements prized for their rarity, durability and attractive appearance, and in...
- Princess CutThe princess cut is a square or slightly rectangular diamond cut with brilliant-style faceting on its lower half, meaning it de...
- PyritePyrite is an iron sulphide mineral with a bright, brassy-gold metallic lustre that has fooled prospectors for centuries, earnin...
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- Radiant CutThe radiant cut is a rectangular or square diamond with cropped corners and brilliant-style faceting on both its crown and pavi...
- RefractionRefraction is the bending of light as it passes from one transparent medium into another, for instance from air into a gemstone...
- RhinestoneA rhinestone is a faceted piece of glass or rock crystal cut to imitate the sparkle of a diamond, used in costume jewellery and...
- RhodiumRhodium is a rare precious metal belonging to the platinum group, valued for its brilliant white colour, high reflectivity and...
- RingA ring is a circular band, typically of precious or semi-precious metal, worn on the finger as decoration, as a symbol of commi...
- Ring SizeRing size is the measurement that describes how a ring fits on the finger, based on the inner circumference or diameter of the...
- RosaryA rosary is a string of beads used in Catholic devotional prayer, with specific groups of beads corresponding to particular pra...
- Rose GoldRose gold is a gold alloy where copper is the main additional metal, and it is that copper that gives it the warm, blush-pink c...
- Rose QuartzRose quartz is the pale pink to soft peachy-rose variety of quartz, and it gets its colour from microscopic inclusions of a fib...
- RubyRuby is a variety of corundum, the mineral form of aluminium oxide, coloured red by traces of chromium in the crystal structure.
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- Salt-and-Pepper DiamondA salt-and-pepper diamond is a diamond with many black and white inclusions scattered through the stone, creating a speckled, s...
- Sandblasted FinishA sandblasted finish is a deliberately matte, slightly rough surface texture applied to a jewellery piece by blasting it with a...
- SapphireSapphire is a variety of corundum, the same mineral family as ruby, and it comes in almost every colour imaginable: the most fa...
- SardonyxSardonyx is a variety of onyx that shows alternating bands of sard, which is a reddish-brown to orange-brown form of chalcedony...
- ScallopIn jewellery, a scallop refers to a decorative edge consisting of a series of small semicircular or rounded projections that to...
- SceptreA sceptre is an ornamental staff or rod carried as a symbol of royal or spiritual authority, and some of the most heavily jewel...
- Sedimentary RockSedimentary rock is formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral particles, organic material or chemical deposits over...
- Seed BeadSeed beads are tiny glass beads mass-produced by drawing molten glass into a long thin tube and then slicing it into small, eve...
- SettingA setting in jewellery refers to the method by which a gemstone is held securely within the metal of a piece.
- Shield CutA shield cut is a five-sided gemstone shape that is wide across the top and tapers toward a pointed base, vaguely resembling a...
- Signet RingA signet ring is a ring with a flat oval or round face, traditionally engraved with a personal seal, monogram, family crest or...
- SilverSilver is a precious metal prized for its bright, cool-white lustre and the highest reflectivity of any metal, which makes it i...
- SolderingSoldering in jewellery making is the process of joining two pieces of metal permanently by applying a third metal, called solde...
- SparkleSparkle in a gemstone or polished metal comes from the way light bounces, bends and scatters as it interacts with the surface a...
- SpinelSpinel is a beautiful gemstone made of magnesium aluminium oxide, found in a wide range of colours including vivid red, pink, b...
- Stacking RingsStacking rings are slim bands designed to be worn layered together on a single finger, mixed and matched in any combination of...
- Stainless SteelStainless steel is a steel alloy containing chromium, usually at least 10.5%, which gives it exceptional resistance to rust and...
- Sterling SilverSterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metal, almost always copper, which adds the hardness that pure...
- Stud EarringsStud earrings are the most fundamental pierced earring style: a single decorative element attached directly to a metal post, wh...
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- Tahitian PearlTahitian pearls are cultured saltwater pearls produced by the black-lipped oyster Pinctada margaritifera, farmed primarily arou...
- TanzaniteTanzanite is a blue-violet variety of the mineral zoisite, found only in a small area near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzan...
- TaperedTapered describes a piece of jewellery, or part of one, that gradually narrows from one end to the other rather than staying th...
- TarnishTarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms on the surface of metal jewellery when it reacts with sulphur compounds in the...
- TemperingTempering is a heat treatment applied to metal after it has been hardened, reheating it to a specific temperature below its har...
- Tennis BraceletA tennis bracelet is a flexible bracelet made from a continuous line of individually set diamonds or gemstones of uniform size,...
- Three Stone RingA three stone ring, also called a trilogy ring, features three gemstones set in a row along the top of the ring, traditionally...
- TiaraA tiara is a jewelled ornament worn on the crown of the head, usually in a semi-circular or crescent shape that arches from one...
- Tiger's EyeTiger's eye is a variety of quartz with a distinctive optical effect called chatoyancy, which produces a silky, shifting band o...
- Toi et MoiToi et moi is a French phrase meaning you and me, and a toi et moi ring features two gemstones set side by side on a single ban...
- TopazTopaz is a silicate mineral and a hard, brilliant gemstone rated 8 on the Mohs scale.
- TortoiseshellTortoiseshell is a material derived from the shell of the hawksbill sea turtle, valued historically for its warm, mottled patte...
- TourmalineTourmaline is a complex borosilicate mineral group and one of the most colour-diverse gemstones in existence, occurring in virt...
- TranslucentTranslucent describes a material that allows light to pass through it but scatters it enough that you cannot see clearly throug...
- TungstenTungsten is a grey-white, very heavy metal with an exceptionally high melting point, and in jewellery it is almost always used...
- TurquoiseTurquoise is a blue-to-green phosphate mineral found in dry, copper-rich regions, and its colour ranges from vivid sky blue thr...
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- VermeilVermeil, pronounced ver-MAY, is a specific type of gold-plated jewellery made with a sterling silver base that has been plated...
- Vintage JewelleryVintage jewellery is generally understood to mean pieces that are at least 20 to 30 years old but less than 100 years old, at w...
- Vintage-InspiredVintage-inspired jewellery is new jewellery made to evoke the look and feel of an earlier era, drawing on design languages from...
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- Wedding RingA wedding ring is a band exchanged between partners during a marriage ceremony as a symbol of commitment and enduring love.
- Wedding SetA wedding set is a pair of rings, an engagement ring and a matching wedding band, designed by the same maker to sit flush and l...
- White GoldWhite gold is gold alloyed with pale metals, typically palladium, manganese or silver, to produce a lighter colour than yellow...
- Work HardeningWork hardening is what happens to metal when it is repeatedly bent, hammered, rolled or drawn: the internal crystal structure o...
- WristwatchA wristwatch is a small timepiece designed to be worn on the wrist, held in place by a bracelet, strap or integrated band.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the LILY DIA jewellery glossary?
- It is a plain-language reference for the words you run into when buying an engagement ring or fine jewellery, covering diamonds, gemstones, metals, settings and ring terms. Each entry answers one question and links to the terms that naturally come next.
- How is the glossary organised?
- Every term has its own page, and you can browse the full list alphabetically using the A to Z index above. Terms that mean the same thing are merged into one page, so you are never reading two slightly different versions of the same definition.
- Are the definitions written for Australian buyers?
- Yes. The definitions use Australian spelling and local context where it matters, such as the 9ct gold standard, and they are written by the Melbourne studio rather than pulled from a generic source.
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