Opaque
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Light cannot pass through the material (opposite of transparent)
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Opera length
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single strand necklace 30 to 35" long.
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Oxidation
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process of oxygen mixing with metal, leaving a deposit of oxide or rust.
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Parure
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matching set of jewelry usually a necklace, earrings, brooch, and bracelet
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Paste
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glass that is cut and faceted to imitate gemstones
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Pate-de-verre
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also "poured glass" where a paste of crushed glass is colored then molded
into shapes before firing
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Patina
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coloration that occurs in certain metals exposed to air, usually an indicator of
age. Green layer appears on copper and bronze. Artificial patinas can be
created to make a newer piece appear old.
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Pave
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style of setting of small stones or rhinestones together very closely
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Pearl
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a smooth, iridescent growth formed within the shell of a mollusk to protect
itself from an irritant and used as a gem. Pearl is the birthstone for June.
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Pearl Essence
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also essence d'orient. Where a crystalline substance is extracted from fish
scales and combined with acrylic to apply to beads to make imitation pearls.
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Pendant
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ornament suspended from a chain
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Penney weight
|
a unit of 24 grains or about 1/20 of an ounce (1.555 grams). Abbreviated
dwt or pwt, used in measuring precious metals like gold at the refinery stage
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Peridot
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a deep yellowish-green, transparent gem. Peridot is the birthstone for
August and has a hardness of 6.5.
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Pewter
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blueish-gray metal alloy composed of tin with small amounts of other
materials like lead, copper or silver.
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Pierce work
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jewelry with areas cut or drilled out of metal to form patterns, for example like
lace or geometric patterns
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Pinchbeck
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known as "false gold", made primarily of copper and a smaller amount of
zinc. Invented in the 1720's by Christopher Pinchbeck.
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Platinum
|
a rare, silvery white metallic element of great strength, weight and resistance
to corrosion. The standard of platinum in the US and most western countries
is 95% pure.
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Plique a jour
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a back-less, translucent enamel resembling stained glass. Cells of enamel
are surrounded by delicate wire with the backing of the enamel absent.
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Point
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a unit of measure used to express the weight of gemstones, equal to 1/100th
of a carat. Twenty-five points (25) describes a 1/4 carat diamond.
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Porcelain
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thin, semi-transparent china or ceramicware used to make beads and
dinnerware.
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Posy Ring
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a ring with an engraved motto on the inside
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Pot metal
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an inexpensive metal alloy, usually containing lead. Much inexpensive
costume jewelry was made of pot metal.
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Poured glass
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a jewelry technique in which molten glass is poured into a metal framework
to create a stone.
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Precious metal
|
gold, silver and platinum are commonly referred to as precious metals
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Princess length
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18" long necklace
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