Repousse
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method of decorating metal by hammering designs onto the back of the metal.
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Resin
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natural from certain plants or synthetic substance used to produce plastics.
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Retro
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reminiscent of things in the past. Retro jewelry is from another era (i.e., the
50's)
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Reverse-carved Lucite
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transparent hard plastic that is carved on the back side forming a picture or
design. Frequently painted highlighting the carving.
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Rhinestones
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highly reflective glass made to imitate gemstones. Originally quartz stones
gathered from the Rhine River in Europe.
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Rhodium
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expensive white precious metal, silvery gray in color. Unusually hard and rust
resistant. In the platinum family.
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Rocaille
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design based on sea life, seashells or rocks
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Rock Crystal
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clear, colorless quartz. Hardness of 7, easily cut and used for imitation
diamonds.
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Rondelle
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disc-shaped bead used as a spacer in jewelry. May be encrusted with
rhinestones.
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Rope length
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necklace (sometimes called a "flapper" or "lariat length"), over 45" long
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Rose Cut
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a type of stone cut where 24 triangular facets meet at the top of the stone in
a point.
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Rose gold
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or red gold is alloyed with copper to give its hue
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Safety catch
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a secondary fastening device used as a backup to the primary clasp on a
necklace or bracelet. Usually in fine jewelry.
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Satin Finish
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finish on jewelry beads or metal that is between a matte finish and a shiny
one.
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Sautoir
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a long necklace chain that has either a tassel or pendant that extends
beyond the wearer's waist. Sometimes called a "Flapper length"
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Scarab
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dung beetle believed to be sacred by the Egyptians
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Scatter pins
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small pins, usually of a set, worn together in groups
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Screw back
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a clamp that holds a non-pierced earring on the ear by utilizing a screw that
can be tightened against the earlobe.
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Seed pearl
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tiny, round pearls less than 2 mm in diameter, that weighs less than 1/4 grain.
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Semiprecious
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a group of gemstones that are prized for their beauty but are not one of the
four so-called precious stones (emerald, diamond, ruby or sapphire).
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Shank
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part of a ring that encircles the finger
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Signed
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term used for manufacturer or designer name or mark on jewelry
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Signet Ring
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ring used as means of identification for important people. Frequently an initial
or personal symbols. Sometimes used for wax sealing of letters
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Silver
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a lustrous white, malleable metallic element. One of the precious metals used
in jewelry making.
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Spacer bead
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smaller bead used between larger (primary) beads on a necklace.
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Spinel
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a hard gemstone appearing in a variety of colors from the valuable red, such
as the so called Black Prince's ruby, through to blue and green. Popular in
medieval jewelry.
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Sterling silver
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the commonest British standard of silver purity, dating back to the currency in
use in England in the 14th century. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver with
the remaining ingredients copper and other traces. Now an international
standard.
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Sugar beads
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beads that appear to have been rolled in granulated sugar; the fine grains on
the surface of the beads are actually tiny grains of glass or plastic.
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Swarovski crystal
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high quality precisely machine cut rhinestones and faceted leaded glass
produced by the Swarovski company.
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Table
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the flat area at the top of a cut gemstone or diamond
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Tarnish
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a thin deposit of a dirt which discolors the surface of metal and is easily
removed. Also a reaction between metals and other chemicals which discolors
the surface, particularly silver which reacts with sulfur.
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Thermoset
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also called thermoplastic; it is a hard synthetic substance that cannot be
melted by reheating.
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Topaz
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a transparent semi-precious gemstone with a range of colors and a hardness
of 8.
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Torsade
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a necklace formed of several strands of beads twisted together
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Tortoiseshell
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mottled or marbled browns and yellow material originally from the rare
hawksbill turtle. Today's tortoiseshell jewelry is made from plastics.
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Tourmaline
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one of the most complex family of gemstones due to its wide variation in color
and translucence and unusual chemical complexity. Comes in many colors
from blue through red to green and yellow. Can be transparent or translucent.
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Translucent
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descriptor of material that light passes through, although it is diffused (not
transparent like glass)
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Transparent
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see-through; light can pass through a material.
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Trembler
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description for part of jewelry set on spring so it wiggles as the wearer moves
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Troy
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system of weights used for precious metal with pound of 12 ounces or 5760
grains
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