Lariat necklace - a long necklace that has an ornamental finding through which the ends are threaded. Typically, the ends of the necklace are enhanced and claps are not used.

Lavaliere – is the term named for the Duchess Louise de La Valliere - a mistress of the French King Louis XIV. A lavaliere is a pendant which has a dangling stone below it.

Loupe -- Any small magnifying glass mounted for hand use, to hold up to the eye socket or attach to a pair of glasses.

Locket - a hinged case usually incorporating a decorative design which opens to hold the picture of a loved one.

Luster -- The hue and depth of reflection. Pearls, opals and other opaque stones are known to have luster.

Marcasite – is often used set in sterling silver and is usually faceted - this mineral has the same composition as pyrite (fool's Gold) but has a different chemical structure.

Marquis cut - an elongated, double-pointed, boat-shaped faceted stone that is similar to a navette cut, but slightly more rounded - named for the Marquis de Pompadour. Marquise is part of the brilliant-cut family; ideally cut it has 58 facets

Matinee Length – is a necklace that is 22-23 inch long and a single strand.

Memento Mori – is a jewel that is a reminder of death.

Memorial jewelry - a piece of jewelry made in the memory of a loved one. It often contains hair from that person.

Milk Glass – is a fairly new name for opaque, milky white glass that is blown or pressed.

Millefiori - a type of glass embellishment which is made from canes of layered colored glass which is sliced to form patterns such as a mosaic or flowers.

Mizpah Ring - popular during the Victorian period, this is a wide gold ring which has been engraved with the word Mizpah which means "I will watch over thee."

MOHS Scale -- A scale of hardness with numbers from one to ten assigned to ten minerals of increasing hardness from talc to diamonds.

Mother of pearl - stripped or scraped from the inside linings of mollusks, abalone and other shells it is used as inlay in jewelry due to its pearlized finish.

Mourning Jewelry - Queen Victoria went into a very long period of mourning when her husband Albert died. During this time she wore black clothing and black jewelry- later referred to as mourning jewelry. Jet was very popular for this type of jewelry.

Nacre - Layers of crystalline secretion from oysters, mussels and other mollusks that form over a foreign object for a period of time creating a pearl.

Navette cut - oblong, tapered slender cut similar to a Marquis, although more slender.

Negligee - this is a long necklace which normally ends with irregular lengths of tassels or drops

Oiling -- This technique is commonly used on emeralds. The purpose of this technique is for the oil to fill the fine cracks that weaken the green color. The oil fills the cracks making them "disappear" and thereby improving the color.

Open back setting - a setting in which the back of the stone can be seen. It is well-liked style of D & E or Juliana Jewelry.

Opera Length – this is a single strand necklace which is 30-35" in length.

Ormolu - is a term which refers to gilded bronze or brass mounts. It comes from the French word meaning "ground gold"

Oxidation – or patina, is the process where a metal, usually silver or copper blackens or tarnishes as a reaction to oxygen and sulphur.