Glossary B & C terms

Glossary B & C terms
Bakelite— first man made plastic invented in 1908. Currently, jewelry made from bakelite it is highly sought after. (Also known as phenolic resin)

Baguette— a rectangular-shaped faceted stone that is narrow and extended

Bail— the portion of a pendant that allows a chain to go through to suspend it

Bangle— an inflexible round bracelet

Bar setting— circular band of gemstones that holds each stone in by a long thin bar, shared between two stones-similar to the channel setting

Barrel clasp— a clasp where two pieces screw together to form a barrel shape

Base metal— zinc, tin and lead are examples of base metal- all are non-precious

Bead set— small metal burrs are used to hold stones in place

Bezel setting— a band of metal is placed around each stone individually holing the stone in place

Blemishes— the term blemish is used when a gemstone has scratches or marks on the external area of the stone

Brass— Czechoslovakian jewelry is known for its use. Brass is a mix of zinc and copper having a golden appearance

Brilliance— Joie de vivre, or sparkle in a stone when light is reflected from the surface and from the total internal reflection of light

Book chain— stamped, rectangular links that fold over and remind you of a book.
Box clasp— a v-shape catch is inserted into the square or rectangle creating the clasp

Brooch— larger than a pin and typically worn between the collar bone and the shoulder

Butterfly wing jewelry— jewelry incorporating real butterfly wings in the design that are often painted and enclosed in glass

C-clasp—older clasp closure type consisting of a hook shaped like a C that the pin rests in

Cabochon— typically found as a round dome-shaped stone having a flat back. Cabs are facet-less

Cameo— raised relief sculpture on gemstones such as agate, coral, carnelian, jet, onyx and sardonyx. Other materials used are shell and plastic

Carat— one carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 "points." A .50-carat stone is the same as a 50-point or 1/2-carat stone. This is a weight measurement of gemstones

Celluloid— an early, thin, lightweight material that is a type of thermoplastic. Early forms were highly flammable until they reformulated to use vinegar instead of camphor and nitric acid. Resembles ivory

Channel setting— gemstones that are set right next to each other (side by side no metal is seen between them) in metal channels held in place by the slight rim that runs along the channel

Chaton— a stone that has 8 facets both on top and bottom. The top is flat and the bottom comes to a point

Choker— a snug fitting necklace

Clarity— gemstone inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection called clarity

Cleavage— a naturally occurring weak bond within a gemstone. The gem will be split along these planes by the lapidarist

Clip back— an earring clip for un-pierced ears that is hinged

Copper— reddish colored metal made up of brass and bronze

Crown— this is the upper portion or the top of a gemstone including the table and everything above the girdle

Culet— the bottom point of the gemstone

Cushion cut— a gemstone cut that resembles a square pillow

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Best,
D

If you have any suggestions of terms I should add ~ feel free to contact me~~



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