Jewelry Glossary
What is a brooch? Is there a difference between rhinestones and crystals? Is bezel really a word? Find the answers to these and more in our glossary of watch and jewelry terms below. Don’t see a jewelry word you want the definition to? Contact us.
Alloy: A fusion of two or more elements where one is a metal. Used to describe the metal in a piece of jewelry.
Amethyst: A quartz gemstone that is a rich purple color. It is the February birthstone.
Analog Watch: A type of watch that displays the time using minute and hour hands.
Baguette: A small, rectangular stone often used as an accent or border in rings, particularly engagement rings.
Bangle Bracelets: Bangles are circular bracelets with no clasp or opening and are slid over the hand.
Bezel: In watches, the bezel is the ring that surrounds the watch face. In jewelry, a bezel setting is one where the stones are set in a channel or tube with metal edges folded over to keep the stones in place.
Box Chain: A chain comprised of square metal links. Common in men’s jewelry.
Briolette: A cut of stone that features triangular facets in a teardrop shape.
Brooch: A large, decorative pin.
Charm Bracelet: A bracelet featuring small dangling charms.
Chronograph: A watch with a built-in stopwatch.
Cocktail Ring: A large ring with elaborate detail that is elegant and dramatic enough to be worn to a cocktail party.
Costume Jewelry: Jewelry made from faux stones and non-precious materials.
Crown: The pin on the outside of a used to set the time and date. Also called the winding stem in merchanical watches because it winds the mainspring.
Cubic Zirconia (CZ): A manmade stone that resembles diamonds but can also be colored to resemble other stones.
Crystal: A fine, high quality component of glass that contains about 10% lead. It is exceptionally brilliant. The word crystal can also refer to the transparent cover over a watch face.
Dial: The face of a watch
Digital Watch: A watch that displays time in digits as opposed to an analog display with hour and minute hands.
Emerald Cut: A rectangular stone with cut corners.
Enamel: Glass or some other colored material that is fused to a metal surface for design.
Eternity Band: A ring with stones all the way around the band. This design symbolizes eternal love.
Facets: The flat polished surfaces of a gemstone.
Filigree: A metal design that looks like lace.
Gold Plated: Jewelry with a layer of gold on top of a base metal.
Hoop Earrings: Earrings in the shape of hoops.
Inlay: Setting stones into a channel or space so they lay flush with the surface of the metal.
Lariat: A necklace with two open ends worn in the front. One end of the chain often has a hoop through which the other end can be looped.
Lavaliere: A pendant on a long necklace (usually 24″ or longer).
Leverback: A type of earring back that features a thin lever that is snapped into place.
Magnetic Earrings: Earrings for non-pierced ears that are fastened using magnets.
Marquis Cut: A stone cut in an oval shape with pointed ends.
Mother of Pearl: A shiny material derived from the lining of shells.
Nickel Free: Because some people have allergic reactions to nickel, nickel-free is a description of gold and silver that is alloyed without nickel.
Non Pierced Earrings: Earrings for non-pierced ears - usually magnetic or clip-on earrings.
Patina: The finish of a metal’s surface. Usually refers to the look of the finish after age.
Platinum: A white, precious metal. Usually the highest quality metal in jewelry.
Quartz Movement: The internal mechanism of a watch made from quartz. Quartz crystals are very accurate.
Stopwatch: A watch with a seconds hand that can be used to measure time.
Rhinestone: A stone made of glass with a foil backing so the stone reflects light.
Rope Chain: A chain comprised of two chains twisted and looped together to resemble a rope.
Satin Finish: A matte or dull finish.
Shank: The part of a ring that wraps around your finger and where gemstones are set.
Solitaire: A pendant or ring with a single gemstone.
Spring Ring: One of the most common clasps on necklaces and bracelets. A clasp that features a ring which opens via a small, internal spring. Sometimes called a lobster claw when the clasp is stronger and more oblong.
Sterling Silver: 92.5% pure silver alloyed with another metal (usually copper or nickel) for strength.
Stud Earrings: Small earrings with a post backing.
Swarovski: The world leader in high quality crystal jewelry and other products.
Tennis Bracelet: A thin bracelet that features one or more rows of real or faux diamonds.
Titanium: A meta used in jewelry and watches that is strong and lighter than stainless steel. Titanium is also hypo-allergenic.
Toggle: Jewelry with a closure comprised of a bar that fits sideways into a circle. Toggle can also refer to the closure itself.
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