Reference

Jewelry Glossary

The words that come up when you are choosing a piece, explained plainly. If something here is still unclear, ask — sales@throwingstarsjewelry.com.

Metals

Alloying — the process of adding other metals together to change the purity and/or color of a material.

Karat system — a system used to describe the measure of purity of gold. Twenty-four karat (24K) is 99% pure, 18K is 75% pure, and 14K is 58.3% pure.

Gold-filled — also known as gold overlay. A solid layer of gold, pressure and heat bonded to a base metal such as brass.

Plating — the process of adding a very thin film of solid gold or sterling silver by electroplating it onto a base metal.

Vermeil — a thicker layer of gold plating over sterling silver, with a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns.

Sterling silver — 92.5% silver — look for the .925 marking — with 7.5% copper or other metals.

Settings

Bezel — a strip of metal bent into the shape and size of the gemstone, then soldered to the piece of jewelry.

Pavé — a setting made up of many small gemstones held to the jewelry by droplets of metal.

Prong — the most common setting, using the least amount of metal to hold the gemstone, typically with four to six prongs.

Gemstones

Diamond — a precious stone consisting of a clear and typically colorless crystalline form of pure carbon — the hardest naturally occurring substance.

Moissanite — a naturally occurring mineral form of silicon carbide, created in laboratories today.

Cubic zirconia — a synthesised material that is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless.

Black spinel — a rare gemstone made up of hard vitreous magnesium aluminium oxide, or magnesium aluminate.

Topaz — a gemstone which naturally forms in a wide variety of colors and intensities.

Finish

Oxidised sterling silver — sterling silver purposefully exposed to sulfides to speed up the natural tarnishing process, giving a darker patina.