Jewelry Glossary
Every term you need to know
Professional definitions for jewelry settings, cuts, manufacturing techniques, materials, and trade terminology.
Bezel Setting
A setting style where a thin strip of metal wraps completely around the perimeter of a gemstone, holding it securely in place. One of the most protective and oldest setting techniques in jewelry.
Brilliant Cut
A gemstone cutting style with 57 or 58 triangular and kite-shaped facets arranged to maximize light return (brilliance) and spectral dispersion (fire). The round brilliant is the most popular diamond cut in the world.
Cabochon
A gemstone cut with a smooth, rounded, domed top and a flat or slightly domed bottom, without facets. Used for opaque or phenomenal stones to showcase color, pattern, or optical effects.
CAD/CAM
Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing — the use of specialized 3D modeling software and CNC machines or 3D printers to design and produce jewelry models with extreme precision.
Carat
A unit of weight used to measure gemstones, where one carat equals 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). Not to be confused with 'karat,' which measures gold purity.
Channel Setting
A setting technique where gemstones are placed side by side in a groove (channel) cut into the metal, with no metal separating individual stones. The stones are held by the channel walls.
Facet
A flat, polished surface cut into a gemstone at a precise angle. Facets control how light enters, reflects within, and exits the stone, creating brilliance and fire.
Filigree
A delicate metalworking technique where fine threads and tiny beads of gold or silver wire are soldered together to create intricate, lace-like patterns in jewelry.
Findings
The functional metal components used in jewelry assembly — clasps, jump rings, ear wires, pin stems, bail loops, crimps, and other hardware that connects, closes, or finishes a piece.
Lost-Wax Casting
A manufacturing process where a wax model of a jewelry piece is encased in plaster (investment), burned out in a kiln, and replaced with molten metal to create the final piece.
Loupe
A small, handheld magnifying lens (typically 10x) used by jewelers and gemologists to examine gemstones, settings, and hallmarks at close range.
Melee
Small diamonds or gemstones, typically under 0.20 carats (20 points), used as accent stones in pavé settings, halos, side stones, and decorative borders.
Mounting
The metal framework of a piece of jewelry that holds the gemstone(s) in place. Also called the 'setting' or 'mount,' it includes the head, prongs or bezel, shank (band), and any decorative metalwork.
Pavé
A setting technique where small gemstones are set closely together across a surface, held in place by tiny beads of metal, creating the appearance of a continuous, glittering pavement.
Prong Setting
A setting technique using small metal claws (typically 4 or 6) to grip and elevate a gemstone above the ring band, maximizing light exposure and visual prominence.
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