Jewelry that features movement, often due to a joint or mechanism.
Marking that dictates country of origin and metal purity. Required by many European countries, but is not required in the United States.
Style of setting where stone is set into a drilled seat and fixed into place by small pieces of metal (beads) over the stone's girdle.
The four directions of a compass; North/South/East/West.
Clasp mechanism on necklaces and/or bracelets that is hidden and does not interrupt design.
French to mean "to tremble". A style of French jewelry that was popular during the 18th century, often a floral design. Pieces would be crafted to have slightly shaky movement meant to enhance the sparkle of diamonds in candle light.
Ancient technique of heating powdered glass to flow smoothly into a recessed area as a glossed application of color. Can be transparent and glass-like or opaque and porcelain-like.
Metal fashioned into ornate wirework emulating lace-like delicateness.
Stylized leaf patterning, often used as engraving or pierced ornamentation.
The ancient technique of balling up metal and applying it to a piece of jewelry by just utilizing heat, no solder. Popular in Byzantine and Etruscan works.
Marking that can dictate metal purity, city of origin, and year of make.
A feat of jewelry engineering, perfected circa 1933 by Van Cleef & Arpels. Square or rectangular stones are cut then fit together, side by side, in rows with no visible metal holding them in place.
Small beaded texture applied along edges of a design.
Pattern or decoration, often a simplified aesthetic that can be repeated.
Jewelry designed in commemoration of a lost loved one. Often with black or white enamel, featuring a lock of hair, and/or a morbid motif such as an urn or skeleton. Popular during the 18th century then it had a revival during the Victorian era when Queen Victoria remained in mourning after the loss of her husband Prince Albert.
A thin top layer of chemical compound formed on various types of metals due to age and exposure to the elements. It's a natural defense mechanism that protects the underlying metal's surface and is often aesthetically desirable.
French to mean "to pave", this style of setting has gemstones bead set closely together across a surface. "A field of gemstones".
French to mean "letting in the daylight", plique-a-jour is an enamel technique meant to emulate stained glass. First applied by Benvenuto Cellini during the early Renaissance, then was rediscovered at the turn of the century and perfected by Rene Lalique in Art Nouveau works.
Hole in metal where a stone set before being fixed into place.
Japanese jewelry style that was popular during the early 19th century. Designed as a heavily darkened copper plate depicting scenic imagery accented by inlaid silver and/or gold.
Style of setting, often seen in eternity bands, where two adjacent stones will utilize the same two prongs.
Contemporary style of setting first seen in the late 1960's, most popular as a ring due to its sleek modern minimalism. A stone is held in mid-air between to pieces of metal to fully display the diamond's profile.
Derived from the Latin term 'terminus' to mean "end or boundary", used to describe the end point on a piece of jewelry.
An organically scrolling curved line motif utilized in Art Nouveau design, often asymmetric and vine-like.