Common Jewelry Terms:

AB Finish - These letters stand for "Aurora Borealis" which is a Latin term meaning "Northern Lights". In jewelry, beads that have an AB finish have been specially coated to provide a shiny, colorful iridecence.

Bezel Setting - A setting for an undrilled stone that encases and secures the stone without the use of prongs.

Cabochon - These stones can come in various shapes and sizes but are commonly oval or round. They are dome-shaped and smooth, without any facets.

Czech Fire-Polish - This term refers to beads that are imported from the Czech Republic. They are machine faceted and highly polished through a glazing and heating process. These beads are considered high in quality and appearance and are much sought after in the world of jewelry.

Facet - The flat polished surface cut on a stone.

Freshwater Pearls - These pearls are irregular and may vary in color. They are produced by fresh water mollusks such as mussels and clams.

Iridescent - Having a rainbow-like luster or shine. A good example of this type of finish is the colors you see on a soapy bubble.

Lobster Claw Clasp - A type of clasp that connects to ends of a piece of jewelry together. One end has a wide, flat hook that has an appearance similar to that of a lobster's claw. This end also contains a "thumb" that is set on a spring. The other end has a loop or ring that the claw can hook onto, securing the jewelry item in place.

Millefiori - These beads originated in Italy and in Italian the word millefiori means "a thousand flowers". They are glass or clay beads with imbedded floral designs.

Oxidation - This word refers to the process in which a metal becomes blackened or tarnished due to a reaction to sulphur and oxygen.

Swarovski ® - Swarovski crystals are top quality crystal beads that come from Austria. These crystal components are highly regarded and respected in the world of jewelry as the best machine cut and polished crystals in the world.

Toggle Clasp - A type of clasp connecting two ends of a chain, or piece of linked jewelry, that consists of a ring on one end and a bar on the other. The bar is gently slid through the opening of the ring so that the bar rests on the ring, securing the piece of jewelry in place.

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For questions regarding any other terms or words used on this website, please feel free to e-mail me directly and I will respond as quickly and with as much detailed information as I possibly can.

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Updated 12/06/2011

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