Dictionary of Costume Jewelry /

Some Jewellery Terminology

Aurora borealis a rhinestone that has a metallic coating to produce sparkling colorful reflections
Baguette a stone in the shape of a narrow rectangle.
Bakelite Carbolic Acid and formaldehyde when heated, form a phenolic resin or phenol-formaldehyde which is a very early, very hard plastic discovered in 1908 by Dr. Leo Baekeland
Bangle A rigid bracelet often tubular and hinged
Basse-taille (bas TIE yuh) An enameling technique that applies translucent enameling over an engraved, or decorated metal base.
Bezel The metal around a stone that holds it in place.
Bezel set A stone is set by tightly wrapping metal around it to hold it in place without the use of prongs
Brilliant cut a cut that returns the greatest amount of white light to the eye. It usually has 57 or 58 facets. Used for diamonds and other transparent stones but rarely seen in rhinestones which are normally single cut
Brooch An ornamental piece of jewellery which has a pin back for affixing it to clothing or hats. Usually larger in scale than the ones referred to as "pins".
Bubble glass (my word) usually from Venice from the 1950s, blown glass spikey looking beads that have dripped on tiny glass balls sometimes white and sometimes in color.
Cabochon A stone cut in a round or oval shape in which the top is convex shaped (not faceted).
Chatelaine Originally this was a ring or hook attached at the waist or a fancy brooch, to which chains were attached, to carry useful things like keys, etc. Now, it also refers to 2 part brooches linked by a chain (such as a dog on a leash held by a lady) or to a brooch that has dangling items hung from chains.
Celluloid Invented in 1869, it is a very early plastic invented in the 1800s to mimic the look of glass, tortoise shell, coral, and other jewels. Quite flammable so don't lean over a candle.
Chaton a rhinestone or paste stone that has 8 cuts. Most rhinestones are chaton cut.
Demi Parure see Parure below
Duette A pin and plate mechanism that hold 2 brooches. Each brooch can be worn separately or they can be put on to the mechanism and worn as one larger brooch. Usually the brooches match each other.
End of Day Bakelite At the end of the day, since the hot Bakelite could not be stored overnight without hardening, several similar colors would be swirled together.
French jet Black glass that is made to look like Victorian jet which is black ignite (from the coal family). Victorian jet was used during mourning. Many antique dealers call all black glass "jet". But the real French jet is black glass set in metal backings.
Galalith A material first made in 1897 made of a combination of organic materials such as vegetable, milk products and natural protein.
Gauntlet A bracelet that is oval and rigid and has an opening at the back.
Girandole a piece of jewelry that has 3 dangling pear shaped pendants
Gutta-Percha A material first made in 1840 from the bark of a Malaysian tree.
Habill

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Orignal From: Dictionary of Costume Jewelry /