1-25
9ct
Gold that is 37.5% pure, with the rest made up of other metals. Commonly used in British jewellery for its affordability and durability.
14ct
Gold that is 58.5% pure, offering a good balance between purity and strength, popular in Europe and the USA.
15ct
An older gold standard in the UK (62.5% pure) that is no longer in use; found mostly in antique jewellery.
18ct
Gold that is 75% pure, known for its rich colour and suitability for fine jewellery.
22ct
Gold that is 91.6% pure. It is very soft and usually used in traditional and high-value jewellery, especially in Asia.
A
Agate
A variety of chalcedony with banded patterns, often used in cameos and antique jewellery.
Albert chain
A type of watch chain named after Prince Albert, often worn with a waistcoat.
Alexandrite
A rare gemstone that changes colour under different lighting, from green in daylight to red in incandescent light.
Alloy
A mixture of two or more metals to improve strength or alter colour, commonly used in jewellery making.
Almandine
A type of garnet with a deep red to violet-red colour, used in antique and vintage jewellery.
Amazonite
A green to blue-green variety of microcline feldspar, often used in beads and decorative jewellery.
Amber
Fossilised tree resin valued for its warm colour and natural inclusions; sometimes contains ancient organisms.
Amethyst
A violet variety of quartz, widely used in rings and necklaces and known for its calming energy.
Antique jewellery
Jewellery that is over 100 years old, often handcrafted and of historical interest.
Aquamarine
A blue to blue-green gemstone from the beryl family, named for its sea-water colour.
Art Deco
A style from the 1920s–1930s marked by geometric shapes, symmetry, and bold design in jewellery.
Art Nouveau
A decorative style from the late 19th to early 20th century, characterised by flowing lines and nature-inspired motifs.
Asscher cut
A step cut with a square shape and cropped corners, popularised in the early 20th century for diamonds and gemstones.
B
Baguett
Alternate spelling of “baguette”; see Baguette cut.
Baguette cut
A rectangular step cut with straight edges, often used as accent stones around a central gem.
Bale
A loop or fitting on a pendant through which a chain passes.
Ballerina
A style of ring design with a central gemstone surrounded by tapered baguettes, resembling a tutu.
Band
A continuous ring, usually of metal, worn on the finger without gemstones or with a uniform design.
Bezel setting
A type of gemstone setting where a metal rim encircles the stone to hold it in place.
Bloodstone
A dark green variety of chalcedony with red specks, historically used in signet rings.
Bombé
A style of jewellery with a rounded, domed surface, often pavé set with stones.
Brilliant cut
A cutting style designed to maximise a gemstone’s brilliance, most commonly used for diamonds.
Brooch
A decorative jewellery item designed to be attached to garments with a pin or clasp.
Burma
Refers to high-quality rubies or sapphires originating from Myanmar (formerly Burma).
C
Cabochon
A gemstone polished into a smooth, domed shape without facets.
Calibre cut
Small stones precisely cut to fit into jewellery settings with minimal gaps, often used in Art Deco designs.
Cameo
A method of carving where a raised relief image is created, typically in materials like shell or agate.
Carat
A unit of weight for gemstones, equal to 200 milligrams. Also used to describe gold purity (see 18ct, etc.).
Carnelian
A reddish-orange variety of chalcedony used in intaglios and vintage jewellery.
Cat's eye
A gemstone displaying chatoyancy — a bright band of light that moves across the surface.
Ceylon chalcedony
A variety of chalcedony known for its delicate bluish hue, often sourced from Sri Lanka.
Chrysoberyl
A hard, durable gemstone known for varieties such as cat’s eye and alexandrite.
Chrysoprase
A green variety of chalcedony, coloured by nickel, popular in antique and Art Deco jewellery.
Claw (prong) setting
A setting where metal prongs hold the gemstone in place, allowing maximum light entry.
Cluster ring
A ring featuring a group of smaller stones arranged around a central gem or forming a design.
Citrine
A yellow to orange variety of quartz used in vintage and contemporary jewellery.
Cocktail ring
A large, bold ring featuring prominent gemstones, popularised in the 1940s and 1950s.
Coral
Organic jewellery material formed from marine polyps, often red, pink, or white in colour.
Corundum
The mineral family that includes ruby (red) and sapphire (all other colours).
Cultured pearl
A pearl created with human intervention by inserting a nucleus into a mollusc.
Cushion cut
A square or rectangular cut with rounded corners and large facets to enhance brilliance.
D
Diamond
A precious gemstone composed of carbon, known for its brilliance, hardness, and use in engagement rings.
Demantoid
A rare green variety of garnet prized for its brilliance and fire, often found in antique jewellery.
E
Edwardian jewellery
Jewellery made during the reign of Edward VII (1901–1910), known for its elegance, platinum settings, and lace-like designs.
Emerald
A green gemstone from the beryl family, valued for its rich colour and historical significance.
Emerald cut
A rectangular or square step cut with cropped corners, typically used for emeralds and diamonds.
Enamel
A decorative technique in which powdered glass is fused to metal to create colourful designs.
Engraving
The art of carving a design into the surface of a piece of jewellery, often used for personalisation.
Estate jewellery
Previously owned jewellery, often vintage or antique, that is being resold.
F
Facet (Faceted)
A flat surface on a cut gemstone; faceting enhances brilliance by reflecting light.
Filigree
Delicate ornamental work made from fine gold or silver wire, often used in vintage jewellery.
Facet (Faceted)
A flat surface on a cut gemstone; faceting enhances brilliance by reflecting light.
Filigree
Delicate ornamental work made from fine gold or silver wire, often used in vintage jewellery.
Fob
A decorative chain or ornament attached to a pocket watch, often worn with a waistcoat.
G
Garnet
A group of silicate minerals available in a variety of colours, with red being the most common.
Georgian jewellery
Jewellery from the Georgian period (1714–1830), typically handcrafted with intricate details.
Gypsy Ring (setting)
A setting style where the gemstone is sunk into the metal band, popular in Victorian men’s rings.
H
Hallmark
Official marks stamped on precious metals indicating purity, origin, and authenticity.
Halo setting
A central gemstone encircled by smaller stones to enhance sparkle and size appearance.
I
Inclusion
Natural internal characteristics or imperfections within a gemstone.
Intaglio
A design engraved into a gemstone, often used for signet rings and seals.
J
Jade
A green ornamental stone made of jadeite or nephrite, valued in many cultures.
Jasper
An opaque variety of chalcedony, often patterned and used in beads and cabochons.
L
Labradorite
A feldspar mineral known for its iridescent play of colours called labradorescence.
Lapis lazuli
A deep blue metamorphic rock prized for its intense colour and golden flecks of pyrite.
M
Mabé pearl
A cultured pearl grown against the inside shell of an oyster, resulting in a flat back.
Malachite
A green banded mineral often used in inlay work and decorative jewellery.
Marquise cut
An elongated diamond cut with pointed ends, designed to maximise carat weight.
Memorial jewellery
Jewellery made to commemorate a deceased loved one, often containing hair or inscriptions.
Mid-century jewellery
Jewellery from the 1940s–1960s, marked by bold forms and modernist influences.
Millegrain setting
A decorative beaded edge applied to metalwork, often found in antique jewellery.
Mohs scale
A scale from 1 to 10 that measures mineral hardness; diamond ranks as 10.
Moonstone
A feldspar mineral showing adularescence, a glow or sheen on the surface.
Mother of pearl
The iridescent lining of mollusc shells, used for inlay and decorative work.
O
Old European Cut
An early style of diamond cutting with a small table, high crown, and large culet.
Old Mine Cut
A diamond cut used in the 18th and 19th centuries, with a squarish shape and chunky facets.
Old Cut Diamond
A general term for antique diamond cuts such as the Old Mine and Old European cuts, characterized by hand-cut facets, deep proportions, and a romantic, soft sparkle.
Onyx
A black or banded form of chalcedony, often used in Art Deco and mourning jewellery.
Open back setting
A setting that allows light to pass through the back of the gemstone, enhancing brilliance.
Opal
A gemstone known for its play-of-colour, displaying shifting colours when viewed from different angles.
P
Paste
A type of glass used as imitation gemstone, especially in vintage costume jewellery.
Patina
The surface change on metal due to age and exposure, often valued for its character.
Pavé
A setting technique where small gemstones are set closely together, giving a continuous sparkle.
Pearl
An organic gem formed within molluscs, available in natural and cultured varieties.
Peridot
A green gemstone from the olivine family, often associated with August birthdays.
Pigeon’s blood
A term used to describe the most desirable, vivid red colour in rubies.
Platinum
A dense, durable precious metal often used in fine jewellery and engagement rings.
Q
Quartz
A versatile mineral available in many colours, including amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz.
R
Radiant cut
A square or rectangular cut with brilliant-style facets for enhanced sparkle.
Retro jewellery
Jewellery from the 1940s characterised by bold shapes, large gemstones, and yellow or rose gold.
Rose cut
An antique diamond cut with a flat base and domed top covered in triangular facets.
Rose gold
A gold alloy containing copper, giving it a warm pinkish hue.
Rubover set
A setting where metal is pushed over the edge of a gemstone to hold it in place, similar to a bezel.
Ruby
A red gemstone from the corundum family, valued for its colour and rarity.
S
Sapphire
A gemstone from the corundum family available in all colours, though blue is most prized.
Sar ruby/sapphire
Refers to synthetic or simulated rubies/sapphires made using the flame-fusion process.
Seal engraved
Jewellery, often signet rings, engraved in reverse for making wax seals.
Shoulders
The part of a ring that connects the band to the setting or centrepiece.
Shank
The circular band of a ring that wraps around the finger.
Signet ring
A ring bearing a family crest or initials, traditionally used to stamp a wax seal.
Single cut
A diamond or gemstone cut with a limited number of facets, usually used in antique or small stones.
Solitaire
A piece of jewellery, especially a ring, featuring a single prominent gemstone.
Star set
A decorative gemstone setting where the stone is embedded in a star-shaped engraving.
Step cut
A cut with rectangular facets arranged in steps, such as emerald or baguette cuts.
T
Tanzanite
A rare blue-violet gemstone found only in Tanzania, part of the zoisite family.
Tested
Refers to a piece of jewellery or metal that has been verified for metal content or gemstone authenticity.
Topaz
A hard gemstone that comes in many colours, with imperial topaz being the most valuable.
Tourmaline
A colourful gemstone available in nearly every hue, valued for its variety and brilliance.
Transitional cut
A diamond cut bridging old European and modern brilliant cuts, with more brilliance and a smaller culet.
Traget
A typographical or spelling error; possibly meant "target" or is a misnamed or niche term needing clarification.
Trefoil
A design motif featuring three rounded lobes, often used in settings and engravings.
Tremblant
A jewellery feature where parts are mounted on a spring to create movement when worn.
Trapezoid cut
A gemstone cut with a four-sided shape having one pair of parallel sides, used as accent stones.
Tiger’s eye
A brownish-golden quartz displaying chatoyancy, popular in men’s jewellery.
Turquoise
A blue to green opaque gemstone, valued in many cultures and used in bohemian-style jewellery.
V
Vintage jewellery
Jewellery typically 20 to 100 years old, reflecting the styles of past eras.
W
White gold
A gold alloy mixed with white metals like palladium or nickel, often plated with rhodium for a bright finish.
Z
Zircon
A natural gemstone often confused with synthetic cubic zirconia, known for its brilliance and range of colours.