4 C’s: A universal grading system developed by GIA to evaluate the quality of a diamond. The 4 Cs are Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut.

Accent Gemstones: Gemstones within a jewelry design that are not the main focus, but instead accent or complement the center gemstone and side gemstones.

Alloy: A mixture of two or more metals to create more desirable characteristics and/or added strength.

Band: A ring/wedding band, usually uniform in width, may be set with gemstones.

Bangle Bracelet: A closed, rigid bracelet, with or without hinge and clasp, that slides over the hand.

Bar Setting: A setting technique where the gemstone is secured between two parallel bars, while the sides of the gem remain open.

Basket Setting: A type of prong setting with open sides similar to a basket weave, that allows the lower portion of the gemstone to be visible.

Bead Setting: A method for securing a gemstone where a small piece of metal is cut with a graver and pushed over the edge of the gemstone. 

Bezel Setting: A method for securing a gemstone in which a band of metal encircles the girdle of the gemstone and is folded over the gem to hold it in place.

Birthstone: A precious or semi-precious gemstone popularly associated with the month of birth.

Bridal Set: A matching set of rings that includes an engagement ring and a wedding band, which are worn stacked together.

Brilliance: This term has two components: brightness and contrast. Brightness refers to the amount of light returned from the diamond’s surroundings and back to the observer. To be brilliant, a diamond also needs contrast, intensity of the white light from the crown of a polished diamond or other gemstone.

Bypass setting: A ring mounting design in which the two sides of the band do not meet in a straight line, but overlap or crisscross each other as seen in the top/looking down
view.

Carat: A unit of weight for precious and semi-precious gemstones, equal to 200 milligrams (see 4 Cs).

Castle Setting or scalloped setting: A technique for setting gemstones in which the prongs are created from the shank.

Cathedral Setting: A style of mounting in which the sides of the ring arch above the band on either side of the stone as seen in the through finger view.

Center Gemstone: The main gemstone in the design which is usually the focal point of the jewelry.

Channel Setting: A setting style in which a series of gemstones are set close together into grooves in two parallel walls. 

Clarity: A term used to describe the absence or presence of internal or external flaws in a gemstone (see 4 Cs).

Claw (Prong): A wire used to fasten and hold a gemstone in a setting

Cluster Setting: Multiple gemstones grouped together in a setting, which may or may not overlap each other.

Colour Grade: It is one of the characteristics used to define the quality of a diamond. The GIA colour scale ranges from D to Z, D being considered colourless and higher in value (see 4 Cs).

Comfort-Fit: Describes the convex interior of a ring or band.

Crown: The faceted area of a cut gemstone located above the girdle, but below the table.

Cuff Bracelet: A rigid bracelet designed with an opening for easily slipping the brace- let onto the wrist. 

Culet: Refers to the base point of a diamond.

Cut: It is the factor that determines the round diamond‘s brilliance. Cut qualifies the brilliance, fire, and scintillation of a round, brilliant cut diamond by analyzing the diamond‘s symmetry, proportions, and polish (see 4 Cs).

Dangle Earrings: A pair of earrings that extends below the earlobe and is designed to swing.

Depth: It is the length from table to culet of a diamond.

Diameter: It is the overall width of a diamond.

Engagement Ring: Traditionally worn only by women (especially in Western cultures), an engagement ring is a ring indicating that the person wearing it is engaged to be married.

Engraving: The process or art of cutting or carving a design or text into a hard surface, like a ring.

Eternity Band: A band set with one or more continuous rows of gemstones that completely encircle the band.

Facet: The flat, polished surface of a gemstone that affects a gemstone's brilliance and sparkle.

Fancy shape: Any shape of diamond that isn’t round.

Fire: Dispersed light that appears as flashes of spectral colours (rainbow) on a diamond.

Fluorescence: A characteristic of some diamonds that causes them to emit a soft, visible glow (usually blue) when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Fluorescence can affect a diamond's appearance, sometimes making lower color grades look whiter, though strong fluorescence may cause a hazy or milky look in rare cases.

Flush Setting: A setting technique in which the gemstone is embedded within the band and the metal from the band is used to secure the gemstone, leaving only the top of the gem visible.

Gemstone: A mineral or organic material with sufficient beauty, rarity, and durability to be set into jewellery.

Gemstone Shape: Referring to the potential options of shape and size that a gemstone can be cut. The outline form of a gemstone, not to be confused with the faceting pattern.

GIA: Gemmological Institute of America. A laboratory that has the expertise to grade diamonds/jewellery based on their quality.

Girdle: The narrow band or edge separating the upper and lower faceted portions of a gem.

Gold: A precious, yellow, metallic element, highly malleable. Pure gold needs to be mixed with other precious metals before being used in jewellery.

Half Bezel Setting: A method for securing a gemstone in which a band of metal partially encircles the girdle of the gemstone and is folded over the gem to hold it in place.

Hallmark: A quality mark indicating precious metal content (10kt, 14kt, 18kt, platinum, etc). Typically stamped on a jewelry item in an inconspicuous location (back, inside ring shank, etc.). 

Halo: A jewelry style featuring a central gemstone surrounded by a border of smaller gemstones.

Hoop Earrings: A pair of (usually) circular, ring-like earrings that may be a complete circle or may only go part of the way around.

Huggies Earrings: A pair of small hoop earrings that fits closely around the ear lobe.

Hypo-Allergenic: A term used to describe items (in this case jewellery) that cause or are claimed to cause fewer allergic reactions. Depending on the allergen of the subject, these may include metals such as stainless steel, titanium, gold, etc.

Invisible Setting: A setting technique with no visible prongs or supports. The gemstones are grooved so that a thin wire framework holds the gemstones in place.

Karat: A unit of measure of the purity of gold. Pure gold equals 24 karats.

Laboratory grown diamond: or synthetic diamonds: A real diamond produced in a controlled laboratory environment that replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds form. Synthethic diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds and are graded by gemological institutes such as IGI, or HRD.

Milgrain: Having the edge (of a ring) shaped into fine beading.

Moissanite: A rare mineral discovered by Henri Moissan, later synthesized in the laboratory and used as a high-quality diamond substitute.

Mounting: A jewelry item that has stone settings, but in which no stones have been set. It requires no further assembly work; the exception being an unset semi-mount mounting which requires a head to be attached.

Natural diamond: A diamond formed naturally over billions of years deep within the Earth’s mantle. It is mined and then cut and polished for use in jewelry. Natural diamonds are also
certified by institutions such as GIA.

Pavé: A field of bead-set gemstones closely set, usually in rows, whereby the entire surface of the jewelry is covered or pavéd.

Pavilion: The lower part of a cut gemstone below the girdle.

Pendant: An adornment designed to be suspended from a necklace.

Platinum: A heavy, non-corrosive white metal with high tensile strength which dulls as it is worn but holds its detail for many years, giving it heirloom characteristics.

Precious Metals: Metals that are rare and have high economic value. Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Precious Gemstones: The group of gemstones consisting of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Promise Ring: A ring worn to show commitment to a monogamous relationship, usually set with one or more diamonds.

Prong Setting: A setting technique in which a gemstone is held in place by metal projections or tines, called prongs. 

Roundel/Rondelle: A doughnut-shaped bead that is used as a spacer or an accent between other beads in a necklace or bracelet. 

Rose gold: An alloy made by combining pure gold with copper and sometimes silver. The result is a warm, pinkish hue often used in vintage-inspired jewellery.

Safety Clasp: A secondary closure added to some bracelets and necklaces for extra security.

Semi-Precious Gemstone: A gemstone that is not a diamond, emerald, sapphire, or ruby – historically thought to be less valuable than a precious gemstone, i.e., amethyst, peridot, aquamarine, etc. 

Setting: The act of securing a gemstone. The term setting is sometimes used interchangeably with head and/or mounting.

Shank: The part of a ring that encircles the finger.

Side Stones: Gemstones that complement and place emphasis on the centre gemstone. Side gemstones are typically larger than accent gemstones.

Solitaire: A piece of jewellery containing or designed to hold a single diamond. 

Station Necklace: A necklace with repeating elements.

Stud Earrings: Jewellery attached to the ear and secured with an earring back, mostly solitaires. 

Table: Referring to the top, flat part of the cut of a gemstone. 

Tension Setting: A setting that holds the gemstone in place entirely with compression/ tension and not prongs.

Tiger Prong Setting: The claws taper to a point. 

Trilogy Ring: A ring consisting mainly of three larger stones.

V-Prong Setting: A prong in the shape of a V usually found on gemstone shapes with sharp corners.

White Gold: A white-coloured alloy of gold with nickel, platinum, or another metal.

Yellow gold: The traditional colour of gold. Yellow gold is typically alloyed with copper and silver to improve durability while maintaining its rich, golden colour.