Acrostic Jewelry
Features gemstones arranged to spell out words or messages, with each gemstone’s initial letter forming part of the message.
Alloy
A mixture of metals combined for use in jewellery making.
Amber
Fossilized tree resin known for its warm, translucent colors, often used in antique jewellery.
Amethyst
A purple quartz cherished in jewellery for its supposed protective properties.
Antique
Jewellery that is over 100 years old, often from eras like Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian.
Art Deco
A style from the 1920s and 1930s, known for geometric shapes, vibrant colors, and use of materials like platinum and emeralds.
Art Nouveau
Late 19th-century style featuring organic lines and nature-inspired designs, using materials like enamel and semi-precious stones.
Assay
The process of testing the purity of metals like gold or silver, resulting in a hallmark stamp indicating quality.
Bakelite
An early plastic used in bold, colorful jewellery designs, especially during the Art Deco period.
Bangle
A rigid, often circular bracelet designed to slip over the wrist.
Baroque Pearls
Irregularly shaped pearls, commonly used in extravagant 17th-century designs.
Bezel Setting
A gemstone setting where the edges are encased in metal to secure it.
Bib Necklace
A necklace that is wider or more adorned in the front, tapering towards the back.
Bijouterie
Decorative jewellery not made of precious materials.
Blister Pearl
A pearl that forms in a semi-circular shape, attached to the oyster’s shell.
Bog Oak
Black oak preserved in peat, commonly used in Victorian mourning jewellery.
Bookchain
Engraved rectangular links resembling tiny books, often seen in Victorian chains.
Briolette
A pear-shaped gemstone cut with facets all around, commonly used in earrings and pendants.
Brooch
A decorative pin often worn on clothing, popular in antique styles.
Cabochon
A gemstone polished into a smooth, rounded surface rather than faceted, often used for opals or moonstones.
Cameo
A raised image, usually a portrait or scene, carved into materials like shell or stone.
Carat
A unit of weight for gemstones, especially diamonds. One carat equals 200 milligrams.
Champlevé
An enameling technique where metal surfaces are carved out and filled with enamel.
Chasing
A metalworking technique where patterns or designs are hammered onto the surface of a metal piece.
Cloisonné
A form of enamelwork where metal wires are used to create compartments, which are then filled with enamel.
Collet
A metal band in which a gemstone is set.
Costume Jewelry
Fashion jewellery made with non-precious materials.
Cut Steel
Jewellery made with polished steel beads, popular in Georgian and Victorian eras.
Demantoid
A rare green garnet prized in jewellery making.
Doublet
A composite stone made of two layers, often used to imitate more valuable gems.
Edwardian
Jewellery from King Edward VII’s reign (1901–1910), characterized by the use of platinum and delicate, intricate designs.
Enamel
A decorative glass-like coating fused to metal, used in styles like Art Nouveau and Victorian.
Essex Crystal
A rock crystal with a design carved and painted on the reverse side, popular in antique brooches.
Filigree
Intricate metalwork made by twisting and soldering thin metal wires into delicate designs, common in Victorian and Edwardian jewellery.
Foil-Backed
A technique where gemstones are backed with a thin metallic foil to enhance their brilliance.
Garnet
A gemstone available in a variety of colors, widely used in antique jewellery.
Guilloché
A precise, intricate pattern engraved into metal, often seen in vintage enamelled pieces.
Hallmark
A stamped mark on jewellery indicating the type of metal, its purity, and sometimes its origin or maker.
Intaglio
A technique where a design is carved into the surface of a stone, creating a recessed image.
Jet
A lightweight, black material formed from fossilized wood, commonly used in Victorian mourning jewellery.
Marquise Cut
A type of gemstone cut with elongated, pointed ends, resembling a boat shape, often used in antique rings.
Mourning Jewelry
Jewellery made to commemorate the death of a loved one, typically featuring materials like black onyx or jet, especially popular in the Victorian era.
Old Mine Cut
An antique diamond cut, recognizable by its cushion shape and large facets, giving it a soft sparkle.
Patina
A natural tarnish that forms on the surface of metal over time, contributing to the antique appearance.
Pavé
A setting where small gemstones are set closely together, creating a sparkling, “paved” surface.
Pinchbeck
An alloy of copper and zinc, developed as a gold substitute, popular in 18th and 19th-century jewellery.
Repoussé
A technique where metal is hammered from the reverse side to create a raised design on the front.
Rose Cut
An antique style of diamond cut featuring a flat base and domed, faceted top, popular during the Georgian and Victorian eras.
Seed Pearls
Tiny pearls often used as decorative accents in Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian jewellery.
Suffragette Jewelry
Jewellery from the early 20th century, featuring the symbolic colors of the women’s suffrage movement: purple, green, and white.
Victorian
Jewellery made during Queen Victoria’s reign, divided into Early, Mid, and Late Victorian periods, each with distinct styles.
