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Art Deco

A design style popular in the 1920s to late 1930s that featured linear, angular and architectural lines with very few curves.

Art Nouveau

A decorative style prominent from 1890-1915 and characterized by soft, flowing lines and the use of natural motifs, especially female figures.

articulated

Connected by flexible joints or segments so that the jewelry piece has movement or drapes for fit.

aurora borealis

An iridescent rhinestone effect produced by a treatment with metals.

baguette

A rectangular cut stone with narrow proportions, usually faceted but may also be an unfaceted cabochon.

Bakelite

A phenolic resin patented in 1909 by Leo. H. Baekeland.  Popular in the 1920s-1940s, it was used for whimsical designs in a variety of bright colors.

bezel setting

A setting in which a strip of the metal is shaped over the edge of the stone to secure it.  May be used with a channel setting.

bib necklace

A necklace with multiple strands or designed to cover from the neckline down several inches similar to a bib.

cabochon

An unfaceted stone with a flat back, typically round or oval.

cameo

A stone, coral or shell carved to create a raised, often figural design.  Molded stones in lucite or glass with figural designs are also commonly referred to as cameos.

cannetile

Decorative technique using metal wire twisted into intricate designs, frequently rosettes or spirals for a raised design; popular in the 19th century.

champlevé

Enameling in the sections created by carving or cutting into the metal base.

channel setting

A row of stones, square or baguette, set into a continuous channel or groove.

chatelaine

Two brooches or clips with connecting chains.  Originally, a decorative brooch worn at the waist and to which the lady of the manor attached useful items such as keys, watch, coin purse, etc.

chaton

Round rhinestone cut with 9 to 12 facets surrounding the table and a pointed back.

choker

A necklace that fits close to the neck, usually about 15" in length.

cloisonné

Enamel application where the sections between decorative wire framing is filled with the enameling glass.

cold enamel

Painted enamel applied to the metal findings in jewelry to resemble true enameling.

collet setting

A setting in which the stone is held in a circular flange of metal.

coralene

A surface finish found in glass or beads with a texture created by the application of tiny glass balls.

déposé

French for "registered" and marked on jewelry from, or imported into, France.

dog collar

A wide necklace worn tightly around the neck, often composed of multiple strands of beads or rhinestones.

dress clip

A piece of jewelry which is like a brooch but with a hinged, usually triangular, clasp on the back.  Popular in the 1920s-1930s, they were worn at the neckline.

drop

A suspended stone or ornament.  Also used to describe the width of a dangling necklace at the center front.

duette

A combination piece with two dress clips attached to a brooch frame so they may be worn as a brooch or separately as clips.  The name originated from Coro Duette pieces but has come to be used generically.

embossed

See repoussé.

enamel

Glass, transparent or opaque, applied to metal and fused with high heat. 

engraved

Decorated by cutting or etching a design into the metal.

faux

From the French:  false or simulated.

findings

The functional metal parts of jewelry including settings, clasps, rings, etc.

figural

A jewelry piece depicting natural fauna such as a person, animal or bird, as opposed to a floral or abstract theme.

filigree

Lacy, intricate and open decorative work created by twisted metal scroll work.

Florentine finish

Metal finish featuring a textured, brushed surface.

French jet

Black glass stones used to simulate genuine jet.

fruit salad

Descriptive term for stones or jewelry containing stones which are molded in the shapes of fruit and/or leaves.  These pieces simulate the carved stone pieces introduced by Cartier in the late 1930s and feature gemstone colors such as emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue or moonstone.

fur clip

A large decorative brooch used to hold a fur stole together and featuring a spring clasp and either two sharp prongs or large sharp teeth to secure it to the pelt.

givré

Rhinestone effect in which a section or swirl of opaque color, usually white, is contained in the transparent stone.

gold filled

Base metal sandwiched between layers of gold.  In the US the gold layer must be at least 1/20th of the total weight and is marked: g.f.

gold wash

A thin coating of gold over base metal.

guilloché

Translucent enameling over an engraved design on the underlying metal.

gunmetal

Description of a metal finish that is a dark bluish gray color.

hallmark

The mark stamped on the back of jewelry indicating the fineness or purity of the metal content. e.g. 925 for sterling silver.

intaglio

An engraved stone, the opposite of a cameo, with a recessed design carved into the surface.

invisible setting

Technique by which stones, real or simulated, are attached from the back so they appear to have no mounting.

japanned

Black enameled finish of the metal findings of a piece.

jelly belly

Description of jewelry containing a large unfaceted stone made of Lucite.  Popular in the 1940s, many of these pieces were whimsical creatures with the stone forming the belly of the figure.

jet

Fossilized coal used in Victorian mourning jewelry in the late 1800s.

keystones

Rhinestones with a trapezoid shape; a tapered baguette with one end longer than the other.  (Named for the keystone blocks used in arches in masonry.)

lariat

A long necklace without a clasp that is knotted, looped or held together with a ring.

lavaliere

A necklace with a single design element or pendant suspended on a chain.  Popular in the early 1900s.

Lucite

An acrylic thermoplastic patented by DuPont in 1937.

marcasite

Iron pyrite crystal cut to look like diamonds.  They were popular in the 1920s-1930s, usually set in sterling silver.

marriage

A combination of elements in one piece of jewelry where the components are from different sources, not as originally made.

molded glass

Stones created in a mold to give a fancy shape, e.g. moon rock, fruit salad or flower petal.   Molded stones are then set into the jewelry findings with prongs or glue.

navette

An oval rhinestone with pointed ends, known as a marquise cut in gemstones.

négligée

A necklace with two pendant drops suspended unevenly.

nodder

See trembler.

open backed

Describes a setting with no backing, allowing light to pass through the stone.

parure

A matched set or suite of three or more pieces of jewelry such as necklace, bracelet and earrings.

patina

A change in color of a metal surface through exposure to air over a period of time, especially seen with silver, copper and bronze.

pavé

The setting of many small stones so that the piece is literally paved in stones.

plique-à-jour

Fired enameling technique resulting in the piece having translucent enamel in a framework resembling stained glass.

pot metal

A silvertone alloy of tin, cadmium, lead and zinc, also known as base metal or white metal.

poured glass

Molten glass is actually poured into the jewelry finding or frame itself to create the stone.  You can often see a bit of slop over on the back of the piece, indicating it was directly poured rather than molded and then set.

prong set

Method of setting stones using claw-like prongs.

quatrefoil

Decorative element having four lobes.

repoussé

Design in metal created in relief by hand using a punch or hammer from the back.

rhinestone

Simulated gemstone made of glass or crystal, often with a foiled backing for increased reflectivity.

rhodium

A silvery gray metal of the platinum family.  It's durability and luster make it desirable for plating costume jewelry settings.

rolled gold

Gold plating that is laminated or rolled onto a base metal.

sautoir

A long necklace of beads or chains often ending in a tassel.  Popular in the 1920s.

screwback

Earring mechanism with an adjustable screw to tighten it to the ear lobe.

sterling

An alloy of silver that is 925 parts pure silver and 75 parts copper, thereby increasing the strength of the silver.

swedging

Construction technique using small rivets to join metal components.

table

The top facet or surface of a cut gemstone or rhinestone.

torsade

A necklace with multiple strands of beads twisted together.

trembler

A design element which is attached to the piece on a tiny spring so that it trembles with movement.  From the French tremblant; also known as "nodders".

unfoiled stone

Rhinestone with no foil backing, usually used in an open setting.

verdigris

Green corrosion deposited on metals such as copper, brass or bronze.

vermeil

Sterling silver plated with gold, also called silver gilt.  Used in the 1940s when base metals were not available for jewelry making.

watch pin

A small brooch with a hook at the bottom for suspending a small watch.

white metal

A silvertone alloy of tin, cadmium, lead and zinc, also known as base metal or pot metal.

wirework

Twisted wire decoration applied to metal ground.

ziggurat

Stepped triangle or pyramid shape.