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Whether it's understanding
gemological or jewelry terms in an
article you're reading or simply
gaining a greater understanding of
the world of jewelry and gemstones,
our Jewelry & Gem Dictionary is a
handy reference guide. And, unlike
most dictionaries, ours makes for
interesting reading all on its own!
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FACET
A facet is one of the flat surfaces of a cut stone
or glass.
FACETING
Faceting is the cutting and polishing of the surface
of a stone.
FANCY DIAMOND
Fancy diamonds are rare diamonds that are red, blue,
green, or purple; these diamonds are quite valuable.
Diamonds are precious, lustrous gemstones made of
highly-compressed carbon; they are one of the
hardest materials known. Diamonds have a hardness of
10, a specific gravity of 3.5, and a refractive
index of 2.417 - 2.419.
FANCY CUT
Fancy cut stones are cut in unusual ways. Some fancy
cuts include the heart, fan, rivoli, trapezium,
cathedral window, half-moon (lunette), kite, and
triangle.
FANTASY CUT
The fantasy cut is a new way of faceting stones that
uses freeform angles - virtually anything goes.
FAUX
Faux means false. A faux gem is an imitation.
FASHION JEWELRY
Fashion jewelry is another name for costume jewelry.
(Except at
Fashion Jewelry at BellaOnline, where the
term Fashion Jewelry encompasses all jewelry that is
in contemporary fashion! BellaOnline only has two
categories for jewelry collectors and jewelry
aficionados, and they are
Jewelry Collecting and
Fashion Jewelry.)
FEATHER
A feather is an internal flaw (also called an
inclusion) in a gemstone that can start at the
surface of the stone and extend deep inside.
Feathers can either ruin a stone (by making it
fragile and/or changing the color), or add to its
beauty.
FEDE RING
A fede ring is one that depicts two hands clasped
together
FELDSPAR
Feldspars are a family of minerals that include
moonstone (adularia), amazonite, sunstone, and
labradorite.
FETISH
A fetish is a charm, amulet, pendant or other
decoration associated with magical properties; it
often represents an animal or person.
FIBULA
A fibula is a brooch (pin) that looks a bit like a
safety pin. Fibulas have been used since ancient
times to secure clothing.
FIGURAL
Figural jewelry is disigned to look like real
objects. Common subjects are the human body, animals
(especially butterflies, dogs, cat, birds, and
shells), flowers, leaves, and everyday objects (like
baskets and fans).
FILIGREE
Filigree is gold or silver wire that have been
twisted into patterns and soldered into place.
Openwork filigree is not soldered onto a sheet of
metal and is difficult to make. Imitation filigree
is made of stamped metal.
FINDINGS
Findings are the parts that jewelers use in making
jewelry. For example, clasps, hooks, pin backs, jump
rings, and earring backs are findings.
FINENESS
Fineness is the proportion of silver or gold in a
metal alloy. Fineness is usually expressed in parts
per thousand. For example, the fineness of sterling
silver is 925. Fine silver is 99.9% silver.
FINGER RING SIZE
To size a finger for a ring, a finger-ring gauge is
used. The rings are marked with their size and the
person determines which one fits well. Another, less
accurate method is a cardboard card with cut-out
holes marked with the ring sizes. To determine the
ring size of a finger using the circumference of the
finger, or to determine the size of a ring given its
diameter.
FIRE
The colored light reflected from within a diamond
through the crown. Fire is maximized by cutting a
diamond to the correct proportions.
A stone's fire is the streaks of brilliant color
within it. Good quality opals have a lot of fire.
FIRE OPAL
Fire opals are a type of opal that is firey orange
to red in color (but have no opalescence). These
opals are rarely transparent - they are usually
milky. Opal is a mineral composed of silica (and
some water) and is a species of quartz. Many opals
have a high water content - they can dry out and
crack if they are not cared for well (opals should
be stored in damp cotton wool). Opals have a
hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 and a specific gravity of
1.98-2.50. Fire opals are found in Western
Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemals, and Honduras.
FIRESTONE
Firestone is an imitation iridescent rainbow quartz.
It is made by heating rock crystal until it crazes;
it is then put into dye as it cools.
FLAW
A flaw is a an imperfection in a gemstone. Flaws
include: cracks, inclusions of other minerals or
liquid-filled cavities. A flawless stone is called
"clean." Flaws can greatly reduce the value of a
stone, but in some cases, like moss agate or
rutilated quartz, the "flaws" increase the value of
the stone.
FLOATER NECKLACE
An floater (or invisible) necklace looks as though
the beads are simply floating on the skin; the beads
or pearls are strung far apart from one another on
an almost invisible string (like clear fishing
line).
FLORENTINE FINISH
A Florentine finish on a metal's surface reduces the
metal's reflectivity. It is accomplished by
engraving parallel lines into the surface using a
sharp tool, and then making more lines or curves at
right angles (cross-hatching).
FLOWERING OBSIDIAN
Flowering Obsidian (also called snowflake obsidian)
is a volcanic glass that is usually dark (black or
brownish) with white "snowflakes". This glassy,
lustrous mineral is found in lava flows, and
obsidian stones can be massive. Obsidian is formed
when viscous lava (from volcanos) cools rapidly.
Most obsidian is 70 percent silica. Obsidian has a
hardness of 5 and a specific gravity of 2.35.
FLUORESCENCE
Fluorescence is property in which light (or other
radiation) is emitted from an object. Many stones
(including some diamonds) flouresce when exposed to
ultraviolet light.
FLUORITE
Fluorite is a mineral that comes in many colors,
including purple, clorless, red, pink, yellow,
green, blue, black, and multi-colored stones.
Crystals are transparent to translucent. Fluorite is
relatively soft - it has a hardness of 4 and a
specific gravity of 3.0 - 3.3. The chemical formula
for fluorite is CaF2. Fluorite is frequently
fluorescent (various varieties fluoresce red, blue,
green or yellow light). Fluorite is found all around
the world. Some varieties of fluorite include: Blue
John (purple with bands of white or yellow),
Chlorophane (thermoluminescent - emitting bright
green light when heated), Yttrofluorite (yttrium
replaces some of the calcium - formula = [Ca,Y]F2),
Yttrocerite (cerium and yttrium replaces some of the
calcium in its structure - formula = [Ca,Ce,Y]F2,
Antozonite (contains uncombined fluorine ions - when
fractured or cleaved, it gives off an odd odor).
FOB
A fob is a short chain or ribbon that attaches to a
pocketwatch; it frequently had a decorative
medallion or other ornament attached to one end.
Fobs were worn hanging from a pocket. Fob is also
the word for the small pocket in trousers that held
a pocket watch. The word fob is also commonly used
for the fob charm itself.
FOILBACK
A foilback (or foiled stone) is a stone that has a
metallic foil backing; this thin metallic backing is
frequently composed of mercury and tin.
Silver-colored, gold-colored, or other-colored foil
is applied to the back of a stone to make the stone
more reflective. Before scintillating cuts (like the
brilliant cut) were invented, even precious stones
were foiled to enhance their sparkle. Moisture can
damage foil and make the stone "dead," losing its
brilliance. Stones are rarely foiled any more.
FOLD-OVER CLASP
A fold over clasp is a jewelry fastener that is
composed of a device that opens and closes with a
hinge, and latches shut. It is used to attach the
two ends of a necklace or bracelet.
FOOL'S GOLD
Fool's gold is pyrite, a shiny, metallic mineral
that looks like gold, but is actually a a form of
iron. Marcasite stones come from pyrite.
FOSSIL IVORY
Fossil ivory is the tusk of the extinct Woolly
Mammoth (an elephant-like animal that lived during
the last Ice Ages).
FOSSILS
Fossils are the remains of ancient animals and
plants, the traces or impressions of living things
from past geologic ages, or the traces of their
activities. Fossils can be used to make beautiful
jewelry. Fossils came in many different mineral and
organic forms, including plain-looking rocks,
marble-like casts of ancient animals, opals, and
amber (fossilized tree resin).
FRACTURE
A fracture is a crack in a gemstone (also called a
feather).
FRENCH ENAMEL
French enamel refers to fine enamel work (like the
work of Faberg?) the was first developed in France.
In this technique, many thin layers of translucent
colored enamel (glass paste with colorants) are
applied to a metal surface. After firing the piece
at temperatures of up to about 820?C, the work is
polished. A final layer of clear enamel often covers
the piece. Fine miniature paintings in enamel on a
white-enamel ground have been produced in France
since this technique was developed in 1620-1630 by
the French goldsmith Jean Toutin of Chateaudun and
other French goldsmiths.
FRENCH IVORY
"French Ivory" is synthetic (imitation) ivory. It is
molded from plastics (like celluloid) and is also
called Ivoride, Ivorine, and "Genuine French Ivory."
FRENCH JET
French jet is black glass (pyrolusite glass)
designed to imitate real jet. It was frequently
carved.
FRESHWATER PEARL
A freshwater pearl is a pearl that was harvested
from a freshwater mussel (a mollusk). These pearls
are frequently shaped like crisped rice cereal, and
are less valuable than oyster pearls. Biwa pearls
are very good quality freshwater pearls.
FROST AGATE
Frost agate is agate with white markings (that look
like frost).
FRUIT SALAD
"Fruit Salad" jewelry is costume jewelry that is set
with colorful, molded stones. The stones are glass
or plastic, and can be transparent or translucent.
FUCHSITE
Fuchsite is a deep emerald green variety of the
mineral muscovite that is rich is the chromium. It
has a glassy luster. Fuchsite is relatively soft; it
has a hardness of 2-2.5 and a specific gravity of
2.77-2.88. The chemical formula for fuchsite is
K(Al,Cr)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2.
FULL CUT
A full cut stone is a gemstone with 58 facets.
FURNACE GLASS
Furnace glass (also called furnace worked glass) is
made by working (shaping) hot glass by hand (the
glass was heated in a glass furnace). Long tubes of
glass are drawn from molten glass, then beads are
cut from the tube (and later tumbled and reheated to
smooth the edges of the beads). Furnace glass beads
are made in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and
designs.
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