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!

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

KARAT
Karat (abbreviated Kt) is a measure of the fineness of gold. 24 karat gold is pure gold. 18 karat gold is 18/24 gold (about 75% gold - three quarters gold). 14 karat gold is 14/24 gold (about 58% gold - a little over half gold). 12 karat gold is exactly half gold. 10 karat gold is 10/24 gold (only about 43.5% gold - less than half gold).

KARATCLAD
Karatclad is a trademark for a very thick gold electroplating process; this type of plating is about 14 times thicker than standard electroplating.

KEEPER RING
A keeper ring is a ring which is used alongside another, more valuable ring to keep it securely on the finger.

KING CUT
The king cut is a modification of the brilliant cut which is used for large diamonds. This cut has 86 facets.

KNOT
A knot is a flaw (a mineral inclusion) in a gemstone (usually a diamond) that is at the surface of a gem after polishing. The knot is a small raised bump on the finished gemstone.

KOH-I-NUR
The Koh-i-Nur (meaning "Mountain of Light") is one of the largest known diamonds. It was found in India and belonged to the first Indian Rajahs of Malwa (in the 1300s). The gem made its way to Persia in the 1500s (taken as a spoil of war by the Mogul Sultan Babur). At some point it was returned to India but was taken by the East India Company and presented to Queen Victoria of England in 1850. The gem was later cut and set into a brooch and later into the State Crown of the United Kingdom. The Koh-i-Nur is part of the crown jewels of England and is kept in the Tower of London, London, England.

KUNZITE
Kunzite is a transparent pink, light pink, or light purple gemstone that resembles rose quartz. It is a variety of the mineral spodumene. Kunzite can fade after prolonged exposure to light. Kunzite is also called "evening stone," because of its propensity to fade in bright light. The original color of some kunzite stones can be restored or even intensified by irradiation. It is usually used as a large stone and is easily chipped; small stones of kunzite are difficult to cut. Kunzite is often used in pendants. Kunzite has a hardness of 6-7 and a specific gravity of 3.1 - 3.2. Kunzite was first found in 1902 in Pala, California, USA, and is named for the gemologist George F. Kunz. Kunzite's chemical composition is LiAlSi2O6

KYANITE
Kyanite is a deep sapphire blue, green, gray, or white gemstone. The color is not always uniform; it can be blotchy or in streaks. The cystals are crystals are transparent to translucent. Kyanite has a hardness of 4.5 to 6.5; the hardness varies depending on which way it is scratched (this happens because kyanite consists of long, thin crystals). It has a specific gravity of 3.58. Kyanite is found in Brazil, Burma, Kenya, Europe, India, Australia, Kenya, and the USA. Kyanite's chemical composition is Al2SiO5; it is composed of andalusite and sillimanite.

 SPJ's Favorite Sources
for Diamonds, Colored Gemstones, and Antique, Vintage & Estate Jewelry

Original Diamonds ¿ Artistic Colored Stones ¿ Multicolour ¿ FayCullen