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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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NACRE
Nacre is a usually whitish crystalline substance
which oysters, mussels, snails, and other mollusks
secrete around a foreign object (like a tiny stone)
that has made its way into their shell. As layers of
nacre coat the intruder, a pearl is formed over a
period of many years.
NATURAL PEARL
A natural pearl (also called a genuine pearl) is a
pearl that was produced in an oyster, freshwater
mussel or other mollusk as a reaction to a tiny
invading object that happened to be caught inside
its shell.
NAVETTE
A navette is a gemstone which is cut as a marquise.
NECESSAIRE
Necessaire is another word for etui, a tiny,
decorative, cylindrical-shaped case that was often
carried on a chatelaine. The necessaire/etui was
used to carry small "necessary" items like pencils
and scissors. The etui was first used in the 1720's.
NECKLACE
A necklace is a peice of jewelry worn around the
neck. Necklaces of perals of different lengths have
different names: A choker is 14" to 16" long; a
princess necklace is 18" long; a matinee necklace is
22" to 23" long; opera is 30" to 35" long; a rope is
over 40 " long.
NEPAL DIAMOND
Nepal diamond is a huge flawless, pendeloque diamond
that probably came from the Golconda mines in India.
The Nepal diamond weighs 80 carats. It was
originally owned by the Nepalese government but is
now owned by Harry Winston, an American jeweler.
NEPHRITE
Nephrite is a semi-precious stone, a variety of jade
(sometimes called greenstone). Two different
minerals are known as jade, jadeite and nephrite.
Nephrite is slightly softer that jadeite and is
often veined; it is used in carvings and for making
beautiful bowls and vases.
NEVADA DIAMOND
Nevada diamond is a misleading term for
artificially-colored obsidian (a semi-precious
stone) - it is not a true diamond
NGL
The Northwest Gemological
Laboratories, or NGL, are recognized
authorities on grading gemstones.
NICKEL SILVER
Nickel silver (also know as German silver) is an
alloy consisting of mostly copper (roughly 60
percent), and approximately 20 percent nickel, about
20 percent zinc, and sometimes about 5 percent tin
(then the alloy is called alpaca). There is no
silver at all in German/nickel silver. This alloy
was invented around 1860 in Germany as a silver
substitute.
NIELLO
Niello is ancient technique in which an engraved
design in metal is filled with powdered niello alloy
(a black/dark gray metal alloy composed of silver,
copper, lead, and sulphur). The niello alloy is
melted (the entire metal piece is heated in a kiln)
and it fuses with the underlying metal. The object
is then polished - the result is an enamel-like
effect. Niello has been made at least since the time
of ancient Rome. In older pieces, the niello alloy
fills an engraved design in metal. In newer pieces,
the nilello forms the backround - the niello alloy
is simply "painted" onto the metal (this process is
simpler, cheaper, and less durable).
NIGHT EMERALD
Night emerald is a misleading term for peridot (a
semi-precious stone) - it is not a true emerald.
NIZAM DIAMOND
The Nizam diamond was a huge Indian diamond that may
have weighed from 340 to 440 carats uncut. After
being cut into an elongated, convex shape with
irregular facets, it was 277 carats. This diamond
was owned by the Nizams of Hyderabad in the 1830's.
This diamond was "lost" or broken up during a
battle.
NOBLE METALS
The noble metals are gold, platinum, and silver.
These are metals that are relatively impervious to
chemical action.
SPJ's Favorite Sources
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