Search Results For "jewelll"
Alphabetical List of Jewelry-Making Terms

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Learn the meaning of "anodized" and how it enhances both the visual appeal and durability of jewelry pieces.
Anodized
Find the definition of "bayonet clasp" for finishing jewelry designs.
Bayonet Clasp
Flat surface used to design jewelry by offering a single or multiple channels. Some may be soft silicone, others may be flocked, for a no-slip surface.
Bead Board
Discover the essence of beading wire: its benefits for jewelry making, exceptional qualities and crafting potential.
Beading Wire
A clasp with a tab which is inserted into a decorative frame or box. Some styles come with safety latches or safety chains, which prevent the wedge-shaped tab from pulling out and the jewelry from dropping off. Some styles are accented with gemstones, enamel or inlay work. They are commonly used for lightweight necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Can include Bayonet Clasp, Bead Clasp and Filigree Clasp styles.
Box Clasp
A form of jewelry worn around the wrist created from leather, fibers, plastics or metals. Some bracelets are used for medical or identification purposes.
Bracelet
A category of jewelry generally thought of as the "bridge" between fine jewelry and costume jewelry. It may use vermeil, gold-filled or sterling silver metals and semi-precious stones such as amethyst, citrine, turquoise, jade, topaz, cultured freshwater pearls, garnet and others. Most bridge jewelry is artisan-made, but it can also be mass produced.
Bridge Jewelry
Find the definition of "button toggle clasp" for finishing jewelry designs.
Button Toggle Clasp
Thermoplastic material that was commonly used in jewelry before the invention of injection molding. Now used to simulate tortoiseshell.
Celluloid
A small, flat metal finding that is often hung on a piece of precious-metal jewelry and stamped as a "tag" identifying the precious metal content.
Chain Tabs
Chatoyancy comes from the French phrase "eye of the cat." Jewelry makers will frequently see this effect in cat's eye quartz, tigereye and more.
Chatoyancy
A fastener that connects two or more ends of a piece of jewelry together. Clasps can be utilitarian and purely functional, or embellished design elements.
Clasp
A smaller, self-contained part used in jewelry-making and beading.
Component
A category of jewelry is generally thought of as jewelry made from base metals, glass, plastics and other synthetics. It may also be comprised of shell, wood and other organic materials. Costume jewelry can be artisan-made or mass produced.
Costume Jewelry
A component that dangles from another component or the jewelry's body. A drop has one top loop or hole and any range of bottom loops or holes, including none.
Drop
A finding, usually metal, used to create ear jewelry. The post or stud passes through the ear, and is secured by an earnut on the back. Also see Earstud.
Earpost
A finding, usually metal, used to create ear jewelry. The post or stud passes through the ear, and is secured by an earnut on the back. Also see Earpost.
Earstud
A thin piece of wire used to support ear jewelry. Ear wires come in many styles. The fishhook is popular often with a ball or coil to balance the finding.
Earwire
A jewelry-making term for any metal component used to connect and/or assemble jewelry.
Finding
Fine jewelry is jewelry that uses at least 14Kt gold or other precious metals and precious gems like diamonds, sapphires, rubies or emeralds.
Fine jewelry
Fine silver is a high-purity form of silver, consisting of 99.9% pure silver, often denoted as .999 or 999. This means it contains only a minimal amount of impurities, typically 0.1% or less. Fine silver is known for its lustrous white appearance and high reflectivity, making it a popular choice for high-quality jewelry, coins and investment-grade bullion.
Fine Silver
A lightweight clasp with a fishhook-shaped interior hook which is inserted into an oval box. The hook stops jewelry from falling off if the clasps are opened.
Fishhook Clasp
Find the definition of "focal component," a major element in jewelry design.
Focal Component
A piece of mineral which, when cut and polished, is used for jewelry, clothing or décor. Some gemstone material is organic, such as amber, jet and pearl.
Gemstone
Discover "gunmetal": its origins, the inspiration for its name, and its role in jewelry making. Explore gunmetal and its versatile applications here.
Gunmetal
A gunmetal grey mineral form of iron oxide used in jewelry-making and décor objects. Sometimes magnetized. Believed to have metaphysical attributes.
Hematite
A cord made from the fibers of the industrial hemp plant and commonly used in jewelry. It knots easily, making it ideal for knotting or macramé projects.
Hemp Cord
Find the definition of "intaglio," a popular jewelry style from antiquity.
Intaglio
(usually Wire Jig or Wireworking Jig) A plate or frame with moveable pegs used for creating standardized and repeatable wire-based jewelry components.
Jig
A piece of wire formed into a loop, usually round, and used to connect jewelry components. Jump rings are offered in round, oval, triangle, square and more.
Jumpring
A synthetic fiber used in bulletproof vests and adapted to jewelry-making for its high strength in relation to its thickness. Resilient to changes in heat.
Kevlar
Discover lost wax casting: a jewelry-making technique where a wax model is encased in plaster, melted away to form a mold and filled with metal.
Lost Wax Casting
A steel wire which holds (remembers) its preformed shape. Memory wire jewelry does not require a clasp, using wire tension to keep jewelry on.
Memory Wire
A jewelry setting designed for the placement of faceted gemstones or cabochons.
Mounting
A clasp which secures jewelry with two or more strands. Some styles are accented with gemstones, enamel or inlay work. Can be called by a myriad of names.
Multi-Strand Clasp
An alloy, mostly containing nickel, popularized in German and Native American jewelry. Nickel silver resembles sterling silver in color, with a greyer tone.
Nickel Silver
Refers to a bead made of a carbon-based material. Many jewelry-making components composed of pearl, wood, bone, horn and shell fall into this category.
Organic
Palladium is a dense and lustrous, precious white-silver metal. A cousin of the platinum metal group, this rare metal is popular for fine metal jewelry.
Palladium
Learn about plated metals: what they are, why they're used in jewelry, and how to take care of them so they stay looking their best.
Plated
A rare grey-white metal (and element) used in jewelry. It is resistant to tarnish and wear-and-tear.
Platinum
A precision hand tool used for a variety of purposes in jewelry-making: to hold objects firmly, to cut or bend wire, to crimp or flatten components and others.
Pliers
A plastic sculpting material made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used to create jewelry beads and components.
Polymer Clay
A thin band of flexible material, usually fabric or leather, used for binding and tying. In jewelry-making, ribbon is used for stringing, embellishment and more.
Ribbon
The right angle weave (RAW) is a basic jewelry-making stitch often used with seed beads and crystal beads. String 4 beads and pass through them again to form the first unit. For the rest of the row, string 3 beads, pass through the last bead passed through in the previous unit, and the first two just strung; the thread path will resemble a figure-8, alternating directions with each unit. To begin the next row, pass through the last 3 beads strung to exit the side of the last unit. String 3 beads, pass through the last bead passed through, and the first bead just strung. *String 2 beads, pass through the next edge bead of the previous row, the last bead passed through in the previous unit, and the last 2 beads just strung. Pass through the next edge bead of the previous row, string 2 beads, pass through the last bead of the previous unit, the edge bead just passed through, and the first bead just strung. Repeat from * to complete the row then begin a new row as before.
Right-Angle Weave (Single Needle) Stitch
Rocaille seed beads are small, rounded beads perfect for adding texture and color to jewelry. With a variety of sizes and finishes, they’re ideal for creating everything from delicate necklaces to bold statement pieces.
Rocaille Bead
Find the definition of "satin" as it pertains to jewelry making.
Satin
A uniformly shaped significantly small bead used for beading and jewelry-making. Seed beads are available in a myriad of colors, finishes and sizes.
Seed Bead
Jewelry finding used to hold multiple strands of beads in alignment and prevent tangling, are inserted at intervals while stringing the beads.
Spacer Bar
Double-wire ring findings, similar to those on a keychain, used to connect jewelry-making components. Stronger and bulkier than an equivalently sized jump ring.
Split Ring
Get technical with stainless steel! Uncover its composition, delve into its myriad applications in jewelry- making, and explore the diverse varieties available.
Stainless Steel
An easy-open clasp which closes by inserting a tab into a slot of the other half of the clasp. This style is held shut by the weight of the jewelry itself.
Tab Lock Clasp
Jewelry constructed entirely of metal and without stones. Introduced by Alfred Phillippe, who drew for Trifari.
Tailored Jewelry
Find the definition of "terminator" for a professional finish on jewelry designs.
Terminator
Unravel the secrets of Thread Heaven® and uncover how it can streamline your jewelry-making endeavors.
Thread Heaven®
A braided stainless steel cable-style wire used for jewelry-making, with a nylon coating against corrosion, and stiff enough to be strung without a needle.
Tigertail™
A pure metallic element, listed on the periodic table as Sn (an abbreviation of Stannum, which is Latin for tin). Tin resists oxidization and corrosion, so it is commonly used in metal jewelry components. It is found in alloys such as bronze or genuine pewter. Tin is also used as an anti-corrosion coating over steel, in solder and in some batteries.
Tin
Alloys with heavy tin or lead content, such as pewter. Also called Britannia metal or tin plate. One of the most commonly used metals in costume jewelry.
White Metal
Zinc is a pure metallic element commonly used in metal jewelry components. Zinc is found in alloys such as brass or used as an anti-corrosion coating.
Zinc