Glossary

You may see me toss around these terms from time to time on the website.  I try to refrain from nerdy-jeweller-talk, but sometimes the proper term is just the best way to say things!  See anything else you don’t understand?  Let me know!

Cabochon (CAB-uh-shahn):  A cabochon is a gemstone that is shaped and polished but not faceted, and typically without a hole drilled in it.  Most of the time they are ovular, flat on the back and convex in the front.  Cabochons are especially good for showing off beautiful striations and variations of colors in gemstones.   Usually they are used for pendants, but you can also use cabochons in rings, earrings and necklaces using more advanced wire-wrapping techniques.

Gemstone:  A genuine mineral or semi-precious or precious crystal; not man-made.

Gunmetal:  Not an artificial plating.  On this website, it’s a reference to an oxidation color on Sterling silver.  It’s a very deep gray that can be polished or matte.

Earwire:  That little hook thingy your earrings hang from :)  Always handmade by me and always Sterling silver.

mm:  Millimeters.  Typically used when describing the size of a gemstone.

Oxidized/Antiqued:  Oxidation or antiquing is what creates a darkened surface (patina) on the wire through the process of tarnishing.  In my case, it’s a bit of a misnomer because I use a compound called Liver of Sulfur to antique my jewelry, which doesn’t use oxygen in the process.  At any rate, a piece of jewelry that is oxidized or antiqued will be darker than the bare, shiny Sterling Silver or Copper.  With wire-wrapped jewelry, antiquing brings out the beautiful wrapping details when the surface of the wire is polished and the wrap crevices are left dark.

Patina:  The finish that naturally or artifically forms on the surface of the wire.  Also, a fancy word for tarnish :)  In antique jewelry, the unique patinas are very prized and appreciated.

Shank:  The band of a ring.

Sterling Silver:  Fine Silver (99.9%) on its own is VERY soft and malleable.  Sterling silver is 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% copper.  The addition of the copper gives it strength and durability, while still preserving the beauty of the silver.  Because copper tarnishes (reacts to oxygen) quickly, this is why Sterling silver loses its shine faster than a 99.9% Fine silver or Argentium silver item (which has little reaction with oxygen).  Currently Peridot Daisy uses Sterling silver.