Glossary of Jewelry Terms
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Mabe (Or Mobe): A Japanese term for cultured pearls which are cultured against
the shell so that only half a pearl is formed resembling a half-sphere.
Maltese Cross: Named for the Knights of Malta, a group of knights who bore
this symbol on their tabards during the Crusades. A Maltese cross has four
broad arms of equal length, sometimes having a V-shaped notch cut out of the
ends.
Marcasite: A mineral with the same composition as pyrite, (fool's gold), and
often called "white iron pyrite", but differing in crystal structure.
It can be faceted like a gemstone and is often used in sterling silver jewelry.
Marcasites were popular during the 18th & 19th centuries, and right into
the Art Deco period. In the days before electricity, they looked like shimmering
gemstones in candlelight.
Marquis Cut (pronounced Mar-KEYS): Faceted, elongated oval stone, which tapers
to a point at both ends; named for the Marquise de Pompadour, Mistress of King
Louis XV (sometimes also called "Navette cut").
Matinee Length: A necklace which is 30 to 35 inches long.
Matte: With jewelry which has a matte finish the designer uses either a chemical
process or an abrasive material to scratch the top layers of the piece, creating
a dull and non-reflective surface. Also referred to as having a "brushed" or "satin" finish.
Micromosaic: An ancient Roman mosaic craft created by using minute pieces
of colored glass or stone, called tesserae (tiles), applying up to 1,400 per
square inch. Micromosaics were used for brooches and pins for Victorian tourists
on "The Grande Tour" of Europe. For examples of this type of jewelry,
see Fabulous Facets "Micromosaic jewelry: What It Is, and What It Isn't" (use
your browser's "back" key to return here).
Millefiori: Glass or clay beads with imbedded floral designs. Millefiori means "a
thousand flowers" in Italian
Mine cut: Differs from the modern "Brilliant cut" only in its girdle
shape, which is square instead of round; also has a higher crown, smaller table,
deeper pavilion, and larger culet, but the number and arrangement of the facets
are the same. It is lumpier than the form accepted today. This form of cut
surfaced in the early 1800's and began to disappear around the turn of the
20th century.
Moonstone: A transparent, slightly iridescent, milky white variety of feldspar,
with white or light blue opalescent spots. Moonstone is considered a good luck
stone, especially for lovers.
Mosaic: A design created by pressing pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic tiles,
(called tesserae), in mortar.
Mother-of-pearl: The pearlescent material on the inside of mollusk shells
like abalone, oysters, and mussels. This material can be scraped off, sliced
thin, and used as inlay on a variety of jewelry, furniture, etc.
Mount (verb): To place or fix a stone in the setting. See Mounting.
Mounting: A piece of metal that holds a gem in place.
Mourning Jewelry: Jewelry worn to commemorate the death of a loved one, usually
in the form of a ring, brooch, or necklace; widely worn during the Victorian
era when the death of Prince Albert plunged Queen Victoria into a lifetime
of mourning
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