Glossary of Jewelry Terms
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Inlaid: Past tense of inlay
Inlay: A decorative technique in which part of the surface of a piece of jewelry,
furniture, or ceramic is cut away and stone, mother of pearl, or some other
substance is imbedded into the hollowed-out area, so that it is level with
the surface of the piece.
Intaglio: Carved gem where the design is created by incising into the stone
making a negative pattern, when pressed into wax or clay the design would be
raised. Shown at right are 2 intaglios called "Boy Schooling a Horse".
The Classical intaglio on the left is the original, dating to 3,000 BC, and
is now in the British Museum. The intaglio on the right has been copied from
the original by direct impression and mounted in a modern bezel setting.
Invisible Setting: Invisible setting is a style in which rows of square princess
cut diamonds or other gemstones rest perfectly flush against one another within
a metal border or frame, with no metal separating them.
Iridescent: A display of lustrous rainbow-like colors. The colors seen in
an oil slick or mother of pearl are good examples of iridescence
Ivory: A hard, smooth yellowish-white substance made from the tusks of elephants
and walruses.
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