Glossary of Jewelry Terms
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Jabot Pin: A "jabot", (pronounced zhah-Bow), is a kind of ruffle
worn on the bosom of a man's shirt or woman's blouse. The "jabot pin" was
designed to hold the jabot onto the shirt. It is basically a pin with a brooch
at either end. One brooch is removable so that the pin can be stuck through
the garment and then secured by reattaching the removable brooch. It is a form
of Art Deco mourning jewelry.
Jade: An opaque semiprecious gemstone which is usually found in shades of
green, but can be also be found in lavender and rose shades.
Jadeite: A hard, translucent variety of jade which is rarer than the other
varieties of nephrite and comes in a variety of colors such as orange, pink,
yellow, brown, blue, violet, and black.Jasper: From the Hebrew word "yashpheh",
meaning "glittering".
Jasper is an opaque, impure, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz that may
be red, yellow, or brown. It breaks with a smooth surface and can be highly
polished like marble. Varieties of jasper include Fancy Jasper, Picture Jasper,
Poppy Jasper, Red Jasper, and Striped (or Banded) Jasper. Jasper was once believed
to have curative powers.
Jet (also called "black amber"): A dense black variety of lignite,
(fossilized coal), that can be highly polished and is often made into mourning
jewelry, Zuni inlay, toys, buttons, etc.
Japanned: Metal that has been enameled black or charcoal gray
Jump Ring: A small oval or round wire ring used to link charms or pendants
onto a chain. It is not usually soldered shut.
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