Glossary of Jewelry Terms
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Radiant Cut: A rectangular gemstone with a total of 70 facets combining the
shape of an Emerald cut and the sparkle of a Brilliant cut.
Refraction: The action of changing the direction of a light wave, so the light
enters the object in one direction, and leaves it in another.
Regard: A kind of Acrostic jewelry, meaning jewelry where the first letter
of each type of stone spells out a word. In this case, a ring or brooch set
with a Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, and a Diamond so that the first
letter of each gemstone spelled out "Regard". Popular in the Victorian
era.
Relief: A kind of raised decoration that protrudes above the surface, like
a cameo.
Repoussé: A method of embossing a metal sheet by punching and hammering
a design from the back, then polishing it up in front with a chasing hammer,
producing a three-dimensional bas-relief surface.
Rhinestone: A faceted stone made of glass.
Rhodium: A metal that is a member of the platinum family of metals, but is
liquid in its raw, natural state, not solid like platinum. Rhodium can be applied
to base metals, gold, sterling silver, or some other alloy, to give it a shiny
white surface like platinum. This process was popular in the 30's and 40's,
is very durable, and very expensive.
Riveting: A method of joining two objects together by making a hole in each
piece, then passing a screw (composed of the same metal as the piece), through
the holes to join the parts. This process was used in jewelry instead of soldering
when it was not advisable to use heat or when one part was intended to swivel.
Ring Sizes: One of the few aspects of the jewelry industry that is standardized
is ring size, though many national systems are in use. The US uses a numeric
system from 1-13. The UK has an alphabetic system from A-Z. The European system
is numeric from 38-70, representing the interior circumference in millimeters.
The most common sizes for women are 6 and 7, and for men 10 and 11
US, British & European Finger Ring Sizes
This comparative chart attempts to reconcile the differing sizing systems
in use. Rarely do the measurements coincide but using this list it is possible
to approximate one sizing system to another. Sizes within 0.01mm have been
equated.
Rivière: A necklace composed of a single strand of gemstones of the
same size and cut, usually diamonds.
Rock Crystal: see "Quartz".
Rose Cut: A style of stone cutting that produces a gem with a flat, unfaceted
base and a somewhat dome-shaped top that is covered with a varied number of
triangular facets and terminates in a point.. This style of cut has been in
use since the 16th century. It is an early style of cutting that is thought
to have originated in India and to have been brought to Europe by the Venetians.
The rose cut is now used primarily on small diamonds.
Rose finish: Jewelry finished so that it has the look of Rose Gold, but no
actual gold content.
Rose gold: An alloy of gold mixed with copper, which gives it a red tint.
Rose Quartz: A translucent milky pink variety of Quartz (see also "Quartz")
Round Cut or Brilliant Cut: The most common style of cutting for both diamonds
and colored stones. The standard round brilliant consists of a total of 58
facets: 1 table, 8 bezel facets, 8 star facets and 16 upper-girdle facets on
the crown; and 8 pavilion facets, 16 lower-girdle facets, and usually a culet
on the pavilion, or base. Although the brilliant style was devised to give
maximum brilliancy and fire, many stones cut in this fashion do not have ideal
proportions or angles for that purpose. Modifications of the round brilliant
include such fancy shapes as the marquise, half moon, pear shape and many others.
Ruby: One of the four precious gemstones along with Diamonds, Emeralds and
Sapphires. Ruby is a member of the corundum family whose color comes from chromium
oxide in the stone. Although corundum can come in many colors, rubies are,
by definition, red. Rubies have been synthesized since at least 1890 and can
only be distinguished from natural rubies by trained gemologists. Rubies are
extremely hard, a 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds. Fine rubies
of good color can be more valuable than diamonds, For centuries, rubies have
symbolized beauty, charity, love, passion, power, and royalty. In some countries,
engagement rings are set with rubies instead of diamonds. The ruby is the birthstone
for July. For more information about the history of rubies, visit Fabulous
Facets Gem History (use your browser's "back" key to return here).
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