A Helpful Glossary of Jewelry Terms

A Helpful Glossary of Jewelry Terms

Ever wonder what to call that thin delicate diamond set band or a specific structure of a ring? While you don’t have to necessarily know every term used in the industry, it will certainly help you communicate your desires to the jeweler or jewelry consultant.

Here are some commonly used and misused terms:

Pavé – Tiny little round brilliant cut diamonds set in multiple rows, much like a paved road. Pavé is often misused to describe a thin one row of diamonds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishtail – This style of setting is often used to get the thinnest version of a diamond band. U shaped prongs that are holding the diamonds in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French cut – From the top it looks very similar to the fishtail set, it’s when you look at the ring from the side profile you will see the hand carved crisscross detail around each stone that makes this slightly more sparkly.  This is one of our specialties at BRAG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shared prong – Each stone shares 2 prongs with the next stone. This style of setting makes the round stones look rounder than in a fishtail or French cut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bead set – When the stones are set in a band and held with tiny beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channel – Stones are set inside a band held by higher metal walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solitaire – A single, solitary stone on it’s on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathedral – when the band of the ring comes up and meets the basket of the center stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halo – tiny little round brilliant cut diamonds that surround a larger stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage inspired – When a ring style is made to look like a vintage ring. The benefit is that you have a well-constructed new ring with the look and feel of yesteryears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filigree – open spaces of shapes carved out on a ring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mill grain – small edge carving that frames a ring and provides a touch of vintage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more examples please check out our collection on www.bostonringandgem.com or come see us at BRAG, Boston Ring and Gem at 333 Washington Street, Suite 203-8, Boston, MA 02108