Jewellery Glossary 2026: 100 Terms Explained from A to Z

Alloy, cabochon, bezel, hallmark, setting... The vocabulary of jewelry can seem complex. Here's a complete glossary to understand everything and make the best choices.

To learn more about materials, consult our guide Sterling Silver, Gold Plated and Steel — What's the Difference? and our article Why Choose Sterling Silver Jewelry?

A

Alloy: A mixture of two or more metals. Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper.

Ring (plain): A ring without a stone, made of metal only. Can be thin (wedding band) or wide (bangle).

Sterling Silver: An alloy containing 92.5% pure silver, certified by the "925" hallmark. See our guide Why Choose Sterling Silver Jewelry?

Sterling Silver: Another name for 925 silver, an international standard.

B

Ring: An ornament worn on the finger, with or without a stone. To choose the right finger: On Which Finger to Wear Your Ring.

Bangle: A rigid, clasp-less bracelet, slipped on over the hand.

Body Jewelry: Jewelry worn on a part of the body other than the hands or ears (navel, nose, etc.).

Repoussé: A decorating technique that creates raised relief designs on metal.

Earring: Jewelry worn on the ear. Available as studs, hoops, drop, chandelier.

Bracelet: Jewelry worn on the wrist. Can be flexible (chain) or rigid (bangle, cuff).

C

Cabochon: A stone cut in a polished half-sphere, without facets. Typical for onyx, turquoise, tiger's eye.

Carat: A unit of measurement for gold purity (24 carats = pure gold) or for the weight of precious stones (1 carat = 0.2 gram).

Bezel: The setting that holds a stone in place. Can be prong, closed, pave...

Chatoyancy: An optical effect in a gemstone that appears to have a luminous "eye" in motion. Characteristic of tiger's eye. See our guide Men's Tiger's Eye Rings.

Signet Ring: A ring with a broad top, historically used as a seal. See our guide Men's Signet Ring.

Chasing: A metal decorating technique using engraving or repoussé.

Necklace: Jewelry worn around the neck. Lengths: choker, princess, sautoir.

D

Inner Diameter: The internal measurement of a ring, used to determine the size. See our guide How to Measure Your Ring Size.

Gilding: Applying a thin layer of gold to a base metal. To be distinguished from solid gold.

Hardness (Mohs): A scale from 1 to 10 measuring a mineral's resistance to scratching. Diamond = 10, onyx = 6.5-7.

E

Electrolysis: A process used for plating (depositing a thin layer of metal onto a surface).

Enamel: A decorating technique by fusing colored glass powders onto metal.

F

Facet: A flat surface cut into a gemstone to maximize brilliance and light refraction.

Filigree: A jewelry technique involving intertwining fine metal threads to create delicate patterns.

Clasp: A fastening system for a necklace or bracelet. Types: lobster claw, toggle, box, magnetic.

G

Engraving: A decorating technique using incisions on metal. Can be manual or laser.

Prongs: Small metal claws holding a stone in its setting.

J

Bangle: A cylindrical, uniform bracelet or ring, without decoration.

Jewelry (high): The art of creating jewelry with precious stones. To be distinguished from mere jewelry (without precious stones).

L

Lacquered: Jewelry coated with a layer of colored lacquer for decoration or protection.

Lithotherapy: A practice using the energetic properties of natural stones. See our Complete Guide to Natural Stones 2026.

M

Marcasite: A mineral with a golden metallic luster, used in jewelry since the Victorian era. See our complete marcasite guide.

Solid: Jewelry composed entirely of the indicated metal, without plating. Solid 925 silver = 925 silver throughout.

Micron: A unit of measurement for plating thickness (1 micron = 0.001 mm). A standard plating = 0.5 to 3 microns.

Setting: The metal part of a piece of jewelry that supports and enhances the stone.

O

Oxidation: A chemical reaction that tarnishes silver upon contact with air and moisture. Reversible with proper cleaning. See our 925 silver care guide.

P

Patinated: Jewelry intentionally oxidized to create an aged or dark effect in the recesses.

Pave: A setting technique where many small stones are set side by side, covering the entire surface.

Inner Circumference: A measurement used for ring sizes in France. Size 60 = 60 mm inner circumference.

Cabochon Stone: See "Cabochon".

Birthstone: A stone associated with the month of birth. See our birthstone guide 2026.

Natural Stone: A stone extracted from the earth, not synthetic. Onyx, turquoise, tiger's eye, carnelian... See our complete guide.

Plating: A thin layer of precious metal deposited on a base metal. Wears off over time. To be distinguished from solid.

Hallmark: An official mark engraved on a piece of jewelry guaranteeing its composition. The "925" hallmark certifies sterling silver. Verifiable on our authenticity page.

R

Rhodium Plating: Deposition of a thin layer of rhodium on silver or white gold to increase brilliance and resist scratches.

Spacer Bead: A small flat bead used as a separator in a necklace or bracelet.

S

Sautoir: A long necklace (70 cm and more), often finished with a pendant or tassel.

Seal: A motif engraved on a signet ring, historically used to seal wax.

Setting: The technique of securing a stone in its mounting. Types: prong, bezel, pave, channel setting.

Sterling: See "Sterling silver".

T

Ring Size: Measurement of the inner circumference in mm (French system). See our guide How to Measure Your Ring Size.

Tarnish: Natural oxidation of silver. Reversible. See our care guide.

Fineness: The precious metal content of an alloy, expressed in parts per thousand. 925 = 925 parts per thousand pure silver.

V

Vermeil: Sterling silver covered with a layer of at least 2.5 microns of gold. More noble than simple gold plating.

Our Complementary Guides

• Why Choose Sterling Silver Jewelry?
• Sterling Silver vs Gold Plated vs Steel
• 925 Silver Care Guide
• Complete Guide to Natural Stones 2026
• Colloidal Silver vs 925 Silver Jewelry

Every Vindicta jewel is certified solid 925 silver, verifiable on our authenticity page.

Discover our complete collection of 925 silver jewelry.