features
A characteristic or part of a piece of jewelry.
benefit
The value a feature holds for a customer.
precious metals
Metals valued in jewelry, specifically gold, platinum, and silver.
base metals
Non-precious metals such as copper, zinc, tin, nickel, lead, and iron.
heft
The weight or heaviness of an object compared to its size.
luster
The appearance of a material’s surface in reflected light.
patina
Soft, rich surface appearance that develops with age.
Able to be shaped or bent without breaking.
Able to be drawn into wire or hammered into sheets without breaking.
durable
Long-lasting, especially without sustaining damage or wear.
corrosion
Deterioration by a chemical action.
tarnish
A mild form of corrosion caused by contact with chemical elements or compounds in
the environment.
fineness
A measure of the purity of a precious metal.
fine
Virtually free of impurities or alloying metals.
A mixture of two or more metals.
tensile strength
Maximum stretching force a metal can withstand before breaking.
hardness
How well a metal resists scratching and denting.
karat
A unit of measure for the fineness of gold, based on a total of 24 parts, abbreviated
“K.”
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Click play button for pronunciation.
plating
Depositing a metal coating electrically or applying it mechanically onto another metal.
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electroplating
Using electricity to deposit a coating of precious metal, suspended in a solution,
on another metal.
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anodizing
An electrochemical process that results in a protective or decorative coating on metal.
quality marks
A stamp that indicates the purity of a precious metal.
trademark
A word, phrase, logo, symbol, or design that’s registered to identify the manufacturer
of an item.
underkarating
Misrepresenting the precious metal content of a jewelry item.
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hallmark
A British stamp that indicates the purity and origin of a precious metal.
A lion walking with its farthest forepaw raised; Britain’s mark for sterling silver.
Silver that’s 95.8 percent fine, represented by a lion’s head or the seated figure
of Britannia.
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Click play button for pronunciation.
Click play button for pronunciation.
Click play button for pronunciation.
Click play button for pronunciation.
Click play button for pronunciation.
setting styles
The way a gem is secured in its mounting.
mountings
Jewelry item with space for holding gems.
prong setting
Setting style consisting of narrow metal supports that hold a gem in its mounting.
