A

• Acrylic – A lightweight plastic material often used in fashion jewelry for bold and colorful designs. Common in Vinca’s pieces.
  
  
• Alloy – A metal made by combining two or more elements (e.g., brass = copper + zinc).
  
  
• Amulet – A charm believed to have protective powers.
  
  
• Annealing – A process of heating metal to make it softer and more workable.
  
  
• Art Deco – A jewelry style from the 1920s–30s featuring geometric patterns and symmetry.
  
  
• Art Nouveau – An early 20th-century design style with flowing lines and nature motifs.
  
  

B

• Bail – A loop at the top of a pendant that allows it to hang from a chain.
  
  
• Baroque – An irregular-shaped pearl or a decorative style that is ornate and elaborate.
  
  
• Base Metal – Non-precious metals like copper, brass, or zinc used as the core of jewelry.
  
  
• Bezel Setting – A type of gemstone setting where the stone is encircled with a metal rim.
  
  
• Birthstone – A gemstone associated with a person’s birth month.
  
  
• Brass – A durable, yellow-gold alloy made of copper and zinc.
  
  

C

• Cabochon – A gemstone polished into a smooth dome without facets.
  
  
• Carat (ct) – A unit of weight for gemstones (1 carat = 200 mg).
  
  
• Casting – A technique of shaping metal by pouring it into a mold.
  
  
• Chain Types – E.g., cable, curb, rope, snake, box – all different styles of linked metal.
  
  
• Choker – A necklace that fits tightly around the neck.
  
  
• Clasp – A fastening mechanism for necklaces or bracelets (e.g., lobster, spring ring).
  
  
• Costume Jewelry – Affordable, fashion-focused jewelry made with non-precious materials.
  
  
• Cubic Zirconia (CZ) – A popular diamond simulant made from synthetic materials.
  
  
• Cuff – A wide bracelet that typically slips onto the wrist without a clasp.
  
  

D

• Dangle Earrings – Earrings that hang below the earlobe, often with movement.
  
  
• Die-Struck – A method of stamping jewelry shapes from a metal sheet using pressure.
  
  
• Demi-Fine Jewelry – Pieces made with gold vermeil or gold-filled metals, offering luxury without the high price of fine jewelry.
  
  

E

• Electroplating – A process of coating one metal with another using electricity.
  
  
• Enamel – A colored glassy coating fused to metal surfaces for decoration.
  
  
• Engraving – Decorative carving or etching into a jewelry surface.
  
  
• Earring Back – The fastener that secures an earring (e.g., butterfly, screw-back).
  
  

F

• Facet – The flat surfaces cut into a gemstone to enhance brilliance.
  
  
• Filigree – Decorative metalwork made from fine threads of metal, often lacy or floral.
  
  
• Findings – Jewelry components like clasps, jump rings, hooks, or pins.
  
  
• Finish – The surface treatment of metal (e.g., matte, brushed, polished, hammered).
  
  

G

• Gallery – The decorative underside of a setting or ring.
  
  
• Gilding – The process of applying a thin layer of gold to another surface.
  
  
• Gold-Filled – A thick layer of gold bonded to a base metal, more durable than plating.
  
  
• Gold-Plated – A thin layer of gold electroplated onto a base metal.
  
  
• Gauge – The thickness of wire or metal sheet (lower number = thicker).
  
  
• Gemstone – A mineral or stone used in jewelry, either precious or semi-precious.
  
  

H

• Hallmark – A small stamped symbol or number indicating metal purity or origin.
  
  
• Hammered Finish – A textured surface created by hammering.
  
  
• Hardness – A measure of a material’s resistance to scratching (Mohs scale).
  
  

I

• Inlay – A technique of embedding one material into another (e.g., stone into metal).
  
  
• Iridescence – A rainbow-like effect seen in some materials (e.g., opals, pearls).
  
  

J

• Jump Ring – A small metal ring used to connect components in jewelry.
  
  
• Jeweler’s Brass – A brass alloy often used as a gold substitute in costume jewelry.
  
  

K

• Karat (K) – Indicates the purity of gold. 24K = pure gold; 14K = 58.5% gold.
  
  
• Knotted Necklace – A necklace where knots are tied between beads, often to protect pearls.
  
  

L

• Lariat – A long necklace without a clasp that loops or ties.
  
  
• Lobster Clasp – A popular, spring-loaded clasp shaped like a lobster claw.
  
  

M

• Matte Finish – A non-shiny, softly textured surface.
  
  
• Milgrain – A decorative border of tiny metal beads.
  
  
• Mixed Media – Jewelry that combines different materials like metal, acrylic, fabric, or wood.
  
  
• Mohs Scale – A scale from 1 to 10 that measures the hardness of minerals.
  
  

N

• Necklace Types – E.g., collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera, rope.
  
  
• Nickel-Free – Jewelry made without nickel, which can cause allergic reactions.
  
  

O

• Oxidized Finish – A darkened metal surface created by oxidation, often for vintage or antique looks.
  
  
• Open-Back Setting – A gemstone setting that is not closed at the back, allowing more light through.
  
  

P

• Patina – A greenish or dark surface that forms naturally or artificially on metals.
  
  
• Pendant – An ornament that hangs from a chain or necklace.
  
  
• Pierced Earrings – Earrings designed for pierced ears (vs. clip-ons).
  
  
• Plating – Applying a metal layer (e.g., gold or silver) over another metal.
  
  
• Post – The straight part of an earring that goes through the piercing.
  
  

Q

• Quartz – A common and versatile mineral used in jewelry (e.g., rose quartz, amethyst).
  
  

R

• Rhodium-Plated – Jewelry coated with rhodium (a platinum-group metal) for shine and tarnish resistance.
  
  
• Resin – A synthetic material used in statement and fashion jewelry.
  
  
• Ring Shank – The part of a ring that encircles the finger.
  
  

S

• Setting – The method used to secure a gemstone (e.g., prong, bezel, pavé).
  
  
• Silhouette – The overall shape or profile of a jewelry piece.
  
  
• Statement Jewelry – Bold, eye-catching pieces designed to stand out.
  
  
• Sterling Silver – A silver alloy containing 92.5% pure silver.
  
  
• Studs – Simple earrings that sit directly on the earlobe.
  
  
• Swarovski – A brand known for precision-cut crystal stones.
  
  

T

• Tarnish – A dulling or discoloration that occurs on metal due to oxidation.
  
  
• Tension Setting – A gemstone held in place by pressure rather than prongs or bezel.
  
  
• Toggle Clasp – A bar-and-ring fastening mechanism.
  
  

U

• Untreated Gemstone – A stone that hasn’t been enhanced by heat or chemical treatments.
  
  

V

• Vermeil – Sterling silver coated with a thick layer of gold (usually 2.5 microns).
  
  
• Vintage – Jewelry at least 20–30 years old, often collectible.
  
  

W

• Wire Wrapping – A technique using wire to create or embellish jewelry without soldering.
  
  
• White Gold – Gold alloyed with white metals like palladium and coated with rhodium.
  
  

X

• X-Link Chain – A decorative chain with X-shaped links.
  
  

Y

• Yellow Gold – Traditional gold alloy with a warm yellow tone, usually mixed with copper and silver.
  
  

Z

• Zircon – A natural gemstone, often confused with cubic zirconia but entirely different in composition.
  
  

Zinc Alloy – A common metal used in fashion jewelry for affordability and versatility.