Jewellery Glossary

Jewellery comes with a lot of confusing terms. This A-Z explains what each one means in a line, and links to the guide that covers it in full. Can't see the term you're after? Get in touch and we'll add it.

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

0-9

  • 9ct Gold, 9 Carat Gold, 9K gold — Gold alloy that is 9 parts gold out of 24 (37.5% gold), the most common gold standard in UK jewellery.
  • .925 Sterling Silver — Silver that is 92.5% pure, with the rest usually copper and zinc to make it hard enough to wear.

A

  • Abalone — The iridescent shell of a sea snail, used in jewellery for its blues, greens and purples.
  • Agate — A banded stone from the chalcedony family, known for its ringed pattern.
  • Amber/Baltic Amber — Fossilised tree resin, mostly from the Baltic region, ranging from honey yellow to deep orange.
  • Amethyst — A purple variety of quartz and the birthstone for February.
  • Andralok (fastening) — A patented earring and nose stud fastening with a tiny hinged lever that clicks shut, so there is no separate back to lose.
  • Anodised — A protective coating applied by electrolysis to guard metal against corrosion.
  • Anti-tragus Piercing — A cartilage piercing opposite the tragus, just above the earlobe.
  • Assay Office — The independent UK body that tests precious metal and applies the hallmark. Ours is the Edinburgh Assay Office.
  • Aurora Borealis — A rainbow-effect coating on crystal that shifts colour in the light, named after the Northern Lights.

B

  • Bali Hoop — A hoop earring with a decorative pattern worked into the metal, inspired by tribal designs.
  • Bead Chain, Ball Chain — Small metal balls spaced evenly along a fine wire.
  • Beading Chain — A very fine chain of tubular links, used for stringing beads.
  • Belcher, Belcher Chain — Round or oval links of even thickness, also called a rolo chain.
  • Belly Bar — A curved barbell worn in a navel piercing, with a ball or charm at each end.
  • Birthstone — A gemstone associated with a particular month of the year.
  • Blue Zircon — A natural blue gemstone, not to be confused with cubic zirconia.
  • Box Chain — Square links that sit flush together to form a smooth, box-like chain.

C

  • Cable Chain — Simple oval links joined at right angles, the classic everyday chain.
  • Carat (diamond) — The unit of weight for a diamond, not a measure of its size or quality.
  • Chains (types of chain) — Our illustrated guide to every chain style, from belcher to foxtail.
  • Champagne — A crystal in a warm golden-yellow shade, named after the drink it matches.
  • Charm Hoops — Hoop earrings designed to carry hanging charms.
  • Claddagh — A 17th-century Irish ring showing a heart (love), hands (friendship) and crown (loyalty).
  • Clarity (diamond) — How free a diamond is from natural inclusions and marks.
  • Colour (diamond) — How little colour a diamond shows. The less colour, the higher the grade.
  • Conch Piercing — A piercing through the central shell of the ear.
  • Coral — A gemstone formed from calcium carbonate in coral reefs, usually pink to deep red.
  • Crawler Earrings — Earrings that curve up along the edge of the lobe, mimicking several piercings. Also called pin curve earrings.
  • Creole Earrings (Hoops) — Hoops that are thicker at the bottom than the top, or elongated in shape.
  • Cubic Zirconia — A lab-made stone that looks like a diamond at a fraction of the price. Often shortened to CZ.
  • Cultured Pearls — Pearls grown in a shell after a bead or piece of tissue is placed inside by hand.
  • Curb Chain — Flattened, interlocking links that lie flat against the skin.
  • Cut (diamond) — How well a diamond has been shaped and faceted, the only one of the four Cs decided by people.
  • Curb Height — The height of a chain's links, used to describe how chunky a chain is.

D

  • Dapped — Chain links struck with a hammer to curve them and add texture.
  • Daith Piercing — A piercing through the cartilage between the inner ear and the ear canal.
  • Diamond Cut — Facets cut into the surface of chain links so they catch the light.
  • Drop Earrings — Earrings that hang below the lobe. Also called drop dangle earrings.

E

  • Ear Cuffs — Earrings that clip onto the edge of the ear, with no piercing needed.
  • Eternity Ring — A ring set with stones all the way around the band, symbolising continuous love.
  • Evil Eye — A blue eye motif, common in Greece and Turkey, worn to ward off bad luck.

F

  • Figaro Chain — A curb chain pattern with one long link followed by two or three shorter ones.
  • Foxtail Chain — Two rows of slanted links joined by a flat centre link, giving a braided look.
  • Freshwater Pearls — Pearls formed in mussels in rivers and lakes, usually in soft white and pastel shades.

G

  • Garnet — A deep red gemstone and the birthstone for January.
  • Gauge (Ga) — The thickness of body jewellery wire. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the pin.
  • Gold (9ct, 14ct, 18ct) — Carat tells you how much pure gold is in the alloy: 9ct is 37.5%, 14ct 58.5% and 18ct 75%.
  • Gold Plated — A thin layer of gold bonded to another metal. Ours is plated onto sterling silver.

H

  • Hall Mark — The official UK stamp certifying a metal's purity, required on gold over 1g and silver over 7.78g.
  • Half Eternity Ring — A ring set with stones across the front half of the band only.
  • Hammered (finish) — Metal struck while cold to create a textured, dimpled surface.
  • Hamsa Hand — A hand-shaped amulet, originally from Ancient Egypt, worn as a symbol of protection.
  • Helix Piercing — Any piercing around the outer rim of the ear.
  • Hinged Hoops — Hoops with a hinged section that clicks shut, making them easy to put in.
  • Howlite — A white to pale grey stone with fine grey veining.
  • Huggie Earrings (Hoops) — Small, thicker hoops that sit close against the lobe.

I

J

  • Jacket Earrings — A stud with a decorative piece that hangs beneath the lobe from the back of the earring.

K

  • Karat, Carat (gold) — The purity of gold, measured in 24ths. 9ct gold is 9 parts gold out of 24.

L

  • L-Shaped Nose Stud — A nose stud with a bend near the end of the pin that hooks inside the nostril.
  • Lobe Piercing — A piercing through the soft lower part of the ear, the most common piercing of all.
  • Locket — A pendant that opens, made to hold a photo or keepsake.

M

  • Midi Ring — A ring worn above the lower knuckle rather than at the base of the finger.
  • Miraculous Mary — A Catholic medal showing the Virgin Mary, designed after the apparitions in 19th-century France.
  • Mother of Pearl — The iridescent lining of a shell, also called nacre, used in jewellery in its own right.

N

  • Nine Carat Gold — 9ct gold: 9 parts pure gold out of 24, or 37.5% gold.
  • Nose Studs (types) — The four nose stud fastenings we sell: L-shaped, Andralok, ball end and nose screw.
  • Nose Screw — A nose stud with a curved or spiral pin that twists into the piercing and holds itself in place.

O

  • Onyx — A black stone from the chalcedony family, often polished to a high shine.
  • Orbital Piercing — Two piercings joined by a single piece of jewellery, such as a hoop or barbell.
  • Opal — A stone that flashes different colours as it moves in the light, and the birthstone for October.
  • Open Hoops — Hoops with a gap between the ends, so there is nothing to unclip.

P

  • Pearls — Our guide to pearl types, from freshwater and saltwater to cultured and Tahitian.
  • Pin Curve Earrings — Curved earrings that follow the edge of the lobe. Another name for crawler earrings.
  • Prince of Wales Chain — A chain of interwoven links with a soft, rope-like finish.
  • Pull Through Earrings — Earrings with a long, fine bar or chain that you thread through the piercing. Also called threaders.

Q

  • Quartz — One of the most common minerals on earth, used in jewellery in shades from clear to smoky.

R

  • Ring Sizes — UK ring size chart, size converter and how to measure your ring size at home.
  • Rook Piercing — A piercing through the thick fold of cartilage on the upper inside of the ear.
  • Rope Chain — Small links set close together and twisted, so the chain resembles rope.
  • Rose Gold — Gold mixed with copper to give it a warm pink tone.
  • Rose Quartz — A soft pink variety of quartz.
  • Round Chain — A chain made from plain round links.
  • Russian Ring — Three interlocking bands, traditionally one each of yellow, rose and white gold.

S

  • Saltwater Pearls — Pearls formed naturally in oysters in the sea.
  • Signet Ring — A ring with a flat face, often engraved with initials or a crest.
  • Singapore Chain — Twisted, hammered disc-shaped links that catch the light from every angle.
  • Sleeper Hoops — Small, light hoops designed to be comfortable enough to sleep in.
  • Snake Chain — Tightly fitted plates that form a smooth, flexible tube.
  • Snug Piercing — A piercing through the inner cartilage, halfway down the outer rim of the ear.
  • Stacking Ring — A slim ring made to be worn in multiples, on one finger or several.
  • Stainless Steel — A hard-wearing steel alloy that resists rust and corrosion.
  • St Christopher — A Catholic medal worn for protection while travelling.
  • Sterling Silver — Silver that is 92.5% pure, stamped .925, with other metals added for strength.
  • Surgical Steel — Steel grades used for body jewellery, chosen because they resist corrosion.

T

  • Tahitian Pearls — Naturally dark pearls, from grey and green to black, grown in the South Pacific.
  • Tennis Bracelet, Tennis Necklace — A line of evenly matched stones set all the way around a bracelet or necklace.
  • Titanium — A very light, strong metal that resists corrosion, often used for body jewellery.
  • Threader — A fine chain threaded through the piercing so it hangs on both sides. Another name for a pull through earring.
  • Toe Ring — A ring worn on the toe, usually the second toe, and often adjustable.
  • Trace Chain — Fine, even oval or round links, a lighter version of a cable chain.
  • Tragus Piercing — A piercing through the small flap of cartilage in front of the ear canal.
  • Tree of Life — A tree with spreading roots and branches, worn as a symbol of family, growth and connection.
  • Tube Earring (Hoop) — A hoop made from hollow tubing, so it looks chunky but stays light.
  • Turquoise — An opaque blue-green stone, and one of December's birthstones.

U

V

W

  • White Gold — Gold alloyed with white metals and usually rhodium plated for a bright silver-white finish.

X

Y

  • Yellow Gold — Gold in its traditional warm yellow colour.

Z

  • Zircon, Blue Zircon — A natural gemstone, most often seen in blue. Not the same as cubic zirconia.
  • Zirconia, Cubic (CZ) — A lab-made stone cut to sparkle like a diamond, used across our crystal jewellery.