Jewelry Glossary
At FWC Jewelers we believe that knowledge is the secret to understanding the beauty of jewelry. We’ve developed a list of phrases commonly used when looking or purchasing jewelry pieces.
Accented: A ring featuring gems or Diamonds that enhance the center stone.
Antique: A ring dating back at least 100 years. Categories include Georgian (1720-1830), Victorian (1830-1900), Edwardian or Nouveau (1890-1920), Art Deco (1920-1935), and Retro (1935-1950).
Band: Typically refers to a wedding band or a low-profile setting with multiple gems.
Bezel: A metal framework used to fully enclose gemstones, typically with a flush or low-profile design.
Cabochon: A gemstone with a flat back and a domed, polished top, such as an Opal.
Carat: A unit of weight for gemstones, equivalent to 1/5 of a gram.
Center Stone: The primary gemstone in a ring, often the focal point.
Channel: A narrow trough of metal holding gemstones in place with tension on either side.
Cushion: A rectangular shape with rounded edges, popular for Diamonds and colored gemstones.
Custom: A ring that is fully designed and hand-crafted to order.
Engagement Ring: A ring traditionally used for marriage proposals, available in classic (e.g., diamond solitaires), vintage (e.g., Art Deco Diamond Rings), and custom designs.
Euroshank: A squared shank design intended to prevent ring spin.
Faceted: A gemstone that has been cut with multiple facets.
French-Set or Shared Prong: A setting style where accent stones are placed close together and held by fewer prongs.
Gallery: The side of a ring beneath where gemstones are set.
Gold: A precious metal commonly used for engagement rings, with yellow gold being the default.
Halo: A ring with a single larger center gemstone surrounded by smaller accent gems.
Head: A unit containing multiple prongs used to set gemstones.
In-stock: Rings readily available for immediate purchase.
Karat: A unit of gold purity, with 24k being pure gold. Common purities include 14k and 18k.
Marquise: A shape resembling a football or navette, with pointed ends and a bowed middle.
Melee: Small Diamonds under 1/4 carat in size, typically used as accents.
Oval: An oval-shaped gemstone, popular for Diamonds and colored gemstones.
Pear: A teardrop-shaped gemstone with one rounded end and one pointed end.
Platinum: A hypoallergenic precious metal used in high-quality jewelry, known for its durability.
Prong or Claw: Metal used to hold a gemstone in place.
Rose Cut: A faceted cabochon with a flat back and a dome-shaped top.
Rose Gold: Gold alloyed to create a pink or coppery color.
Round: A circular cut, commonly associated with the Modern Round Brilliant Cut.
Semi-custom: A ring made using semi-mounts or made-to-order parts, customized to the client but quicker and less expensive than a fully custom option.
Semi Bezel: A bezel with two open sides.
Shank: The lower portion of a ring that passes underneath the finger.
Silver: A soft, precious metal known for its bright silvery-white color.
Solitaire: A ring set with a single gemstone.
Tension Set: A mounting that uses tension to hold a gem in place instead of prongs or a bezel.
Vintage or Estate: Pre-owned items.
Wedding Ring: A ring given on the day of marriage, worn on the second finger of the left hand. For women, it is worn first, followed by the engagement ring; for men, it’s often referred to as a “wedding band.”