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What is a gemstone
A gemstone is a stone used for personal adornment that is beautiful, durable,
and stable. Beauty is based on color, luster, transparency, or cutting and shaping
with lapidary techniques. Durability is the resistance to damage and is dependent
on hardness and tenacity. Tenacity is the resistance to bending and breaking,
while hardness measures the resistance to scratching. Stability refers to the
gem's ability to retain color in spite of heat, light, or chemical changes.
What is a semi-precious
gemstone?
The two terms precious and semi-precious are not widely used these days.
The designation began in part because diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald were
taxed at a higher rate than other gemstones. Many people think semi-precious
indicates a gem of lesser value and hardness, which is untrue, and the main
reason why the term semi-precious is no longer widely used.
What is sterling silver?
Silver,
even fully work-hardened, gradually re-crystallizes and softens at room temperature.
Alloys are added to make it harder, stronger, and less susceptible to scratching
and marring. Sterling silver (or 925 silver) is the best copper-silver
alloy and is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Some people claim sterling
silver earrings are hypo-allergenic, it depends on the allergy. Most people
have a problem with nickel and sterling would not bother them. If you
have a problem with copper you may not be able to wear them. If you find
that sterling silver bothers your ears you may have to stick to gold or titanium.
What is 14k gold filled?
The term gold filled means that a layer
of gold has been applied to a base metal. This layer is many times thicker than
gold plate. It is more economical than solid gold but will not wear away or
tarnish like gold plate.
What is fine silver?
Fine silver
is 99.9% silver, while sterling is 92.5%.
What is vermeil gold?
Vermeil gold is a 22k layer of gold
applied to sterling silver. It is often used on Bali beads & clasps.
What is PMC?
Precious metal clay
or PMC is silver or gold that can
be shaped and sculpted like clay and then fired in a kiln. The firing
process burns away the additives which make the metal pliable leaving only the
metal. What is left is a very pure form of the metal. In the case of silver,
it results in fine silver which is purer than sterling. Fine silver
is 99.9% silver, while sterling is 92.5%.
What is a bail?
A bail is the part of a pendant that a chain, slide or beaded necklace passes
through.
 What
is a cabochon?
A cabochon is usually* a shaped and polished gemstone which is used for jewelry other
than a faceted stone or a bead. Cabochons have one smooth curved or domed surface
and a flat back.
They come in a large variety of shapes, most commonly round or oval. They can
also be teardrop, rectangular, freeform, etc.
*Although the term cabochon is used most often when referring to a gemstone,
it is actually a reference to shape not the material it is made from. and can also be
used for
other materials such as glass or shell.
What does faceted mean?
A faceted gemstone that has a number of flat surfaces or planes as opposed
to the one smooth surface of a cabochon. This can refer to other materials such
as crystal glass.
What is the difference between wirework and wire wrapped jewelry ?
Wirework and wire wrapped jewelry are both
created using wire. Wire wrapping is a type of wirework the terms are sometimes
used interchangeably. Wire wrapped jewelry is created only with wire and
gemstones are held in place by the wire itself, there is no solder or glue used
in the process. There are some types of wirework which do use solder, however
at present Leeleeko Jewelry does not use this technique. Recently with
dichroic glass it has become popular for a channel or groove to be made along
the edge of a glass cabochon for a wire to be inserted. This technique
was developed for people who don't know how to wire wrap. If you know
how to wire wrap no groove is needed and our jewelry is never made using a groove.
What is fabricated metal jewelry
or metal smithing?
Fabricated metal jewelry covers a lot of
territory. There are so many different types of techniques we can't begin
to tell you about all of them. On our site we use the terms for our sterling
silver jewelry which is creating using solder and silver sheet as opposed to
our wire wrapped jewelry.
What is the difference between
pearl and mother of pearl?
Click here for information about pearls.
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