Glossary

Dichroic: When a material exhibits differing colors when being viewed from different angles.  It is caused by light of different polarization rates being absorbed at different rates by gemstones or coated glass.

Doublet: A stone that has two layers glued together – usually clear quartz or some sort of plastic layered over a gemstone. Sometimes the gemstone is the top layer, but most often, the quartz or plastic layer is on the top.

Facets: Flat planes on the surface of a gemstone that have been cut with precision cutting instruments by a trained lapidary. Facets are cut at angles  to one another so that light traveling through the stone will be reflected in many different directions, causing the stone to have lots of sparkle and brilliance.

Fracture: An irregular surface caused by a break in a gemstone. Usually caused from a gemstone with inclusions receiving a hard blow to the surface of the stone.

Inclusion: Foreign matter or sometimes crystalline deformations that occur inside of a gemstone.  Emeralds and Amber are two gemstones in which many inclusions regularly occur.

Mohs scale of hardness: A scale devised by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812 to measure the hardness of minerals.  It is based on the ability of one mineral in its natural state to scratch another mineral.  The softest minerals are rated 1, and the hardest, a 10.

Pandora Clip: Pandora clips are shaped like Pandora charm beads, and are designed to fit over the threaded spacers on Pandora bracelets.  They are hinged on one side, and “snap” together over the spacers.  They prevent charms from twisting themselves back over the threads on the spacers.

Princess Cut: A cutting style for gemstones.  Princess cuts are actually rectangles that are so close to being square that they are mistakenly considered to be a square shaped stone.  They have a characteristic star pattern cut into the bottom of the stone, have 90 degree corners, a wide pavilion, and a narrow crown.  Princess cut diamonds are second only to round brilliant diamonds in popularity.

Split Ring: A jump ring similar to a keyring that is very secure once attached to a piece of jewelry.  Often used to attach charms to bracelets.

Vanadium Emerald: A gemstone comprised of mostly vanadium, with very little beryl.  They are only considered to be emeralds by some U.S. jewelers, and are not recognized as true emeralds outside of the United States.