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Acrylic Resin :: Transparent manmade resins used in making molded plastics
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Adventurine :: Gemstone believed to promote luck, creativity, intelligence and healing
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Agate :: Gemstone thought to bring protection, healing, courage, confidence and energy to its wearer
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Alloy :: Combination of fused metals; a base metal mixed with a precious ore to harden it, change its color, or to make it workable
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Amber :: This hard yellow-brown translucent fossil resin gemstone dates back to the 14th century and is thought to help with healing, protection, beauty and energy
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Amethyst :: Amethyst is a gemstone found in shades of pale lavender to a deep purple. The pale colors are sometimes called Rose de France and can be found in Victorian jewelry. The deep colors are most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose flashes. The purple color is believed to be caused by iron. Discovered around 3,000 BC, the ancient Egyptians believed amethyst could protect the wearer from poisoning. Throughout history the amethyst has represented humility and modesty, and has been thought to increase intelligence, protect against contagious diseases and ward off evil thoughts. It was used to protect soldiers and hunters, and amethyst is believed to enhance courage and creativity, psychic development and self-esteem.
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Amulet :: A lucky charm (sometimes inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil
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Antique :: A relic or object of ancient times or earlier period
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Antiquing :: A process of darkening the recessed areas of gold or silver jewelry to enhance the visibility of engraving, thus lending the look of age or natural patination
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Aquamarine :: This gemstone is a variety of beryl. The name Aquamarine derives its name from seawater and
is considered the gem of the sea. It has been said to protect sailors at sea against storms, as well as prevent illness,
increase intellect, cure laziness and provide courage. Its color is light to medium blue, sometimes with a slight
greenish splash. Legend has it that it is the treasure of mermaids. The earliest aquamarine was probably from
India where the Hindu mystics used it to promote mental clarity. In medieval times, it was believed to help
with digestive functions. In the 19th century, the Chinese carved snuff bottles and figurines out of aquamarine.
The belief that aquamarines provide spiritual inspiration, inner calm and enhanced communications continues
today. It's also the representative gemstone of Aquanada.
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Aquanada :: The name chosen by jewelry designer Kirsten Ott for her handcrafted jewelry fashioned from semiprecious gemstones, precious metals, Swarovski crystals, pearls, shells, charms, vintage confections, glass and wood. Aquamarine is Kirsten's birthstone, and Aquanada is a familial term used with loving affection relating to her adored and sorely missed Irish grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Aquinata Butler Ott.
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Art Deco :: A period of art from the 1920s to the 1930s, Art Deco replaced Art Nouveau with its style of art, design and architecture, which uses angular, symmetrical geometric forms.
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Art Nouveau :: A period of art from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Art Nouveau is an elegant decorative style characterized by intricate patterns of curving lines.
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Baguette :: A narrow, rectangular-cut stone
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Bail :: A metal loop used to attach a chain or cord to a pendant
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Baroque :: Ornate detailing, generally heavy in appearance
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Baroque Pearl :: An irregularly shaped pearl
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Beryl :: A mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum of great hardness that occurs in colorless hexagonal prisms when pure and in various colors (as green, blue, yellow or pink) when not pure
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Bezel :: The metal groove holding a gemstone in its setting, or the slanting face of a cut gem
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Birthstones ::
January — garnet
February — amethyst
March — aquamarine
April — diamond
May — emerald
June — pearl
July — ruby
August — peridot
September — sapphire
October — tourmaline
November — citrine, topaz
December — turquoise
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Biwa :: A cultured pearl originally non-nucleated, grown in a freshwater mussel from Lake Biwa in Japan
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Brass :: An alloy consisting of half copper and half zinc
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Briolette :: A faceted pear-shaped stone
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Bronze :: A very dense and heavy alloy consisting of 60% copper and 40% tin
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Cabochon :: gem or bead cut in convex form and highly polished but not faceted
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Cameo :: A carved gem or shell, in which the carved design stands out against a background of a different color
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Cannetille :: Wirework decoration of coiled and twisted gold wire used to achieve a delicate scrolling effect
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Carat :: The unit of weight used for precious stones. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram. Carat is also a measurement of fitness in gold. Pure gold is expressed as 24k.
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Carnelian :: A red or orange gemstone from the chalcedony family; believed to promote healing and energy
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Cat's Eye :: Glass that reflects light in a way reminiscent of a cat's eye
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Chalcedony :: Various types of colored quartz, usually with a milky appearance, including carnelian, agate, cat's eye and jasper
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Chatelaine :: An ornamental chain, pin or clasp, usually worn at a woman's waist, to which trinkets, keys, a purse or other articles are attached (popular in the Victorian era when women didn't have pockets). Also used to refer to pins with two figures linked together by a chain
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Chaton :: A round, faceted stone
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Choker :: A tight-fitting necklace that is worn close to the base of the neck. May be plain or with pendants or ornamentation. Measures 14 to 16 inches
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Chrome :: A hard, brittle grayish white metal
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Citrine :: Derived from the French word citron (meaning lemon), citrine is a warm yellow to gold or orange-brown gemstone. It is known to have the ability to brighten up the darkest places of the heart. In the past, it has been worn to protect against poisonous snakes, evil thoughts and to raise self-esteem. Citrine is also thought to promote good digestion, energy and balance.
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Cliché :: A trite phrase or expression
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Cloisonné :: Enamel with surface decorations set in hollows formed by strips of wire welded to a metal plate
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Coral :: An organic gemstone made by living sea coral. It's a form of calcium carbonate and is secreted in long chains by coral polyps living in oceanic colonies. Coral comes in a variety of colors from vivid orange, red and white to salmon and pink. Coral is believed to promote childbirth, adoption, negative energy and overall well-being. Pink coral is believed to help one think and behave in a loving manner.
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Cubic Zirconia :: Synthetic gemstone developed in 1977 to simulate a diamond
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Couture :: The business of designing, making and selling custom-made women's fashions
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Custom :: Designed just for you according to your taste (Aquanada loves custom orders, especially for gifts from the heart and bridal jewelry. Visit our custom page to learn more.)
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Dog Collar :: A broad, choker like necklace, often consisting of numerous parallel strands of beads, pearls or stones. This is also known as a plaque de cou when attached by a front clasp. The style was popular in the 1960s, but was made fashionable much earlier by Queen Alexandra.
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Dulling (or Sanitizing) :: Brushing a metal surface, sometimes with a matting punch or powder, to give it a duller (matte) finish
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Electroplating :: Coating a metal surface (in fashion or bridge jewelry, usually with copper, nickel, chromium, gold, silver or rhodium) by means of electrolysis. The amount of electroplate on an object is measured in microns (one micron = .001 mm).
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Embossing :: The process of raising a domed design on the front of a piece of metal by beating it from behind with punches and a hammer
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Enamel :: Colored, opaque glassy material fused onto metal, pottery or glass
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Engraving :: A pattern made by cutting away the surface of metal, wood or other surface
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Eye Beads :: Decorated to resemble an eye, these beads date back to antiquity and have symbolic meanings. Eye beads are often used in amulets.
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Faceted :: When small plane surfaces are cut into a gemstone
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Fashion :: A prevailing style
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Filigree :: Lace-like ornamental work of fine gold or silver wire
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Find :: An exciting discovery while shopping that causes one to exclaim, "What a find!"
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Finding :: Manufactured components used to create jewelry. Generally, findings provide the structure for the jewelry design; the ornamentation is provided by both the design of the finding as well as the gems, beads or other decoration that is added. Findings include jumprings, clasps, bails, headpins, earwires and charms.
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Fissures :: Fissures (or inclusions) are natural, and do not detract from the gemstone's beauty or value.
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Foil :: A thin leaf of metal placed behind a gem or paste stone to heighten its color or brilliance
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Garnet :: One of the oldest gemstones in history, garnets display the greatest variety of color of any mineral, occurring in every color except blue. Garnets are said to foster true love, warn of danger and protect the home of the wearer.
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Gilding :: An object decorated with a thin layer of gold, gold leaf or gold foil
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Gilt :: Gold plated
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Girandôle :: A style of earring or brooch in which a large stone or decorative element suspends three smaller, pear-shaped pendants of similar design
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Gold :: Because pure gold is too soft to endure prolonged handling, it is commonly alloyed with other metals to increase its hardness for use in jewelry. The content of gold alloys is expressed in 24ths, called karats; a 12k (12-karat) gold alloy is 50% gold, and 24k (or 24-karat) gold is pure. Rose gold is alloyed with copper to give it its hue.
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Gold Electroplate :: An electrolytic coating with gold, or with an alloy of no less than 10% fineness to a minimum thickness throughout that is equivalent to seven millionths of an inch. Essentially this means that where the fineness is less than 24k, the thickness must be proportionately greater, so that the same amount of fine gold is seven millionths of an inch, it may be marked as heavy gold electroplate.
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Goldfill (or Gold Filled) :: A gold alloy plate made by soldering, brazing, welding or other means that is not less than 10k fineness, where the plating constitutes at lest 1/20th of the weight of the metal in the entire article. The term must be preceded by the karat fineness of the plating, such as 14k goldfill. When using the term gold overlay, manufacturers are permitted to use a layer of gold that is less than 1/20th the weight of the entire piece, but they must stamp the proportion of the gold layer on the jewelry. Goldfill is more valuable and more durable than gold plated.
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Gold Imitation :: An alloy of zinc, tin and copper that results in a yellow the color of gold
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Granulation :: One of the oldest jewelry design techniques, dating to 2500 BC, that's created when tiny grains of gold or other metal are stuck to a surface as ornaments
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Hammering :: Giving metal surface marks and textures by hammering
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Handcrafted :: Fashioned by hand (All Aquanada jewelry is handcrafted by designer Kirsten Ott.)
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Haute Couture :: The houses or designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions for women; also : the fashions created
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Heishe :: The oldest form of jewelry in America; the term means shell
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Heishe Bar :: Narrow spacer bar used to hold heishe beads, bugle beads, liquid silver or seed beads parallel and prevent tangling
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Hematite :: Gemstone made from iron ore; valued for its calming metaphysical properties including stress reduction
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Ice-Pick Bail :: Similar to a prong bail, it will create a loop to attach a chain to when the prongs are closed into a cross-drilled pendant.
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Idiom :: An expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself
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Inlays :: To set pieces of wood or ivory, for example, into a surface, usually at the same level, to form a design
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Intaglio :: Decoration made by carving or engraving a design into a gem or other hard material. Intaglio is the opposite of cameo.
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Jade :: Thought to promote wisdom, peace, harmony, protection and luck. Available in a range of colors such as lavender and rose, not just green
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Jasper :: Gemstone; a variety of quartz; thought to be calming and to aid digestion
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Lariat :: An open-ended necklace that is held together by a flexible element such as a drop or a ring. Length is 48 inches or longer.
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Lavalier (or Lavaliere) :: A pendant with one stone suspended from a necklace. The term comes from the name of Louise de la Valliere, the mistress of Louis XV, because she wore a jeweled pendant suspended from a chain.
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Lost Wax Casting :: A process of casting wherein a wax model is encased in an investment, which is agitated mechanically or put into a vacuum to remove air bubbles. After the wax is burned off in an oven, a cavity remains, which is filled with molten metal through an opening. The investment is broken away from the hardened metal, which is then ready for polishing or ornamentation. For large-scale production, numerous identical wax models are made by pouring molten wax into a rubber mold.
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Luck :: A force that brings good fortune in events or circumstances
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Maltese Cross :: A cross with four broad arms of equal length, with tips that look like inward pointing arrowheads
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Manchette Bracelet :: A broad bracelet in the form of a cuff
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Matinee Length :: A single-row necklace ranging from 20 to 25 inches long
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Matte :: A dull finish, particularly on metals
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Micron :: A unit of length equivalent to 0.001 mm, used for measuring the thickness of electroplating
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Millefiori Beads :: An Italian creation named for the allusion of a million flowers in the glass. The beads are created by the fusion of several glass rods arranged so that the cross-section creates a flower or pattern with a mosaic-like appearance.
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Mod :: Term coined in the 1960s for one who wears modern clothes, such as Edie Sedgwick, the star of many of Andy Warhol's short films
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Mode :: The fashion of the moment among those striving for elegance and sophistication
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Moonstone :: Gemstone thought to promote love, femininity, luck and relationships
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Mother of pearl :: Pearlescent material found on the inside of the shells of abalone, oysters and mussels, which is scraped off, sliced thinly and used in jewelry and other valuable items
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Onyx :: A semiprecious gemstone available in black or white from the chalcedony family of minerals
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Opal :: Gemstone believed to increase intuition, faith, loyalty, sight and childbirth
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Opera Length :: An especially long strand of beads ranging from 26 to 36 inches in length
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Oriental Pearl :: A pearl that has formed naturally with no human intervention
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Patina :: The coloration that occurs in certain metals when they are exposed at length to the atmosphere. A thin, greenish layer appears on the surface of copper and bronze; a reddish effect on gold. An artificial patina can be created with acids or electrolyte.
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Pavé Setting :: The method of setting stones very close together so that very little metal shows between them
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Pearl :: A pearl is formed by an oyster or mollusk when a natural irritant gets inside its shell and is embedded in the tissue. In response, the mantle tissue of the mollusk secretes nacre, a combination of crystalline and organic substances. As the nacre builds up in layers, it surrounds the irritant and eventually forms a pearl. Pearls are found in a range of colors, shapes and sizes. There are also many varieties of cultured pearls, including Akoya, South Sea (white and black), freshwater and Keshi. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying. Because of its soft glow, the pearl was associated with the moon and has evolved to symbolize virtues such as purity, wisdom and loyalty. The ancient Chinese believed pearls could perpetuate eternal youth. Even today, Chinese use ground pearls in cosmetics to promote youthful skin.
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Pearl Essence :: Also called essence d'orient. A crystalline substance extracted from fish scales and combined with acrylic resins, which is used to make imitation pearls. In better imitations, the essence is applied over opaline glass beads. In cheaper imitations, it's applied over plastic beads. Discovered in 1565 by Jaquin, a French manufacturer of rosaries, when he accidentally dipped some pearls into water in which he had washed fish.
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Pendant :: An ornament suspended from a single chain
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Peridot :: Peridot is a bright yellow-green to green gemstone which is supposed to bring the wearer success, peace and good luck. Also known as gem of the sun, peridot has been used to protect against nightmares, calm tempers, and aid with asthma and sinus problems. In medieval times, peridot was used to protect the wearer from demons, but by the Renaissance, it had become a love stone, worn to promote romance.
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Polishing :: The process in the last stage of metal finishing in which a rotating instrument is dipped in a polishing substance (increases shine and eliminates flaws)
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Precious Metals :: Metals valued for their color, malleability and rarity: gold, silver and platinum
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Precious Gemstones :: Rare and costly gems: diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires
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Princess Length :: An 18-inch length necklace
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Quartz :: The family name for the naturally occurring crystals composed of silica or silicon dioxide occurring in hexagonal shape. The most common variety is colorless and transparent. Other crystalline varieties include amethyst, ametrine, citrine, rose quartz and smoky quartz. There are also a wealth of cryptocrystalline varieties including agate, onyx, sardonyx, carnelian, sard, chrysoprase, bloodstone, jasper and prase. Quartz is an essential constituent of granite, and it forms the rock quartzite and most of the sand on beaches. It's thought to promote meditation and vision.
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Repousse :: Patterns or decorations achieved with punches or chasing hammers
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Resin :: A solid or semi-solid organic (carbon based) material, either natural or synthetic. In general, non-soluble in water
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Rhinestone :: Originally rhinestone was quartz from the gold washings along the Rhine river. Today the term generally means colorless potash-and-lead glass that contains quartz in the form of melted lead crystal and is cut like a diamond. Also called strass, diamante
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Rhodium :: An expensive whitish-gray metallic element from the platinum family
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Rivière :: Necklace of stones, either all the same size or graded from a large central stone
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Rope Necklace :: A necklace measuring 37 inches or longer, the rope necklace can be worn in a variety of styles, including knotted in 1920's flapper fashion.
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Ruby :: A precious gemstone, rubies are thought to give their wearer's wisdom, happiness and health while also bringing luck to gamblers and lovers. The ruby signifies passion and love without boundaries. Fine rubies are more rare than diamonds, emeralds or sapphires, and they are the most expensive of all gems. In ancient India, rubies were used to stimulate spiritual creativity, heal diseases and soldiers used rubies to protect them in battle. Ancient Greek women believed rubies brought them love and beauty, and Roman nobles used rubies to protect their health and wealth. In the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, rubies were used as wedding stones and thought to keep passion alive and bring contentment in marriage.
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Sapphire :: Precious gemstone valued for its metaphysical properties: purity, serenity, joy, peace, beauty, love and clarity
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Sard :: A deep, orange-red to brownish-red variety of chalcedony
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Sardonyx :: A variety of onyx consisting of alternating layers of sard and white chalcedony
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Sautoir :: A long necklace, usually made of pearls or beads and often ending in a tassel; popularized in the Edwardian era and again in the 1920s
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Scarab :: An image of a beetle held sacred by ancient Egyptians, carved in a stone or gem
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Scatter Pin :: A small pin—usually a bird, insect or flower worn in groups; popular in the 1950s
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Semiprecious Stones :: Natural stones that generally have a lower value than precious stones, including amethyst, aventurine, carnelian, garnet, opal, rose quartz and others
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Silver Filled :: A mechanical bonding with a silver alloy of at least 92.5% fineness. The bonding must be equal to at least one-twentieth of the metal in the article. This can also be called silver overlay, but never silver plate.
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Silver Plate :: A fine silver film deposited on a base metal by electrolysis, in the same kind of electrically charged bath used to make gold electroplate. The film can be as thin as seven millionths of an inch. A silver plate item cannot be called sterling or bear a marking of silver.
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Smoky Quartz :: Gemstone believed to reduce depression and negativity
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Spacer Bar :: Jewelry finding used to hold multiple strands of beads in alignment and prevent tangling, are inserted at intervals while stringing the beads
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Station (or Focal Component) :: Any item that is used as the central element in a necklace, bracelet or other jewelry design. A focal component is intended to be the main attention-getter, the focal point. Examples include pendants, carved gemstone beads, cabochons in settings, etc.
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Sterling Silver :: A silver alloy made up of at least 92.5% pure silver, designated as .925
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Sugarplum :: A small candy shaped into a ball or disc
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Tailored Jewelry :: Jewelry constructed entirely of metal and without stones; introduced by Alfred Phillippe, who drew for Trifari
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Tanzanite :: A variety of zoisite named for its country of origin, Tanzania, Africa, where it was first discovered in 1967. Available in a range of blue hues from violet to lilac to deep purple, tanzanites are believed to promote spirituality.
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Tapered Baguette :: A small gemstone cut into a trapezoid shape with one end narrower than the opposite end
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Terminator :: Bond to one end of a flat bulk chain to create a jumpring attachment
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Toggle Clasp :: A fastener for necklaces and bracelets consisting of a ring on one end and a short bar on the other
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Topaz :: A fluosilicate of aluminum occurring in rhombohedral crystals. For the Egyptians, topaz was a very powerful amulet against harm, because they believed they believed that topaz was a gemstone colored with the golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra. Topaz sometimes has the amber gold of fine cognac or the blush of a peach and all the warm browns and oranges in between. Some rare topaz is pale pink to sherry red. Topaz is believed to have many healing properties and the ability to increase understanding, strengthen breathing, enhance creativity, promote relaxation and restore energy. In medieval times, topaz rings were given to heads of state and royalty to encourage wisdom. Blue topaz is rarely produced in nature and is usually a colorless topaz that has been treated to produce the blue color
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Torsade :: A popular choker-type, multi-strand necklace in which the strands twist around each other
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Trend :: a prevailing tendency or inclination; what's en vogue for fashion
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Turquoise :: A hydrous copper aluminum sulfate found in every color of blue, green-blue and deep green. Turquoise is one of the oldest opaque gemstones, dating back to 3,000 BC. The name means Turkish stone, because the first stones were found in ancient Turkey. Turquoise is believed to promote healing, friendship, luck and happiness.
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Up Eye :: Finding that can be bonded to round bead or tumbled stone to add a loop and create a pendant
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Vermeil :: Gilded or gold-colored sterling silver, copper or bronze, vermeil is usually sterling silver that is heavily electroplated with yellow gold.
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Vintage :: Used to describe something of old, recognized and enduring interest, importance or quality; a classic
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Vogue :: A period of popularity, or one that is in fashion at a particular time
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White Metal :: Alloys with heavy tin or lead content, such as pewter; also called Britannia metal or tin plate
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