Jewelry Essentials 1

A gold alloy that contains 75 percent pure gold is what? (in karats)

18K

A mixture of two or more metals.

Alloy

An electrochemical process that results in a protective or decorative coating on metal.

Anodizing

Non-precious metals such as copper, zinc, tin, nickel, lead, and iron.

Base Metals

The value a feature holds to a customer (aesthetic, psychological, or practical)

Benefit

Jewelry made of gold that's less than 14K or lightweight 14K, gold-filled metal or sterling silver, and with or without lower-quality gems.

Bridge Jewelry

Silver that's 95.8 percent fine, represented by a lion's head or the seated figure of Britannia.

Britannia Silver

A measure of gem weight

Carat

Sterling Silver is an alloy of fine silver and what?

Copper

What metal does a goldsmith add to gold to get an alloy with a reddish color?

Copper

Deterioration by a chemical action.

Corrosion

Jewelry manufacturing method where a machine cuts blanks of jewelry metals to the sizes and shapes needed for the jewelry item. A blank is then placed between the punch and the mold and subjected to tremendous pressure. This shapes and compresses the metal to produce a dense, durable product.

Die Striking

Able to be drawn into wire or hammered into sheets without breaking.

Ductile

Long-lasting, especially without sustaining damage or wear.

Durable

Jewelry manufacturing method where wax copies are created and coated with a thin layer of conductive paint, then submerged in an electrically charged solution that contains precious metal particles. The charged particles bond to the coating, building a metallic surface. When the precious metal layer is the desired thickness, the manufacturer removes the forms. A heating process melts the wax out through a small hole in the rigid metal shell.

Electroforming

Using electricity to deposit a coating of precious metal, suspended in a solution, on another metal.

Electroplating

Jewelry that might be made of base metals, plastic, wood, or other common materials, with or without sterling silver or gold plate. If it's set with gems, they might be synthetics or imitations.

Fashion Jewelry

A characteristic or part of a piece of jewelry

Features

A metal virtually free of impurities or alloying metals. Rates 1000.

Fine

Jewelry made of 14K or finer gold, sterling silver, or platinum. If it contains gems, they're high quality and usually of substantial size.

Fine Jewelry

A measure of the purity of a precious metal, based on parts per thousand.

Fineness

A British stamp that indicates the purity and origin of a precious metal.

Hallmark

Jewelry manufacturing method where every element is formed, assembled, joined, and finished entirely by hand or with hand tools.

Hand Fabrication

How well a metal resists scratching and denting.

Hardness

The weight or heaviness of an object compared to its size.

Heft

A unit of measure for the fineness of gold, based on a total of 24 parts, abbreviated "K."

Karat

A lion walking with its farthest forepaw raised; Britain's mark for sterling silver. (92.5 percent pure)

Lion Passant

Jewelry manufacturing method by which a duplicate metal sculpture is cast from an original sculpture using wax and investment.

Lost-Wax Casting

The appearance of a material's surface in reflected light.

Luster

Jewelry manufacturing method that begins with a precious metal ingot. After drilling a hole through the center and smoothing the outer surface, the manufacturer forces the ingot through a series of shaping steps that condense and elongate it into a tube, then cuts blanks from it that are slightly larger than the finished jewelry item. The blanks are mounted on cutting or milling machines for trimming to the desired size and shape, then given a final polish.

Machining

Able to be shaped or bent without breaking.

Malleable

The tendency of a metal to return to its previous shape.

Metal Memory

Jewelry item with space for holding gems.

Mounting

A metal with properties similar to platinum—is also considered by many to be a precious metal.

Palladium

Soft, rich surface appearance that develops with age.

Patina

Depositing a metal coating electrically or applying it mechanically onto another metal.

Plating

The precious metal with the least metal memory.

Platinum

Metals valued in jewelry, specifically gold, platinum, and silver.

Precious Metals

Setting style consisting of narrow metal supports that hold a gem in its mounting.

Prong Setting

The way a gem is secured in its mounting.

Setting Style

1. Approach the Customer 2. Exchange Information 3. Build Value 4. Create Desire 5.Trial Close 6. Close the Sale 7. Follow Up

Seven Steps of a Sale

Which polished metal shines more brightly than any other metal on earth?

Silver

Most popular silver alloy in the world, contains 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper.

Sterling Silver

A mild form of corrosion caused by contact with chemical elements or compounds in the environment.

Tarnish

Maximum stretching force a metal can withstand before breaking.

Tensile Strength

Misrepresenting the precious metal content of a jewelry item.

Underkarating

Sterling silver base coated with gold or gold alloy of 10K or finer. The coating must be at least 2.5 microns thick.

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