Glossary
Antiques & Collectables
Glossary of antique and collectable terms There are 856 entries in this glossary.
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Baton |
A baton is a stone that is cut in a long thin rectangular shape that is larger than a baguette. |
| Bayadre |
A bayadre is a pearl necklace that has many strands of pearls twisted together. |
| Beads |
Beads are small objects, each with a hole through it for stringing. Beads are made of glass, stones, wood, plastics, seeds, and ceramics. |
| Bell Cap |
A bell cap is a jewellery finding that is used to convert a hole-less bead or stone into a pendant. A bell cap is glued onto the bead or stone and had a loop for attaching to the piece of jewellery
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| Benitoite |
Benitoite is a rare, blue gemstone that is found mostly in the San Benito River in San Benito County, near Coalinga, California. Lesser quality benitoite is found in Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. This gemstones is strongly dichroic; although Benitoite is blue when viewed from most directions, it appears colourless when viewed in a single direction (the c-axis). Some unusual Benitoite is blue, but pink or orange when viewed through the c-axis. Benitoite is BaTiSi3O9 (Barium Titanium Silicate); no one is sure what element causes the blue colour of benitoite, but it may be iron. Benitoite has a very unusual crystalline shape - it is the only known ditrigonal-dipyramidal crystal. Large stones (over 1 or 2 carats) are exceedingly rare. Benitoite was discovered in California in 1907, either by Mr. Hawkins and T. Edwin Sanders or James Marshall Couch (the story is in dispute). Heat-treated benitoite becomes orange; these stones are more expensive. Benito means "blessed" in Spanish. Benitoite is California's official state gemstone since 1985. Benitoite has a hardness of 6 - 6.5, a specific gravity of 3.68, and a refractive index of 1.757 - 1.804.
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| Beryl |
Beryls are a family of gemstone that include emerald, aquamarine, beryl (green), red, morganite (yellow), and heliodor (pink). Internal flaws in beryl gems can be hidden by treating the stone with oil (this is often not disclosed to the buyer). Beryl has a hardness of 7 - 8, a specific gravity of 2.6 - 2.9, and the chemical formula Be3Al2SiO6.
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| Bezel |
The bezel is the part of a cut stone that protrudes above the edge of a setting. The bezel is also known as the crown. |
| Bezel Setting |
A bezel setting is a way of setting a stone in which a band of metal around the outside of the stone holds the stone
|
| Bib Necklace |
A bib necklace, also known as a collarette, is a short necklace with flowing ornaments in the front.
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| Biedermeier Jewellery |
Following the turmoil of the Napoleonic wars, many of the countries of Europe were in financial crisis and none more so than Prussia. Precious metals were unobtainable. Gold and silver jewellery had to be surrendered to the State to further the war effort, and the State provided substitutes in iron. The link between iron and patriotism was further reinforced by the introduction of the Iron Cross as the highest military honour. Between 1813 until around 1842, enterprising jewellers and metalworkers set to work and produced some remarkable jewellery made from iron and steel. The finest jewellery was made at Gleiwitz in Silesia and also in Berlin. Casting was used to make much of the jewellery, and pieces of amazing delicacy were produced, attributable so it was claimed, to the type of sand used. Other pieces such as necklaces and brooches were made by drawing out the iron into fine wire, and weaving it to make a delicate mesh. The quality of workmanship in the finest pieces is astonishing and deservedly finds a place amongst the jewellery made from gold and other precious metals |
| Birefringence |
Birefringence is another name for double refraction. In doubly-refractive stones, the light entering the stone is split into two light rays, and the rays travel in different paths. These stones have more than one refractive index. Calcite, peridot, zircon, tourmaline, and titanite are doubly-refractive stones. |
| Birth Stone |
In the 1930's, the British and U.S. jewellery industries assigned stones to the months of the year as follows: January - Garnet |
| Birthstone |
In the 1930's, the British and U.S. jewellery industries assigned stones to the months of the year as follows: January - Garnet
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| Biscuit |
Fired but unglazed pottery |
| Biwa Pearls |
Biwa pearls are small, unusually shaped cultured pearls from the freshwater mussels of Lake Biwa, Japan. These irregularly-shaped pearls are smoother and more lustrous than most other freshwater pearls. First produced in the 1930s, their quality rivalled that of both natural and cultured salt water pearls, and they were far less expensive to own. For many years any freshwater pearl was called a Biwa, regardless of its provenance.
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| Black Hills Gold |
Black Hills gold is gold jewellery that is made, but not always mined, in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, USA. Gold was first discovered in that area about 1874 by Horatio N. Ross. E.O Lampinen opened the Black Hills Jewellery Manufacturing Company in Deadwood, South Dakota in the early 1900's. Modern day Black Hills jewellery often has a three-colour (yellow gold, pink gold and green gold) grape leaf and vine pattern. There are many companies that make Black Hills jewellery today, but by law, their creations must be made from Black Hills gold. This jewellery is often (but not always) 10 Karat gold.
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| Black Moonstone |
Black moonstone is a type of Labradorite and not true moonstone
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| Black Opal |
Black opals are a valuable type of precious opals with a dark ground colour They are luminous, iridescent, and frequently have inclusions of many colours ("fire"). Opal is a mineral composed of silica (and some water) and is a species of quartz. The rainbow-like iridescence is caused by tiny crystals of cristobalite. Many opals have a high water content - they can dry out and crack if they are not cared for well (opals should be stored in damp cotton wool). Black opals are found in Australia. Opals have a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 and a specific gravity of 1.98-2.50
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| Black Pearls |
Black pearls, also called Tahitian pearls, are dark-coloured pearls. They are produced by the large, black-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera (also called the Tahitian black pearl oyster), a mollusc found in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. Black pearls come in many colours, including many body shades and overtone tints including grey (light grey to almost black), peacock green (especially valuable), aubergine (eggplant), and deep brown. The colour of the dark nacre is determined by the minerals in the oyster's diet (plankton) and in its environment. Many "black pearls" are dyed or irradiated to enhance or change their colour; it is difficult to tell a natural pearl from a treated pearl. Tahitian pearls are graded on six factors: 1. Shape (round is most valued) The most sought-after colour is peacock green and darker colours are more valuable Overtone colours include blue, pink, gold, silver, aubergine, and peacock green).
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| Black Star Diopside |
Black star of India is another name for Black Star diopside (CaMgSi2O6), an opaque black gem with a white, four-rayed star (an asterism). These stones are found mostly in India. Stones are generally cut cabochon and are not enhanced. It has a hardness of 5.5 and a specific gravity of 3.3 - 3.6.
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