Jewelry/Watch Glossary

Sterling silver is a metal alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper. Pure silver is too soft for most jewelry applications, so the copper addition...

A channel setting is a stone-mounting style where a row of gemstones is secured side by side between two parallel metal walls called channels. The walls grip the stones on...

Sizing beads (sometimes called sizing balls) are small metal beads added to the inside of a ring band to help the ring fit more snugly without permanently resizing the entire...

The shank is the band portion of a ring that encircles your finger. It connects to the head (where the center stone sits) and provides the structural foundation of the...

A prong setting uses small metal claws—typically four or six—to hold a gemstone securely in place. The prongs grip the stone at its edges, elevating it above the band to...

Soldering is a metalworking technique that joins two pieces of metal using heat and a metal alloy called solder. The solder melts at a lower temperature than the base metal,...

A bezel setting encircles a gemstone with a thin metal rim that wraps around its edges, holding it securely in place. Unlike prong settings, bezels offer superior protection for the...

A pavé diamond setting (pronounced "pah-vay") refers to a jewelry setting style where small diamonds or gemstones are set closely together, covering the surface of the metal to give the...

A style of diamond cutting that was popular before the development of modern cutting techniques. Antique cuts, such as the Old European cut or Rose cut, typically have larger facets...