Jewelry/Watch Glossary

Melee diamonds are small accent diamonds, typically less than 0.2 carats (200 milligrams) each, set in clusters or rows to add brilliance and detail to a larger jewelry piece. The...

Burnishing is a metal-finishing technique in which a smooth, hard tool is pressed and moved across the surface of a metal piece to compress and flatten the outermost layer. Unlike...

A halo setting is a style of stone setting in which a center gemstone is encircled by a continuous row of smaller accent stones, typically small diamonds called melee, arranged...

An eternity band is a ring in which gemstones - most often round brilliant diamonds - are set continuously around the full circumference of the band, with no interruption or...

Rose gold is a gold alloy created by combining pure gold with copper, which produces the warm pinkish-red tone the metal is recognized for. The ratio of copper to gold...

A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond that is produced in a laboratory rather than mined from the earth. It shares the exact same chemical composition - pure crystallized carbon...

Moissanite is a gemstone composed of silicon carbide, originally discovered in 1893 in a meteor crater by chemist Henri Moissan. Natural moissanite is extraordinarily rare, so virtually all moissanite available...

Vermeil (pronounced "ver-MAY") is a jewelry finish in which a thick layer of gold, at least 2.5 microns deep, is bonded to a sterling silver base. Unlike standard gold plating,...

Palladium is a rare, naturally white precious metal belonging to the platinum group of elements. It shares many characteristics with platinum, including its bright silvery-white color, impressive resistance to tarnish,...