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Glossary of Jewellery Making Terms
- Findings - All types of fasteners, and construction components used in jewelry making.
- ID - inside diameter.
- OD - outside diameter.
- Craft Wire - Craft wire is made out of copper wire, actual metal wire, and plated or coloured. It bends like wire, and stays bent, and can be used for wrapping gemstones, or other activities where the bent shape is acceptable, or even planned.
- Tiger Tail - Tiger tail is actually fine cable, made from fine wires twisted together, usually with a nylon coating over it. It is more flexible and holds a 'necklace' sort of a shape. It is good for bead stringing.
- Cable Chain - A chain made of oval intersecting links which lie at 90 degrees to each other as opposed to curb chain where the links are twisted to enable the chain to lie flat.
- Charm Ring - Ring with a separate charm attached to the ring band, often using loops on the top of the ring.
- Pewter - A somewhat dull silver-colored alloy of tin, antimony, and copper. Pewter items are described and marked as such if they contain at least 90% tin. Also known as Britannia metal.
- Crimp Bead - Small, soft metal beads that are squeezed shut to secure loops of threading material fasteners onto clasps.
- Eyepin - A wire finding with a loop at one end. used for linking beads or beaded links together.
- Jump Ring - A small wire ring, not soldered shut, used to link elements of jewelry.
- Split Ring - Small base metal finding resembling a key-ring.
- Clasp - A lock or closure used to fasten a necklace, bracelet, etc. that makes it easy to put on or take off a piece of jewelry and is designed to prevent loss. Typical clasps are a Lobster Claw, Barrel Lock, Pearl Clasp, or Spring Ring. Clasps may be hidden or a featured part of an items design such as a toggle clasp, which is worn in the front, and is used on many necklaces and bracelets.
- Curb Chain - A flat link chain with rounded edges also called a service chain because it was used by many serviceman for religious medals and other jewelry.
- Lever Back - An earring finding with a snap back "lever" which can be affixed to an earring or have a loop at the bottom from which the earring will dangle.
- Palladium - A member of the Platinum group. Palladium is lighter and less expensive than platinum and is mixed with yellow gold to create white gold.
- Pendant - A charm or other item worn on a chain that swings freely.
- Spring Ring - A ring shaped clasp with an internal spring which is drawn back to open and released to close. Spring rings are inexpensive clasps commonly used on lightweight neck chains and bracelets.
- Stick Pin - An ornamental item on a long rigid wire that is pinned through fabric. A clutch is fastened at the bottom to prevent loss.
- Stud Earrings - Also called studs, small post style pierced earrings, sometimes set with gemstones. Diamond studs are probably the most popular type of Diamond earrings.
- Studs - Worn on men's tuxedo shirts instead of buttons. Also, a term used to describe stud earrings.
- Tie Tack - An ornament pinned through a tie and secured with a clutch. Some styles of tie tacs have a small piece of chain attached to the clutch with a tiny bar at the end to connect to a button hole in a shirt.
- Chandelier Earrings - An earring with a drop suspended like a chandelier.
- Cluster Earring - Decorative combination of glass and/or metal beads and stones.
Gemstone Glossary
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