Cameo through Dog Collar
Interest piqued? This dog collar is not for your Pekinese…
Cameo
A style of gem carving where the design is in relief. Jewelry cameos are often made of shell or stones with layers of colors which form the foreground and background of the design. Cameos have been carved since ancient times.
Carat
The standard unit of measured weight for diamonds and gemstones. One carat (ct) is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 “points.” A .50 ct stone is the same as a 50-point or 1/2-carat stone. Just ask Bugs Bunny … the more carats the better!
Certification (or Diamond Grading Reports)
A report from a gemological laboratory that can grade the quality of your stones for a fee. The most universally recognized laboratory is the GIA, Gemological Institute of America.
Circa
Vintage jewelry is attributed a date preceeded by”circa” which indicates it was manufactured within 10 years before or after the given date.
Clarity
In your life this might mean a moment of infinite wisdom, but in a gemstone, clarity is a term used to describe the relative lack of flaws or blemishes inside and on the surface of the gem. A diamond often has natural imperfections, commonly referred to as inclusions. Inclusions in most jewelry grade diamonds are undetectable by the human eye, and can only be seen with 10X magnification. Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection called clarity.
Cluster setting
A popular look for the bold “Right Hand Ring”, this style setting surrounds a larger center stone with several smaller stones. It is designed to create a beautiful larger ring from many smaller stones.
Color
One of the 4 C’s in grading diamonds. Color is a term used for the degree of color saturation or lack of color in gems. Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Fancy colors refer to diamonds with hues like pink, blue, green, yellow, and very rarely red. Fancy colors are not included in this color scale and are considered extremely rare.
Crown
This is the upper portion or the top of a diamond. Just remember what the Queen wears on top of her head!
Culet
The miniature facet at the bottom point of the diamond. It may be polished in some stones.
Cultured Pearl
A pearl produced by the insertion of an irritant into a mollusk.
Cushion cut
A mixed-cut diamond shaped like a square pillow with round corners.
Cut
To “make the cut”, a skilled craftsman has to transform a rough diamond into a perfectly polished diamond. Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and, disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in maximum refraction, brilliance and fire. Cut can make the difference in bringing out the ultimate beauty in a gemstone.
Dog Collar
Also known as a Collier de Chien, this wide “choker” style necklace is worn closely around the neck just above the collar bone. The style was made popular around the turn of the century by King Edward’s elegant and style- setting Queen, Alexandra.
Tags: 4 C’s, Cameos, carats, center stone, Certification, choker, Circa, Clarity, Cluster setting, Color, Crown, Culet, cultured pearl, Cushion cut, Cut, diamond, Dog Collar, Fancy colors, Gemological Institute of America, gemstone, GIA, Inclusions, jewelry, necklace, Pearl, Right Hand Ring, ring, Vintage jewelry