Jewelery jargon: understanding the key terms

Have you ever felt lost in the world of jewelry because of the many specific terms you don't understand? Don't worry, you are not alone! The world of jewelry is filled with jargon and technical terms that can seem strange and confusing to the uninitiated. In this article, we'll help you understand some of the most commonly used jewelry terms.

Carats

The carat is a unit of measurement used for precious stones, such as diamonds. One carat equals 0.2 grams and the higher the carat number, the larger and more valuable the stone.

Purity

Purity is a term used to describe the clarity of a gemstone. Natural gemstones may contain inclusions or impurities, which affect their appearance and value. Purity is measured on a scale ranging from "FL" (flawless, without defects) to "I3" (inclusions visible to the naked eye).

Color

Color is another important factor for gemstones, especially diamonds. Diamonds are graded on a scale from "D" (purest) to "Z" (most colorful). The closer a diamond is to category "D", the more valuable it is.

Crimping

Setting is how a stone is set in a piece of jewelry. There are different types of settings, such as claw setting (the stone is held by claws), pavé setting (the stones are fixed side by side) and chaton setting (the stone is held in a kind of small basket ).

Metal

Metal is another important element in jewelry. The most commonly used metals are gold, silver and platinum. Gold jewelry is often marked with a number followed by "k" to indicate gold content. For example, "14k" means the piece of jewelry contains 14 out of 24 parts pure gold.

Ultimately, understanding these key terms can help you make more informed decisions when buying jewelry. Do not hesitate to ask your jeweler questions if you need more information on these terms or other aspects of jewelry.