Jewelry Glossary - A

• 1. Abrasives
     The grits, usually silicon carbide or diamond, used to shape gemstones. 
  2. Acetylene Torch
     Portable silversmithing torch which burns acetylene and air. 
     
  3. Adamantine
     The diamond-like luster of certain gems. 
     
  4. Adularescence
     A milky reflection of light on a gem such as the blue or silvery appearance of moonstone. 
     
  5. Airbrasive Unit
     A small-scale sandblaster used with a variety of powdered abrasives for the delicate cleaning of fossils. 
     
  6. Alcohol Lamp
     A small lamp often used for dopping cabochons or faceted stones. 
     
  7. Alloy
     Two or more metals in combination. (For example, sterling is silver plus copper.) 
     
  8. Almag
     An oil often used as a coolant for slab or trim saws. 
     
  9. Alumina
     Highly refined aluminum oxide used as a polishing agent. 
     
  10. Aluminum Pencil
      This pencil leaves guidelines on stones which will not wash off. 
      
  11. Amber
      Fossilized tree sap, occasionally containing preserved insects as inclusions. 
      
  12. Ammonite
      A group of mollusks (molluscs) extinct since the Cretaceous Period whose modern relatives include the chambered nautilus, squid, and octopus. 
      
  13. Amorphous
      Meaning formless; describes gem materials without orderly atomic structure. 
      
  14. Angle Pointer
      Points to the desired angle on a faceting head. 
      
  15. Angle Quadrant
      Shows the degrees from 0 to 90 for faceting angles. 
      
  16. Angle Stop
      Prevents accidentally overcutting the desired angle on a faceting machine. 
      
  17. Annealing
      The process of heating metal to keep it workable. 
      
  18. Anode
      The positive terminal of an electrolytic cell used with a plating solution.  
  19. Anti-oxidant
      Liquid applied to places solder should not flow. 
      
  20. Antiquing
      Applying a finish to jewelry to make it look old. For example, using liver-of-sulphur to blacken silver. 
      
  21. Anvil
      Metal stake used for forming or raising metal. 
      
  22. Apex
      The bottom point of a faceted stone. 
      
  23. Appliqué
      Laying one layer of metal upon another to produce dimension and design. 
      
  24. Arbor
      A rod, bar, or shaft which holds the wheels for cutting, grinding, sanding, and polishing. 
      
  25. Art Deco
      Jewelry of the early 20th century featuring abstract and geometric lines. 
      
  26. Art Nouveau
      Jewelry of the turn of the 20th century with flowing lines and realistic motifs. 
      
  27. Assembled Carving
      A carving made of several parts, often of different materials and colors assembled into one unit. 
      
  28. Asterism
      A quality present in some gem materials which makes it possible to cut "star" cabochons. Inclusions make the stars possible.