Jewelry Glossary - C

• Cab Mate
  Complete cabochon machine with light.
  
• Cable Chain
  Simple chain with interlocking identical links in a pattern of vertical links connected by horizontal links.
  
• Cabochon
  A polished gemstone with a flat bottom and domed top, usually oval or round (not faceted). However, cabochons may also be shapes such as hearts, crosses, freeform, and other shapes.
  
• Cabochon Unit
  A combination machine used for making cabochons from the sawing through polishing stages.
  
• Cameo
  An engraved cabochon, usually cut from a color-layered material.
  
• Carat
  A unit of weight for gemstones. There are 5 carats to a gram.
  
• Carborundum
  Silicon carbide. Synthetic hard material used for grinding wheels, cutting and sanding grits, and lapidary tools.
  
• Carriage
  That part of the saw which feeds the material into the blade.
  
• Casting Flask
  Steel flask to hold the investment for casting.
  
• Casting Machine
  Any of several kinds of machines made for casting metal.
  
• Cat's-Eye
  The phenomenal property of some gems with fiber or tube inclusions to produce luminous "eyes" if properly oriented.
  
• Caulking Compound
  Used as a grout for some mosaics.
  
• Centrifugal Caster
  A casting machine with a heavy spring which swings the arm to force the molten metal into the flask.
  
• Ceramic Soldering Block
  A lightweight, fire-proof, smooth block for soldering.
  
• Chamois Buff
  A wheel buff or hand buff with chamois surface for polishing jewelry.
  
• Champlevé
  An enamel technique in which depressed areas in the metal are filled with enamel.
  
• Channel
  Stone inlay in a metal framework of flat wire cells.
  
• Charge
  Impregnating a grinding or polishing wheel or disc with the desired compound.
  
• Chasing
  Texturizing metal with chisel-like tools.
  
• Chasing Hammer
  A hammer with a large flat head used for striking the chasing tool.
  
• Chatelaine
  A metal pin with swivel chains for hanging objects sude as a watch, keys, scissors, etc.
  
• Chatoyance
  The phenomenal quality of some gems to reflect movable light bands.
  
• Cheater
  A faceting machine device for moving a mounted gemstone sideways.
  
• Chinese White
  A white substance which is brushed on metal so a pattern or design can be drawn on it.
  
• Chrome Oxide
  A dark green polish powder often used for jade.
  
• Chuck
  An attachment for holding the mounted preform or other piece of work. A clamp for holding the dop sitck for a faceting handpiece.
  
• Clamps
  Usually refers to C-clamps, which have a C shape and a threaded bolt which can be tightened to hold two parts together.
  
• Cleavage
  The property of a crystalline material to break in a specific way, leaving a somewhat smooth break.
  
• Cleavage Angle
  The angle created between cleavage faces when a mineral is split.
  
• Clipped Solder
  Metal solder which can be purchased ready for use in bottles of 1mm squares.
  
• Cloisonné
  Cells of rectangular wire are placed in a pattern on a metal surface, filled with enamel, and fired.
  
• Cluster Ring
  A ring made to set a group of small stones.
  
• Coin Jewelry
  Coins mounted to wear as jewelry.
  
• Cold Dop
  A method of dopping sensitive stones with cold cement.
  
• Collet Hammer
  Hammer with a double head, one part domed, the other a modified shape.
  
• Collet Setting
  Setting with the stone in a metal collar.
  
• Conchoidal
  A shell-like fracture of concentric smooth curves found in some minerals such as obsidian.
  
• Concretion
  A concentration of sediments harder than surrounding rock and usually formed around a nucleus.
  
• Conglomerate
  A cutting material in which rounded grains and pebbles are naturally cemented together by chalcedony or another agent.
  
• Contaminant
  Harder or larger particles on laps or buffs which cause scratches on stones.
  
• Copper Tongs
  Used for removing metal from pickle.
  
• Core Drill
  A tube drill which cuts cylinders of stone.
  
• Cork Lap
  A lap used for cabochons and small flats.
  
• Costume Jewelry
  Fashion jewelry. Jewelry which keeps pace with current styles and fads.
  
• Crown
  That part of a faceted stone which is about the girdle.
  
• Crucibles
  Containers for melting metals.
  
• Cryptocrystalline
  Materials with microscopic crystalline structure.
  
• Crystal
  A solid with regular atomic internal arrangement bound by definitely patterned external planes.
  
• Crystalite Discs
  Fast cutting diamond discs.
  
• Crystalline
  Materials with precise atomic internal structure but without the external shapes composed of definite planes.
  
• Cuff Bracelet
  Wide rigid bracelet with narrow opening.
  
• Culet
  The bottom facet on the pavilion of a brilliant cut stone.
  
• Cultured Pearls
  Induced pearls of various shapes and colors grown in pearl farms or fisheries and widely used for jewerly.
  
• Curb Chain
  A chain with flattened links each fastened to the next in the same manner.
  
• Cushion
  A facet cut shaped like a square with rounded corners.
  
• Cutter
  A lapidary.
  
• Cuttlebone Casting
  Carving patterns in cuttlebone for direct casting.
  
• Cylinder
  Cylinder-shaped cut stones, often with engraved designs.