Jewelry Glossary - D

• Dapping Block
  Blocks with dies and punches to fit, for shaping metal.
  
• Dapping Punch
  When tapped with a hammer in the die, forms half a dome.
  
• Dendritic
  Moss- and branch-like shapes and markings; developed during crystallization of ore and manganese compounds, often caused by manganese or iron minerals.
  
• Dental Tools
  These small, well-made tools are used by carvers.
  
• Diamond Cut
  Brilliant engraving cuts on metal for greater luster.
  
• Diamond Drill
  A gem drill using diamond points.
  
• Diamond Dust
  Also called diamond powder or diamond grits, used in cutting and polishing gemstones.
  
• Diamond Paste
  Diamond particles in a paste compound.
  
• Diamond Saw
  A gem-cutting saw with the blade edges with diamonds.
  
• Diamond Wheel
  Grinding wheel with diamond-impregnated surface.
  
• Diamond Wheel Dresser
  Tool used to true the silicon carbide grinding wheels.
  
• Dichroism
  Literally two colors. A gemstone with this property shows two colors when viewed from different directions.
  
• Dispersion
  The separation of white light into the colors of the spectrum.
  
• Dop
  Also dop stick. A rod of metal or wood to held the gemstone during the required stages for finishing it.
  
• Dopping Block
  A faceting machine device for correctly aligning two dop sticks for the transfer process.
  
• Dopping Wax
  Any of several kinds of wax used to attach stones to a dop stick.
  
• Double Cabochon
  A cabochon which is rounded or domed on the bottom as well as the top. Two-sided cabochon.
  
• Doublet
  A gemstone made of two layers of material.
  
• Dowel
  Round wood rods used for dop sticks.
  
• Draw Plates
  Strong metal plates with many holes for changing wire's size or shape.
  
• Drawing
  Wire can be reduced in size or changed in shape by pulling through the draw plate.
  
• Dremel Tool
  Motorized variable speed handpiece for working on stone.
  
• Drill Bits
  The points used in a machine for drilling which do the actual cutting.
  
• Drill Press
  A machine which holds the drill and the work to be drilled.
  
• Drop Casting
  Dropping molten metal into ice water for freeform shapes.
  
• Drum Sander
  A sanding wheel for abrasive belts, either strip or endless. Some drum sanders are expandable.
  
• Drusy Cavities
  Hollow spaces within a rock, such as volcanics, that are filled with a collection of secondary minerals.
  
• Dust Collector
  A system of filtering dust from the air of a lapidary shop. Combinations of blowers, filters, and suction.
  
• Dwt
  Abbreviation for the troy weight unit "penny-weight."