Glossary of Foxy Rocks
CZ - Cubic Zirconia
is zirconium oxide (ZrO2), a mineral that is extremely rare in nature, but is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colourless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most gemologically and economically important diamond simulant since 1976. While CZs are a reasonably tough stone, scoring a respectable 8.5 on the Mohs scale (diamonds are hardest at a top-of-the-scale 10), wear and tear can take their toll over time.
Electroplating
Plating or electroplating (also called Galvanotechnics after its inventor, Luigi Galvani) is a process in which one metal is coated with another metal using electricity. In jewelry, inexpensive metals are frequently electroplated with more expensive metals, like gold (gold plating), copper (electrocoppering), rhodium (rhodanizing), chromium (chromium plating), or silver (silver plating).
Enameled
Orignally meant glass inlaid over metal. Today includes that intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion. Various methods exist for giving a smooth, glossy surface such as painting with enamel colors upon a ground of metal, porcelain, or the like, the colors being afterwards fixed by fire.
Faceted
A faceted stone has small, flat-cut surfaces that make a sparkling effect on transparent stones, although translucent and even sometimes opaque stones are faceted. Traditionally, diamonds, rubies and sapphires are faceted to show off their brilliance. Today many CZ and crystals have artistically crafted facets.
Filigree
delicate and intricate ornamentation (usually in gold or silver or other fine twisted wire)
Freshwater Pearls
A freshwater pearl is a pearl that was harvested from a freshwater mussel (a mollusk). These pearls are frequently shaped like crisped rice cereal, and are less valuable than oyster pearls. Biwa pearls are very good quality freshwater pearls, freshwater pearls are mostly cultured in China today.
Gold Plated
Gold-plated metal has a very thin layer of gold on the surface, usually applied by the process of electroplating. Pieces that are gold plated are often marked G.E.P., gold electroplate, gold plated, or electro-plaqu.
Lavalier
A lavalier is a pendant with a dangling stone that hangs from a necklace. Lavaliers were named for the infamous Duchess Louise de La Valliere (1644-1710), a French woman who was a mistress of the French king Louis XIV (and was involved in many intrigues at court).
Marcasite
The use of the word marcasite as a jewelry trade name. The term is applied to metallic, brassy-colored small polished and faceted stones that are inlayed in sterling silver. But even though they are called marcasite, they are actually pyrite.
MOP - Mother of pearl, cultured from oysters.
SS - Sterling Silver
Alloy of silver (92.5 percent) and usually copper (7.5 percent). Inexpensive silver cleaners work as well as more expensive jewelry store brands. Pure silver alone is too soft for everyday use. Copper is the metal commonly used to give 'Sterling' its added stiffness and wearing qualities. Sterling is often referred to as solid silver. It is composed of 925 parts pure silver in every 1000 -- this proportion never varies -- it is fixed by law
Swarovski
In 1895 Daniel Swarovski founded a family-owned company specializing in the cutting of jewelry stones. These crystals were so superior in quality that the company's name was soon well-known in Paris, America and the Russian Empire. Today it is synonymous with high definition glass which gives the "crystal" an exceptionally bright appearance.
Translucent
Translucent stones allow light to pass through them, but the light is scattered (diffused). Some translucent stones include moonstones, opals, and carnelian. Lucite and other plastics can also be translucent.
Transparent
Transparent stones allow light to pass through them without scattering (diffusing) the light. Some translucent stones include diamond, zircon (CZ), emerald, quartz crystal, and ruby. Crystal, crystal beads and plastics like lucite can also be transparent.
Vermeil
Vermeil (pronounced 'vermay') is a French word describing gold plated sterling silver. The sterling silver in vermeil has been electroplated with at least 100 millionths of an inch of karat gold.