There's a lot to know when it comes to fashion jewelry, so we put together this glossary of the most common terms to be familiar with.

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A common number that represents the percentage of pure silver in a piece of jewelry made from sterling silver. The number 925 represents 92.5% pure silver, the legal minimum to be considered sterling silver. Quality sterling silver should have this number stamped somewhere on the piece.

An alloy is a combination of different types of metals.

Soft precious metals like silver and gold are usually alloyed with stronger metals.

Amber is an organic gemstone formed by fossilized tree resin.

It has a transparent, yellow-orange color that has been treasured for thousands of years.

Jewelry that is valuable due to its age. The term "antique" technically means at least 100 years old, though it's often used to refer to any piece that's prized for its age.

A ring style made of a solid piece of metal without gemstones or other decorations.

A type of bracelet that, instead of a flexible chain, is a solid piece of metal. When worn with other bangles pieces, they create a distinctive sound.

Barbell earrings consist of a straight or curved metal band with two metal balls on either end to secure the earring.

A pearl with an irregular, non-spherical shape. Baroque pearls are typically less valuable than more symmetrical pearls.

For gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry, the base metal represents the primary type of metal used, which is then coated with gold. Base metals are typically not precious metals and instead typically include aluminum, copper, nickel, or zinc.

Beryl is a class of minerals with a large range of colors. The name comes from elements of beryllium in the mineral. The names of the gemstones derived from beryl are determined by its color, with the most well-known being emerald (green, and the most valuable variety), aquamarine (greenish-blue), morganite (pink or orange), and heliodor (green-yellow or yellow).

A bib necklace is a type of necklace with a large decorative section that extends from the front of the neck to the chest, similar to a bib.

Birthstones are specific gemstones assigned to the month of one's birthdate. The idea comes from the first-century historian Josephus. The official list of gemstones was codified in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers, now known as Jewelers of America.

A finish is popular in fashion jewelry that, unlike a polished surface, is designed to have a duller and weathered look.

A gemstone "cut" that is in fact not cut, but rather smoothly polished in any shape.

A type of dangerous metal known to cause health problems in the kidneys, bones, and lungs. Cadmium is illegal for use in jewelry but is sometimes included by low-quality manufacturers.

A type of bracelet with multiple attached ornaments.

A necklace length of 14 to 16 inches. A choker necklace is one worn tightly around the neck. The style has been around since at least Victorian times, peaked in popularity in the 1990s, and made a comeback in the 2010s.

A fastener for jewelry, most commonly used in bracelets and necklaces.

A necklace length of 12 to 13 inches.

The current style of jewelry, as opposed to older vintage or antique styles.

A bright orange-reddish metal used as a base metal for fashion jewelry, as well as an alloy in a number of metals such as silver and gold. Copper’s distinctive color creates the faint pink shade in rose gold.

The process by which a metal or other element is broken down chemically. It can happen to common base metals like copper, silver, and brass. While gold and platinum do corrode, it requires special chemicals not found in the air to induce a reaction.

Another term for fashion jewelry, inspired by the use of non-precious jewelry on film sets during the Golden Age of film.

The qualities that go into a piece of jewelry. This includes the design of the piece, the alloying and shaping of the metals used, the cutting and polishing of the gemstone, and the placing of the gemstone in the final piece.

An artificial crystal that looks similar to a diamond. It is formed by heating zirconium dioxide, to which coloring may or may not be added. Not to be confused with zircon.

Real pearls created by manually adding a piece of mother of pearl to the inside of a mollusk. The mollusk is then raised on a farm as the pearl grows. The majority of pearls sold today are cultured pearls. Not to be confused with natural pearls or fake pearls. 

Abbreviation for cubic zirconia.

Earrings that fall below the earlobe and are designed to move.

Demi-fine jewelry sits between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry. It is typically made from a base metal like silver with gold vermeil gilt.

An earring that drops below the earlobe but remains mostly fixed in place, unlike the dangle earring.

Jewelry from the Edwardian era—from 1901–1915—kept much of the inspiration of the Victorian era that preceded it, with a few subtle changes. Jewelry was frequently created with intricate filigree and milgrain designs, creating an appearance of lace or beading. White hues, such as white gold, pearls, and diamonds, found their way to prominence during this era.

A ring symbolizing the intention to marry. Traditionally, an engagement ring has a large solitaire gemstone.

A ring symbolizing neverending love or an important milestone, typically once married. Traditionally, an eternity ring is a single band set with identically cut gemstones.

The flat surfaces of a cut gemstone. All gemstone cuts have facets, with the exception of the cabochon cut.

Imitation pearls made from glass, plastic, or other imitations. Not to be confused with cultured pearls.

Any type of jewelry not made from precious metals (gold, silver, and platinum) or precious gemstones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires). Demi-fine jewelry straddles the line between fine and fashion jewelry.

Not real; made from artificial materials.

A mined or organic element used as decor on a piece of jewelry. See precious gemstones and semi-precious gemstones

Glass is formed from melted sand. It can be used as a replacement for diamonds in fashion jewelry, though like windows and wine glasses, it is brittle and can break easily.

One of the most important precious metals. Gold does not tarnish or rust and has been valued for millennia. Because it is soft, gold is typically alloyed with another metal such as copper. The ratio of gold to alloy is measured in karats. Most gold jewelry is made of yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold.

Pronounced vur-MAY, a type of jewelry considered demi-fine. That is, between fine and fashion jewelry. Gold vermeil is .925 sterling silver plated with 10K or finer gold. The gold plating must be at least 2.5 microns thick—14 times the requirement for gold-plated pieces.

A type of jewelry which, like gold-plated pieces, is covered in a thin layer of gold. Gold-filled—despite the name—is not filled with gold. Instead, it is a higher standard of gold plating that must be 1/20th gold by weight.

A type of jewelry which is covered in a thin layer of gold. Typically, the piece is built with a common base metal like copper, then a thin layer of gold is applied via a process known as electroplating. Legally, this layer must be at least 0.175 microns thick, or approximately 0.000007 inches.

A gemstone cut that resembles a heart shape.

See beryl.

See bloodstone.

Earrings made of a single ring of metal. Hoops can be varying sizes, but when close enough to hug the earlobe they're also called huggie earrings. This style of earring is also popular with men.

A type of hoop earring that closely "hugs" the earlobe, which is where the name comes from.

See eternity ring.

A common, durable metal. When used in jewelry, iron often has a weathered look that's common in pieces with a rustic or weathered look. Iron is often used in men's jewelry.

The quantity of pure gold in the metal. Since gold is very soft, it's typically alloyed with another metal such as zinc, copper, or silver. Karat represents the amount of pure gold, measured in 24 parts. Thus, 24 karat gold is pure gold, 18 karat gold is 18/24ths pure gold (75%), and so forth. The lowest legal limit to be considered gold is typically 10 karats. Not to be confused with carat.

A type of diamond that, while chemically identical to a natural diamond, is produced in a lab that simulates the heat and pressure required to make a diamond. Nearly all industrial diamonds are lab-created. Also known as lab-grown diamonds. Not to be confused with cubic zirconia.

A lariat necklace is a type of necklace that, unlike the clasp connectors found on most pieces, uses an adjustable slipknot or looping. The name comes from another term for a lasso, used by cowboys in the American West.

A type of metal known to cause a number of health problems including birth defects, brain damage, and even death. While lead is prohibited in jewelry, some low-quality manufacturers add it to increase weight.

Material made from animal hide, most commonly cowhide. It is used in some pieces of fashion jewelry and often gives the piece a Western or rustic look.

A necklace length of 20 to 24 inches. This length is most common for men's necklaces.

A 1–10 scale of the hardness of a mineral. Invented in 1812 by German geologist Friedrich Mohs, minerals are compared by using a so-called scratch test to see which minerals scratch each other. Diamonds are the hardest substance at 10 and talc the softest at 1.

Another name for nacre. See nacre.

A pearl found in a mollusk in the wild. While all pearls were originally harvested this way, they are now prohibitively expensive and are almost exclusively collector's items. Nearly all jewelry today uses cultured pearls.

See marquise cut

A piece of jewelry worn around the neck. Necklaces are typically made of chains, links, or strings of jewels. They may include an attached pendant.

A type of common metal used in many types of fashion jewelry. While nickel is mostly harmless, some people are allergic and can develop a rash to the metal. Others can develop a nickel allergy due to repeated skin contact.

A necklace length of 28 to 34 inches.

A decorative item, such as a gemstone, attached to a necklace. See necklace.

An alloy of 80–99% tin, mixed with another metal such as antimony, copper, or even silver. Pewter has a distinctive silver color, frequently with a rough surface. Worldwide, it's the fourth most common metal used in jewelry production.

There are four recognized precious gemstones: diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Amethyst was also considered a precious gem until the 19th century when new deposits proved the gem not as rare as previously thought.

A precious metal is a metal valued for its rarity and economic value. While commonly used in jewelry, precious metals are also valued as investments and a storage of wealth. Well over a dozen metals are traded, but the metals most commonly used in jewelry are gold, silver, and platinum.

A necklace length of 17 to 19 inches.

A ring symbolizing commitment. While this is most commonly a romantic gesture, it can form other types of commitment as well.

Rhodium is one of the most precious and rare metals in the world, approximately four times as valuable as gold by weight. It is used to plate white gold to maintain a brilliant, silver-colored shine.

A necklace length of 45 inches or more.

Rose gold is real gold with a reddish or pink color. The color is achieved with a higher percentage of copper alloy. See gold.

Sardonyx is a gemstone and a type of onyx with a reddish-brown color. The gem has long been believed to hold mystical properties, from the ancient Romans and Persians to today's crystal healers. Sardonyx, along with spinel and peridot, is the birthstone of August.

Semi-precious gemstones are not as rare or valuable as the four precious stones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires). There are nearly 200 semi-precious gemstones, including amber, amethyst, coral, garnet, jade, onyx, opal, quartz, topaz, turquoise, and zircon.

A precious metal used in fine and fashion jewelry. Silver is soft and nearly always alloyed with another metal. See also sterling silver.

The chemical name for the dark gray coating that appears on tarnished silver. See tarnish.

Another term for gold vermeil, primarily British. See gold vermeil.

Spinel is a naturally-occurring gemstone most commonly with a red or pink color. Its name comes from the same Latin root as the word "spine" due to its sharply-pointed crystals. Spinel, along with peridot and sardonyx, is the birthstone of August.

Earrings with bold or oversized designs, meant to draw attention to the pieces themselves. Popular in fashion jewelry in the 1980s, statement earrings have had a major comeback in the late 2010s and 2020s, influencing both fashion and fine jewelry design for both genders.

A blend of silver and other types of alloyed metals, typically copper. Sterling silver is measured by its percentage of pure silver, written as a three-digit number. Legally, sterling silver must contain at least 92.5% pure silver.

A small earring with a simple single gemstone in the front, frequently a diamond or pearl.

Sulfur is a naturally-occurring, nontoxic chemical element present in the air. When silver combines with sulfur elements, it creates silver sulfide, which we know as tarnish.

A gemstone created in a laboratory instead of mined from nature. They may include gems made from synthetic materials (such as cubic zirconia) or manmade gems that are chemically identical to a precious gemstone (like lab-created diamonds).

A thin layer of corrosion that occurs on specific types of metals including silver, copper, and brass. Tarnish may be removed with manual polishing or certain chemicals designed to remove tarnish.

A necklace with one or more tassels as decoration, either along the chain or as a pendant.

See pear cut.

Also spelled torc or torq, a torque necklace is a type of necklace made of a solid piece of metal.

Also spelled torc or torq, a torque necklace is a type of necklace made of a solid piece of metal.

A ring symbolizing marriage. Traditionally, a wedding ring is a single band, perhaps with aligned gemstones.

White gold is real gold alloyed with a white metal such as palladium, nickel, or silver. To maintain its bright white finish, white gold is nearly always coated with rhodium plate, which eventually wears off and needs to be replated. See gold.

Made from a wide range of woods, wooden jewelry has a rustic and natural look popular in fashion jewelry for both men and women.

See cubic zirconia.