Jewelry and Gemstone Glossary of Terms

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Edwardian

The Edwardian style of jewelry was popular in the United Kingdom during the period 1901 to 1910, the reign of King Edward VII. This period is sometimes extended to include the period up to the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

Emerald

Emerald is the green member of the beryl family. Traces of chromium and vanadium in the crystalline structure are what produce the green color. These gemstones were mined by the Egyptian Pharaohs as early as 3000 B.C. and the ancient Incas and Aztecs of South America regarded them as holy. Today, the best and most valued, stones come from Colombia. Mohs hardness 7.5 - 8.

Enamel

This is a technique used to add decorative color to metals. Made up of a vitreous pigment of metallic oxide mixed with powdered glass, it is fused to the surface of a metal like copper, bronze, silver, or gold under very high temperatures. The colors and transparency of the fused glass will depend on the metal oxides used and the temperature during firing. Also, see cloisonné and Plique-a-jour.

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