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HALF MOON CUT:
A gemstone cut that resembles an oval or circle which has been cut in half
HALLMARK:
A mark stamped on jewelry throughout much of the world to attest to the purity of the metal after assay
HALO:
A setting that encircles a center gemstone with diamonds or gemstones
HAMMERED FINISH:
A jewelry finish in which the piece is hammered to create many tiny planes, before polishing the result
HAND ENGRAVING:
A jewelry technique in which designs are artfully etched into a piece using hand-held tools (scraper, spit stick, scorper, graver) rather than a laser, casting machine, or chemicals
HARDNESS:
The resistance of a substance to being scratched
HEAD:
The portion of a jewelry item that holds the stone
HEART CUT:
A diamond cut shaped like a heart, with two rounded obtrusions at the top and a point at the bottom
HEIRLOOM:
A jewelry piece that descends one or more generations to an heir or heirs
HEMATITE:
An iron ore consisting of ferric oxide in crystalline form
HOOP:
A circular earring design that resembles a ring and passes through the earlobe
HOPE DIAMOND:
A 45.52 carat blue diamond, which currently resides in the National Museum of Natural History of the United States
HORN:
A substance often used as a substitute for tortoiseshell
IDEAL²:
A square diamond cut with a hearts & arrows pattern
IGI:
Acronym for the International Gemological Institute
IGNEOUS:
A rock formed by solidification of magma or lava
IMPERFECTION:
A general term used to refer to internal or external characteristics of a gemstone (i.e.: inclusion, fracture, etc.)
INCLUSION:
A visible internal flaws in a gemstone, including: fractures, crystalling abnormalities, and foreign objects
INGOT:
A bar or brick, formed by pouring a molten precious metal into a mold
INITIALS:
The first letters of a group of names, often a person's first and last name
INLAID:
Decorated with a material set into a surface
INLAY:
A decorative technique, in which part of the surface of a piece of jewelry, furniture, or ceramic is cut away and a stone, mother of pearl, or some other substance is embedded into the hollowed-out area so that it is level with the surface of the piece
INTAGLIO:
A design carved down into a gemstone, often used for seals. Devices which made an impression in wax used to seal a letter or authenticate a document
INTERLOCKING:
A wedding set that has multiple pieces which securely lock into place with one another
INTERTWINED:
A pair or group of bands that overlap each other
INVISIBLE SETTING:
A style in which rows of square princess cut diamonds or other gemstones rest perfectly flush against one another, within a metal border or frame with no metal separating them
IRIDESCENT:
A display of lustrous rainbow-like colors
IRIDIUM:
A metal and member of the platinum family, which is often alloyed with platinum to improve workability
IRRADIATION:
Treatment performed on gemstones or pearls to enhance color
IVORY:
A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance made from the tusks of elephants and walruses