T U
TABLE:
The large facet that caps the crown of a faceted gemstone
TABLE PERCENTAGE:
The diameter of a gemstone, divided by the size of the table
TABLE CUT:
See step cut
TAHITIAN PEARL:
A pearl formed from a black lip oyster, primarily cultivated around the French Polynesian islands
TANZANITE:
A semi-precious gemstone popular for its brilliance and known for its varying shades of violet ranging from deep, rich purple to lilac
TAPERED:
A piece that becomes gradually smaller toward one end
TAPERED BAGUETTE:
A small gemstone, cut in a trapezoid shape with one end narrower than the opposite end
TARNISH:
A dulled luster or finish caused by a thin deposit of dirt which discolors the surface of metal and is easily removed
TENNIS BRACELET:
A bracelet made up of individually set gemstones of uniform size and color, linked together like chain, making the bracelet somewhat flexible
TENSION SETTING:
A jewelry setting that holds the gemstone in place by pressure rather than prongs, a bezel, or other mounting
TERMINAL:
The decorated ends of a necklace or bangle usually containing stylized heads of a ram, lion, dragon, etc.
TEXTURED:
A surface that is not smooth
THREE STONE:
A popular ring design that showcases three stones in a row, along the head of the ring
TIARA:
A head ornament worn in the crown position
TIN:
A malleable, silvery, metallic element which is not easily oxidized in the air and so is used chiefly to coat iron to protect it from rusting
TITANIUM:
A silvery-gray, lightweight, strong, metallic element with atomic number 22 which is obtained from Ilmenite and Rutile
TOGGLE CASP:
A means of fastening two ends of a chain together, consisting of a ring on one end and a short bar on the other
TOLKOWSKY, MARCEL:
A mathematician who defined the proportions necessary for maximum brilliance from a round diamond brilliant cut
TOPAZ:
A borosilicate of aluminum that occurs in rhomboidal crystals and is used as a gemstone
TORSADE:
A twisted strands of pearls, ending in a clasp
TORTOISE SHELL:
A mottled, nutty brown shell material with a spotted, striped, or sometimes even speckled pattern
TOURMALINE:
A semi-precious gemstone that can take on multiple colors and consists of a complex borosilicate
TRACER BAND:
A wedding or anniversary band that is contoured in such a way as to fit flush against the engagement ring
TRANSLUSCENT:
Partially transparent
TRAPEZOID CUT:
A gemstone cut into a four-sided shape with a short side, a parallel long side, and two equal ends
TRELLIS:
A prong setting in which four prongs are interwoven together to hold the center diamond
TREMBLANT:
A general term for jewelry with a trembling effect when the wearer moves, which is produced by elements set upon stiff wires that move
TRILLION CUT:
A triangular shaped diamond cut, with abbreviated corners and typically varying facets
TSAVORITE:
A rich, deep green variation of garnet
TUBOGAS:
A flexible, tubular chain
TUNGSTEN:
A gray-white, heavy, high-melting, hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum
TURQUOISE:
A semi-precious stone, known for its true robin's egg blue
TUTTI FRUTTI:
A general term for jewelry set with multi-colored gems carved in shapes of leaves, flowers and berries and often in a basket design
TWISTED:
A band or group of bands that are curved and/or have been interwoven together
TWO_TONE:
A jewelry piece that includes two separate metals, which remain separate and are soldered together to form one piece
ULTRASONIC:
A cleaning device for jewelry that removes dirt through the use of ultrasonic waves
UNIQUE:
A jewelry item that is distinguishable from all others of its class or type
UNISEX:
A general term for jewelry that can be worn by all sexes