Jewelry Terminology

Bail, Closed Bail
What holds a pendant onto a chain or beaded necklace.

Bezel
A bezel is a narrow piece of metal used to hold a gem in place on a piece of jewelry.  The bezel surrounds the gemstone all the way around.  Bezels can have straight edges, scalloped edges, or can be molded into any shape to accommodate the stone.  Bezels may or may not be textured.  See the image section below for an example of a Bezel.

Briolettes
Briolettes are three-dimensional tear or pear shaped stone with triangular facets cut across its surface.  Briolettes differ from most other gemstone shapes in that they appear the same from every direction, making them ideal for dangling earrings or pendants.

Cabochon
Cabochons do not have facets.  They are rounded and polished creating a smooth surface.

Clutch
A clutch is an attachment used to secure a piece of jewelry, such as an earring back.

Druzy or Druse
A druzy is a stone that is a layer of crystals that form a mineral crust.  The crust may be found on the surface of minerals or rocks, similar to the lining on the interior cavity of a geode.  See the image section below for an example of a Druzy.

Facet
Facets are flat faces cut into precious or semi-precious stones in order to improve their appearance by allowing them to reflect light.

French Wire
Earrings are soldered to a piece of wire that is hand shaped to allow the earrings to swing naturally with the movement of your head.

Gallery
Gallery describes stamped or patterned wire or strips with a repeated design.  There are two types of gallery:  open, with upstanding parts on one side that can shape around a stone, and closed, which are used in borders around a stone.

Inlay
Inlay is considered a design element in the manufacture of jewelry.  In our case for the majority of our jewelry the main stone is “inlaid.”  For many other jewelers, stones are custom cut or carved to fit cavities or recessed areas within a piece of jewelry.  While Aldrich Art jewelry is the opposite.  We build the piece of jewelry around the inlaid stones.

Intarsia
Intarsia throughout history has been used in many different ways and with many different types of materials.  People have likened Aldrich Art jewelry to intarsia.  Intarsia, the way Aldrich Art uses it, is an art form created by cutting various gemstones together forming a pattern.

Omega and Post Clips
An earring closure for pierced ears that is secured by a hinged lever attached to the back of the earrings is an omega-back earring.  Similar to lever back earrings, omega-back earring latches end in an O shape that secures over a post instead of a clutch.  On this website we have called it omega and post clip to avoid confusion with clip earrings.  See the image section below for an example of Omega and Post Clips.

Posts
Posts are small strong wire that fits through a pierced ear and fastened behind the ear with a clutch.

Shepherd’s Hook
Bail on a pendant that is shaped similar to the hook of a shepherd’s staff.  This type of bail we leave open so that it is easy to slide onto different chains or beaded necklaces.  See the image section below for an example of a Shepherd’s Hook.