REIGNS JEWELRY GLOSSARY

An optical phenomenon seen in certain gemstones, most famously in moonstone, where a soft, milky or bluish shimmery light seems to float just beneath the stone’s surface and move as the stone or light source is shifted.

A type of chalcedony made from layers of quartz that form varied and colorful banded patterns. It is usually smooth and comes in many colors, often with stripes or swirls. This pretty, yet tough stone forms naturally inside rocks, especially volcanic ones, when minerals slowly build up in layers over time. There are dozens of varieties of agate, each with unique colors, patterns, and qualities.

• Blue Lace Agate
• Moss Agate
• Fire Agate
• Botswana Agate
• Crazy Lace Agate
• Dendritic Agate
• Tree Agate
• Druzy Geode Agate
• …and many more, each with its own palette and banding.

A beautiful chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of quartz, recognizable by its delicate bands of sky-blue color with intricate lace-like patterns of white.

A bold, crackled form of chalcedony quartz. Its fiery, web-like pattern makes it a favorite for dramatic pendants and statement pieces.

Cultured saltwater pearls produced by the Akoya oyster. They are primarily found in colder waters off the coasts of Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and Australia. They are highly prized for their classic round shape and bright, mirror-like luster.

Fossilized pine tree resin usually known for its warm glow, but ranging in color from honey gold and cognac to cherry red, and even cooler hues of green and blue in some of its rarest forms. Some pieces contain natural inclusions that make each one a tiny time capsule.

A semi-precious and the highest valued variety of quartz. Its gorgeous hues of purple, from pale lilac to deep royal purple or violet, come from iron properties in the quartz crystal. Its hardness rating of 7 on the Mohs scale makes it very durable for use in jewelry.

A composite, reconstructed mineral made to imitate various jasper patterns. It is known for soothing colors from pale blues and greens (colors often associated with water – “aqua”) to warm tans and crimsons (colors often associated with land – “terra”). The color is often enhanced, which is acceptable but should be disclosed.

A highly skilled craftsperson who creates pieces by hand, focusing on unique designs and high-quality materials rather than mass production.

A shimmering variety of quartz, usually green, known for its subtle glow (aventurescence).

A loop or clasp that attaches a pendant or charm to a necklace or chain, allowing the pendant to hang freely. The bail serves both a functional role and an aesthetic one by enhancing the overall design.

A chain made of alternating bar-shaped and oval links connected by jump rings.

Irregularly shaped pearls with unique, organic silhouettes — no two are alike, as they are often asymmetrical and freeform. They originate from both saltwater and freshwater mollusks, with the primary differences being color, luster, and price.

A setting where a thin metal rim surrounds the stone’s edge, holding it securely. It has a sleek look and offers great protection for cabochons.

A dark, microcrystalline variety of quartz that typically appears gray to black.

A surface plating applied to metals like gold or silver for a smoky, dramatic finish.

An alloy of copper and zinc. The copper contributes a warm, gold-like color, and the zinc adds strength, durability, and affordability.

An elongated, pear-shaped, multi-faceted drop cut, entirely covered in triangular facets for sparkle from every angle.

A gemstone that has been cut and polished to have a smooth, rounded dome top without facets.

A vibrant reddish-orange chalcedony, a microcrystalline quartz, with a smooth, glassy finish.

Strands of metal links connected to form a flexible, wearable piece often used for necklaces, bracelets, and anklets.

Small, decorative pendants or trinkets with personal or sentimental meaning that are often added to necklaces, bracelets, or anklets. Collect and combine them for story-filled bracelets or necklaces.

A decorative technique where thin wires create compartments (cloisons) for enamel.

A sunny pale yellow to rich honey-golden quartz. It is the same mineral as amethyst and smoky quartz. With a rating of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is both beautiful and durable for jewelry.

A type of cultured freshwater pearl that is flat and round, resembling the shape and size of a small coin, though typically thicker. They are most commonly grown in freshwater mussels in China.

A warm, reddish-brown metal that can develop a natural green patina over time.

A marine organism closely related to sea anemones and jellyfish, whose skeletal remains are turned into decorative beads or cabochons.

A small metal tube used to secure beading wire by flattening it with pliers. Essential for finished-strand jewelry.

A solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions.

Carefully chosen and thoughtfully organized or presented. A curated collection is deliberately selected to reflect a particular style, purpose, or aesthetic.

A rock with an internal cavity lined with tiny, sparkling crystals — nature’s glitter. Sometimes you will see it spelled “druzy” and sometimes “drusy.” Both are correct and used for the exact same stone.

A group of rock-forming minerals that make up about 60% of Earth’s crust. Common feldspar gemstones include moonstone and labradorite.

A captivating type of agate prized for its fiery iridescence, which creates vibrant flashes of color such as orange, red, gold, green, and sometimes even purple.

A lively play of color or light in a stone (think moonstone’s glow or labradorite’s rainbow). It creates a shifting, eye-catching look as you move.

A translucent mineral and gemstone known for its remarkable range of pastel colors — primarily purples, greens, and blues — strong fluorescence, and distinct cubic or octahedral crystal shapes.

Usually thought of as a deep red gem, garnet is not a single mineral, but a group that includes several species with excellent brilliance and durability. Garnets come in a gorgeous range of rich hues such as red, orange, yellow, green, purple, pink, brown, and even colorless varieties.

A thick layer of gold bonded to a base metal core, usually brass, through heat and pressure. The base metal can also be copper or even sterling silver. By definition, at least 5% of its total weight must be solid gold. It is a fantastic, more affordable alternative to solid gold and, with proper care, can be very enduring.

A type of jewelry chain or cable featuring a gunmetal finish – a dark, metallic gray resembling the color of gunmetal, created through oxide or plating processes.

A distinctive style of bead originating from the Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest. These are small, flat, disc-like or square-shaped beads.

An iron oxide mineral known for its metallic luster that takes a mirror polish.

A translucent to opaque green variety of grossular garnet.

Timeless, high-quality pieces — often luxury pieces — that tend to retain or appreciate in value over time.

A term that refers to two distinct types of ornamental stones used primarily for jewelry and art: nephrite and jadeite. Both are metamorphic rocks prized for their beauty, toughness, and cultural significance.

The Japanese word “tensha” means “transfer” in English. These unique and beautiful beads are handcrafted by transferring intricate patterns onto individual beads. Each bead features decorative patterns of flowers, swirling feathers, or other organic natural designs.

An opaque, solid, or patterned variety of cryptocrystalline quartz. All types of jasper take an excellent polish, are trouble-free to care for, and are hardy enough for all jewelry uses. These stones are usually made into cabochons, sometimes carved, used in beads, but seldom faceted.

A small metal ring connecting components like charms, clasps, or chains. It may be open (bendable) or soldered closed for strength.

Keshi pearls are composed entirely of nacre. Because they do not form around a nucleus, they consist of pure nacre and therefore have exceptionally high luster. Interestingly, they are sold by weight, like gemstones, since they are purely precious material.

A microscopic structure in minerals where thin, leaf-like layers of different mineral phases are intergrown in a regular, often parallel arrangement.

A deep blue metamorphic stone prized for its rich blue color, often accented by golden flecks of pyrite and white streaks of calcite. It has been used in jewelry and ornamental arts for thousands of years, and is one of the stones used in the intricate inlay work on the walls of the Taj Mahal.

A rare and coveted sky-blue pectolite found exclusively in the Caribbean island nation of the Dominican Republic. It often has marbling patterns resembling blue Caribbean waters over white sand. Found in volcanic rock pockets, its copper and vanadium content gives it the gorgeous blue color not seen in any other pectolite in the world.

A variety of quartz known for its bright, sunny yellow to pale green color.

A sturdy clasp shaped like a lobster claw, used on necklaces and bracelets. Known for secure closure and ease of use.

A vivid green copper mineral with striking banding. This beautiful, distinctive stone is used for making ornamental articles and jewelry.

A jewelry setting technique where very small gemstones are set closely together in uniform sizes and patterns on the surface of a piece, producing a dense, sparkling, and sophisticated texture.

Designs that emphasize simplicity and understated elegance through clean lines, subtle shapes, and a focus on refined beauty.

Jewelry that combines two or more different types of metals in a single piece.

A visually striking and colorful semi-precious jasper stone primarily found in Western Australia, named after Mooka Station in the Kennedy Ranges. It is a type of silicified rock rich in silica and comes in a range of warm earth tones, including red, pink, yellow, and cream.

A gem-quality variety of feldspar, a mineral comprised of orthoclase and albite. It is known for its unique optical phenomenon called adularescence — a glowing, billowy blue-to-white sheen that appears to float just beneath the stone's surface and is reminiscent of the moon's glow.

A soft pink beryl (the same mineral family as emerald and aquamarine) that brings romance to designs.

Small pieces of stones or gemstones arranged into a mosaic setting or pattern.

Also known as mother-of-pearl, nacre is the shiny, iridescent substance found on the inner shell lining of certain mollusks like oysters and abalones.

A distinctive type of banded agate from the Bobonong district in Botswana, Africa, known for its pink, gray, and apricot banding.

Irregularly shaped beads or stones that typically mimic the raw or natural form of gemstones.

A small decorative or artistic object that is prized for its craftsmanship, aesthetic appeal, and sometimes its intrinsic or historical value.

Sleek black chalcedony polished to a mirror finish.

A man-made opalescent glass often used as an affordable, glowing alternative to natural opal.

Gemstones that form when seasonal rains in places like the Australian outback carry silica into rocks. As the dry season arrives, the excess water evaporates, leaving behind silica deposits that form opal between sedimentary rock layers. Opals are renowned for their mesmerizing play of incandescent colors that dance in the light.

Minimalist chains made from elongated oval links resembling paper clips – a style that surged during World War II when sleeker, efficient profiles were practical.

The focal ornament that hangs loosely from a necklace, chain, bracelet, or earring.

The rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. It is one of the few gemstones that only comes in shades of green.

A dark blue-grey breccia aggregate composed mainly of hawk’s-eye and tiger’s-eye. A stormy gemstone with swirling gold, blue, and red patterns that seem to move under light. Its dramatic chatoyancy gives it the nickname “Tempest Stone.”

A vibrant and eye-catching variety of the mineral corundum, gaining their color from traces of chromium.

A green variety of quartz made by heat-treating amethyst. Also known as green amethyst, this beautiful stone is known for its soft green glow.

A stone comprised of hydrous silicate of alumina and lime, with bright, almost luminescent green coloring.

A crystalline form of silica, known for its hardness, durability, and versatility. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth.

Soft pink quartz that adds romance and gentle color to designs.

A precious gemstone, pinkish-red to blood-red in color, and a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminum oxide).

A precious gemstone and a variety of the mineral corundum. This beautiful stone comes in many colors except red (red corundum is classified as ruby).

A type of onyx with red-brown and milky chalcedony layers, formed by iron and manganese.

A rare variety of the mineral clinochlore, a type of chlorite, known for its dark green color and distinctive silvery, feathery inclusions that are said to resemble angel wings.

Silica is a very common natural substance made from silicon and oxygen that shows up as sand, quartz, and a major part of many rocks. Silicates are a huge family of minerals built from the same basic silicon and oxygen building block, combined with metals like aluminum, iron, magnesium, potassium, and others.

In everyday terms:
• Silica = the simple “sand/glass” form (chemically SiO₂) that makes up most beach sand and a lot of gemstones and glass.
• Silicates = all the more complex minerals made when that same silica unit links up with various metals, forming most of the Earth’s crust (things like feldspar, mica, and olivine).

Brownish-gray quartz with a grounding, mysterious look.

Layering multiple rings, bracelets, or necklaces together for a custom, collected look.

A 92.5% silver alloy, marked “.925.” This is the standard for fine silver in jewelry and is considered a precious metal.

The small individual pieces or tiles used to create a mosaic design. They are typically cut into regular shapes — often tiny squares — from materials such as stone, glass, ceramic, or other hard substances, and are set closely together so their collective surface forms an image or pattern.

Golden-brown quartz with a silky, shimmering effect called chatoyancy — like a tiger or cat’s eye following the light.

A two-piece clasp with a bar and ring; the bar passes through the ring to secure the piece. Practical, secure, and often decorative enough to be a focal point.

White chalcedony with green, branch-like inclusions — earthy and organic, often resembling tiny forests in stone.

A white mineral dyed to mimic turquoise, making it an affordable alternative for bold, bright designs. While it is not genuine turquoise, it offers a similar color story at a more accessible price point.

A pink-and-green metamorphic rock used for cabochons and beads.

Gold plating at least 2.5 microns thick over sterling silver — a durable, high-quality alternative to solid gold.

A type of tourmaline known for its unique color zoning, which features a pink or red center and green outer layer, resembling a slice of watermelon.