Glossary
Jewelry, like any subject, has its own terminology. This section contains a glossary of terms you may come across when researching platinum jewelry. Simply click on a letter to start your search.
Carat:
A measure of weight used for gemstones. Not to be confused with "karat", which is a measure of gold alloy purity. Often abbreviated as “ct.” one carat is equal to 200 milligrams (one fifth of a gram). Gemstones are measured to the nearest hundredth carat (known as a "point"). For example, a 0.25 carat stone would be said to have 25 points. A carat is one of the "4 Cs" of diamond grading, the others being clarity, cut, and color.
Cartier, Louis:
Grandson of Louis Francois Cartier, the founder of the House of Cartier in Paris-which fast became one of the world’s leading jewellery firms. Louis was responsible for popularizing the use of platinum in jewelry during the early 1900s. Famous for his garland designs during the Edwardian period, Louis Cartier also was influential during the Art Deco period, as well as the designer responsible for inventing the first wristwatch.
Centre stone:
The prominent precious gemstone which is central to a ring setting.
Clarity:
One of the "4 Cs" of diamond grading (the other three being cut, color, and carat), clarity refers to the perfection of a gemstone’s crystalline structure. When grading diamonds, the rating scale ranges from I (where visible imperfections – or "inclusions" – can be seen by the naked eye) to FL (meaning "flawless").
- SI grade diamonds are frequently found in jewelry, especially in multi-stone diamond earring, rings, pendants, and bracelets. The grade signifies that inclusions cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be seen under 10x magnification.
- VS (clarity): VS clarity diamonds are of superior quality and frequently used in fine jewelry. The grade signifies that minor inclusions are difficult to see, even under 10x magnification.
Conquistador:
Usually used in reference to 16th century Spanish soldiers who conquered the civilizations of Mexico, Central America, and Peru.
Colour:
When grading diamonds “color” refers to the absence of color in a diamond. The rating scale begins at D (meaning colorless) and ends at Z (meaning having a lot of color). Though some color can be seen when a G diamond is graded, it appears colorless when mounted, thus it is commonly used in fine jewelry. Color is one of the "4 Cs" of diamond grading, the others being clarity, cut and carat.