GEMMOLOGY glossary of terms

A term used by the Independant Gemmological Laboratories to describe a heating enhancement process used with colour gemstones

• enamel

• anneal

• fire

• hot stones

A shape of pearl. The shape is not round but is symetrical, having similar characteristics on opposite sides

• barack

• barrack

• barock

• baroque

A flaw (blister or spot) on the surface of a gem

• blemish

• pimple

• bunion

• zit

A hard mineral that exists in the form of coloured crystals, such as rubies and sapphires

• quartz

• boxite

• rock

• corundum

The weight of a material as compared to an equal volume of water

• density

• volume

• weight

• mass

The coloured light reflected from within a diamond through the crown. It is maximized by cutting a diamond to the correct proportions

• brilliance

• shine

• fire

• dazzle

The narrow band around the widest part of a faceted stone

• waist

• girdle

• corset

• stomach

What is measured with the Moh's scale?

• difficulty

• strength

• durability

• hardness

A term used to describe the attributes of a gemstone's colour

• Hugh

• Hew

• Who

• Hue

The hardness of Feldspar is...

• 6

• 8

• 7

• 4