Talkin' Shop Tuesday - Chain Gang (Glossary Pt.4)

A couple of weeks ago, I began sharing some entries in my new Glossary of Jewelry Terms and Gemology Guide. Today I'll be adding to the list with some more jewelry terms that have to do with the more common chain types found in jewelry, as well as some new gemological information. This week's list is a little longer than usual because I want to catch as many of the chain configurations as I can! Time permitting, I'm hoping to be able to build on my glossary and gem guide during the week in addition to the terms I post in these articles, so be sure to check back frequently for new entries... and of course, if you're looking for the meaning of a specific term, or some background information on a type of stone, just use the "contact me" option in the menu bar and drop me a note to let me know!

Here's this week's entries...

Figaro Chain- A chain configuration which alternates rectangular and circular links, typically one long rectangle followed by three smaller round links.

Bar Link Chain - A chain composed of metal bars (flat or slightly twisted) joined together by a round link.

Cable Chain - The most typical chain, composed of round or oval same-size rings, each linked to the next.

Box Chain - A type of chain where square shaped links resemble small overlapping boxes.

Serpentine Chain - (also known as snake chain) A series of small, flat, s-shaped links set very closely together and held in place by a second set of small, flat, s-shaped links set very closely together underneath them.

Ball Chain - This type of chains has round beads fixed along the chain, either the beads could be strung next to each other or with some distance between each bead.

Curb Chain - Oval-shaped links twisted and usually diamond-cut to lie flat.

Omega Chain - A non-traditional chain made of rectangular smooth rounded metal plates laid out side by side and then crimped along the ends onto a strip of metal mesh.

Byzantine Chain - An intricate chain configuration in which two pairs of oval-shaped links are linked together. Each pair is then parted to allow a large thick oval link to be attached to another pair.

Rolo Chain - A chain made up of wide symmetrical links (usually round or oval) that are connected together.

Rope Chain - A series of small oval-shaped links that are arranged in a way such that they create a spiral design resembling woven rope.

Wheat Chain - (Spiga chain) Small figure-eight links form a heavy chain that feels almost square, and looks as though the wire has been braided.

Infinity Link Chain - This chain is made up of links that have a figure "8" or "infinity" loop.

Anchor Chain - A chain consisting of links resembling a flat oval with a flat bar in the middle of the ring.

Singapore Chain - A chain in which each link is composed of a series of flat, diamond-cut, interwoven concentric loops.

Foxtail Chain -A type of woven chain made of three sets of interconnecting links. Two rows of oval links face each other at a 45-degree angle and are connected by a center row of flat rings set flush with each other, resembling the hair of a fox's tail.

Herringbone Chain - A chain made up of short, flat, slanted parallel links in which the direction of the slant alternates row by row, creating the appearance of the spine of a herring.

Figogucci Chain - A chain similar to an anchor chain, except the links are twisted and diamond-cut so they lie flat like a curb link chain.

Marina chain - A compact style of chain composed of small, round, diamond cut links that are designed to lie flat like a curb link chain, but are set closer together.

Butterfly Chain - A chain made up of small butterfly-shaped links with oval-shaped "wings". These "butterflies" are linked head to tail at a slight angle very close to one another so that the wings form a long continuous spiral along the chain length.

Corundum - Family of stones composed of crystallized aluminum and oxygen forming the second hardest minerals known to man, second only to diamonds. Appearing as Blue (Sapphire), Red (Ruby), Yellow (Padmaragaya), Brown (Adamantine Spar), and Green (Chlorosapphir), with other colors appearing less frequently, the color of these stones depends on the type of oxides present in their composition. A colorless variety also exists. Corundum has a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale for hardness. Corundum is the source of the abrasive known as emery. Deposits of this mineral are found throughout the world but primarily in Southeast Asia, the US; Africa; the Indian sub-continent, and the Middle East.

That's it for today! 

xo,