Talkin' Shop Tuesday - Going to Great Lengths (Glossary Pt.3)

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 lengths of certain jewelry items, as well as some new gemological information. 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...

Choker - Any necklace designed to be worn around the neck. This term generally applies to any necklace 16 inches or shorter and should like at the very base of the neck. 1.5" to 2" should be added to the neck circumference to size, based on the looseness desired. (Also see wearable length for additional sizing information)

Princess Length - Necklace generally measuring 17" to 19" or 3" longer than a custom fitted choker. Designed to be worn with high necklines, this length should drape slightly below the base of the neck.

Matinee Length - Necklace generally measuring 20" to 23" or 3-4" longer than a custom fitted princess length necklace. This length should drape flatly against the chest.

Lariat  - Long necklace generally measuring at least 48" which does not have a clasp (although it may have a loop through which the dangling end is fed) and is designed with loose ends that may be looped, draped, or wrapped to create any number of fashion looks.

Rope - Long necklace generally 40-45" in length, which may or may not have a closure or clasp.

Length - The linear measurement of a bracelet or necklace. The length (linear length) of a bracelet, necklace, or anklet may vary from the wearable length due to the design and size of the components (specifically, beads) used. (Also see wearable length for additional sizing information)

Necklace - Ornamental jewelry designed to be worn around the neck created from linked chain(s), strung beads, or other strung components such as gemstones. Necklaces typically come in a variety of lengths and typically do not have a pendant.

Bracelet - Ornamental jewelry designed to be worn around the wrist and created from linked chain(s), strung beads, or other strung components such as gemstones. To determine the bracelet size you need, measure the circumference of the wrist and add approximately 3/4" or 1" to the basic measurement. Industry standard sizes for adult bracelets are as follows: Very Small = 6 - 6.5” ; Small = 7” ; Medium = 7.5” ; Large = 8” ;  Extra Large = 8.5”

Anklet - Ornamental jewelry designed to be worn around the ankle and created from linked chain(s), strung beads, or other strung components such as gemstones. To determine the anklet size you need, measure the circumference of the ankle and add approximately 3/4" or 1" to the basic measurement. Industry standard sizes for adult anklets are as follows: Small = 6.5” ; Medium = 8” ; Large = 9.5”

Collar -  Necklace designed to fit snugly around the middle of the neck. To determine the proper length for a collar, add 1" to the neck circumference. (Also see wearable length for additional sizing information)


Width - The horizontal measurement spanning the widest area or component of a piece of jewelry.

Wearable Length - The length of a necklace, bracelet, or anklet as it lies against the skin. To illustrate the difference between linear length and wearable length, consider a bracelet with 24mm center drilled beads strung on wire or thread. Due to the diameter of the beads, the linear length of the necklace might be 7.5", but the wearable length will only be 7". This is because the radius of the beads decreases the inside circumference of a bracelet when wrapped around the wrist. The wire or thread holding the beads is not snug against the wrist, but is, instead, fixed at a distance from the wrist that equals the radius of the beads. So, the bracelet in the example will have an outer circumference that is larger than the linear length by the value of the radius of the beads (12mm or approximately 1/2 inch in this example) or 8". The inside circumference is decreased accordingly, making the wearable length only 7".

Bib - Necklace that has a choker length strand as its base with either vertical dangles from a single strand, or graduated strands increasing in size by typically 1"-2" with each subsequent strand.

Beryl -  A mineral family that includes emerald, aquamarine, heliodor, and morganite. In its pure form, beryl is colorless (goshenite), but the addition of metals cause the stone to take on a wide array of colors. For example, beryl with chromium content produces emeralds, while the presence of iron in beryl is responsible for the lovely blue of aquamarine (although most aquamarines are heat treated to enhance the color). Crystals are transparent to translucent, lack good cleavage, and rank at 7.5 -8 on the Moh's hardness scale. Some of the largest and most well known deposits are in Columbia, Brazil, Central and West Africa, Madagascar, Russia, the Ukraine, and the US.

That's it for today!  I'd love to have some feedback on this little project of mine - yay or nay?  Let me know!

xo,