Samson Jewellery
Glossary

Shank The part of ring which encircles the finger to which the settings are soldered.
Shoulder That part of a ring where the shank and the settings meet.
Simulant A metal or gemstone that masquerades as a more precious metal or stone.  Not to be confused with a synthetic.
Sleeper A fine wire ear-ring worn to keep the hole in a pierced car.
Soude stones A term used to describe doublets, as in soude emeralds.
Specific gravity The ratio of the density of the substance to water.  Useful in identifying gemstones.
Star A ray effect seen in some cabochon-cut stones, for example star rubies.
Step out A stone cut so that all the facets are parallel to the girdle.
Striated Banded minerals such as malachite are sometimes described as striated.  The term is also used to describe the growth lines in natural and synthetic gemstones visible usder high magnification.
Synthetic A man-made stone that has the same chemical and physical properties as the stone it imitates.
Table The large facet on the top of a stone.   The facets on the pavilion of a gemstone are sometimes called "table facets'.
Titanium A lustrous silver-white metal which can be tinted by chemical processes.
Triplet A composite stone consisting of three components.  Opal triplets consist of a thin slice of precious opal cemented on to a backing of common opal and covered with a protective layer of rock crystal.
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Samson Jewellery
Room 1013A-1015, Level 10, Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong
Tel:  852-27284562 - Fax: 852-27250911