Glossary S-Z

Craft and Jewellery Glossary

This Jewellery Glossary includes industry terms and definitions in one convenient place. Click on letter below to go directly to the start of terms beginning with that letter.

Index S-Z

S

stem wire

Stem Wire is 18 gauge wire. It is fairly thick and is so called because it is generally used to make stems for attaching leaves, flowers, petals in beaded wirework crafts.

strain hardening

Strain hardening is also known as work hardening.

strass

"Strass" is the German word for rhinestone or high-lead content flint glass. In French, the word is "stras". Both the German and French words are after the name of Joseph Strasser, an 18^th century German jeweler.

T

table

Table is the largest facet of a gemstone and is located on the top of the gemstone, through which refracted light escapes as brilliance.

U

V

W

work hardening (aka strain hardening)

Work hardening is when a metal becomes harder due to manipulation (technically known as plastic deformation). Bending, coiling, hammering metal will harden it. This is because the manipulation changes the crystal structure within the metal. Aluminium and pure copper can only be strengthened via work hardening.

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Y

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