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Glossary of Terms & Designer Reference Info |
Glossary of commonly used terms and techniques in vintage jewelry
Attributed - Not signed or marked but likely made by a specific designer or manufacturer. Attributions on this site are made from exttensive experience, knowledge of circa dating, construction techniques, materials used and overal design
Aurora Borealis - Refective, iridescent coating on rhinestone or glass stones developed by the Swarovski Company in 1955 and became increasing popular in the late 1950's into the 1960's and used widely by many manufaturers.
Baguette - narrow rectangular faceted stone
Bail - hook at the top of or behind a pendant through which a chain can pass
Bakelite - Name of thermoset phenolic resin, or plastic developed by Leo. H. Bakeland in 1909.On this site, the term bakelite is used as a generic term for all bakelite and catlin plastics and is indentified by use of bakelite testing pads and smell.
Base Metal - Any no precious metal of unidentified alloy
Bezel - Metal band to hold stones in place
Bog Oak - Fossilized peat; found mostly in Victorian jewelry. A very dark brownish black color
Bookchain - Chain link made from folded over squares or rectangles
Briolette - 3-D pear shaped faceted stone cut with triangular facets
Bypass - Ring or bracelet in which the ends cross or bypass each other at the top
Cabochon - Unfaceted cut of stone with domed top and flat base. Sometimes refered to as a 'cab'. Bullet cab is a very highly domed unfaceted stone.
Cameo - Design carved in relief, generally from stone or shell. The term is also used to refer to molded plastic or resin designs that simulate carved shell or stone.
Cannetille - type of wire filigree using wires to design florets, rosettes and spiral designs
Celluloid - Trade name for early thermoplastic developed by John Wesley Hyatt in 1868.
Champleve - Type of enamelling technique where enamel fills recesses and depressions which are stamped or engraved into the groundplate.
Channel set - a row of sqaure or rectangular stone fit into a metal trough or channel
Aurora Borealis - Refective, iridescent coating on rhinestone or glass stones developed by the Swarovski Company in 1955 and became increasing popular in the late 1950's into the 1960's and used widely by many manufaturers.
Baguette - narrow rectangular faceted stone
Bail - hook at the top of or behind a pendant through which a chain can pass
Bakelite - Name of thermoset phenolic resin, or plastic developed by Leo. H. Bakeland in 1909.On this site, the term bakelite is used as a generic term for all bakelite and catlin plastics and is indentified by use of bakelite testing pads and smell.
Base Metal - Any no precious metal of unidentified alloy
Bezel - Metal band to hold stones in place
Bog Oak - Fossilized peat; found mostly in Victorian jewelry. A very dark brownish black color
Bookchain - Chain link made from folded over squares or rectangles
Briolette - 3-D pear shaped faceted stone cut with triangular facets
Bypass - Ring or bracelet in which the ends cross or bypass each other at the top
Cabochon - Unfaceted cut of stone with domed top and flat base. Sometimes refered to as a 'cab'. Bullet cab is a very highly domed unfaceted stone.
Cameo - Design carved in relief, generally from stone or shell. The term is also used to refer to molded plastic or resin designs that simulate carved shell or stone.
Cannetille - type of wire filigree using wires to design florets, rosettes and spiral designs
Celluloid - Trade name for early thermoplastic developed by John Wesley Hyatt in 1868.
Champleve - Type of enamelling technique where enamel fills recesses and depressions which are stamped or engraved into the groundplate.
Channel set - a row of sqaure or rectangular stone fit into a metal trough or channel
Designer Research Info
(Work in Progress, Scroll down for Designer Resarch Pages)
(Work in Progress, Scroll down for Designer Resarch Pages)
Accessocraft - c.1930-1998
Art - c.1950-1980
Avon - 1970-present
Bade, Otto R - 1958-1981. Worked for Rebajes fromn 1941-1958. Mark is 'Orb' in script.
Barclay - 1946-late 1950's. Mark is 'Barclay' in script. Not to be confused with McClelland Barclay.
Barclay, McClelland - 1935-1943. Mark is 'McClelland Barclsy' or 'Barclay' in stylized block letters. McClelland Barclay was made by Rice-Weiner. Not to be confused with script Barclay mark.
Barkin, Gret - 1940's-late 1990's
Bauer, Dorothy - 1982-present
Beatrix - Known for Christmas jewelry.
Beau, Beaucraft - 1947-2004. Made both Sterling and 14kt gold jewelry
Beaujewels
Bell Trading Post - 1932-late 1980's. Known more for copper jewelry, they also made jewelry in sterling.
Bengel, Jakob - 1873 to present. Most widely know for 1930's German Art Deco galalith and chrome jewelery.
Blumenthal, B.- Famous button manufacturer, only made jewelry for a few years, probably late 1950's based on designs and materials.
Bogoff - 1949-late 1950's.
Boucher, Marcel - 1937-early 1970's. Earlier mark (1937-1949) is a stylized 'MB' beneath a Phrygian cap, also used 'Boucher', 'Marboux', 'Parisina'.
Art - c.1950-1980
Avon - 1970-present
Bade, Otto R - 1958-1981. Worked for Rebajes fromn 1941-1958. Mark is 'Orb' in script.
Barclay - 1946-late 1950's. Mark is 'Barclay' in script. Not to be confused with McClelland Barclay.
Barclay, McClelland - 1935-1943. Mark is 'McClelland Barclsy' or 'Barclay' in stylized block letters. McClelland Barclay was made by Rice-Weiner. Not to be confused with script Barclay mark.
Barkin, Gret - 1940's-late 1990's
Bauer, Dorothy - 1982-present
Beatrix - Known for Christmas jewelry.
Beau, Beaucraft - 1947-2004. Made both Sterling and 14kt gold jewelry
Beaujewels
Bell Trading Post - 1932-late 1980's. Known more for copper jewelry, they also made jewelry in sterling.
Bengel, Jakob - 1873 to present. Most widely know for 1930's German Art Deco galalith and chrome jewelery.
Blumenthal, B.- Famous button manufacturer, only made jewelry for a few years, probably late 1950's based on designs and materials.
Bogoff - 1949-late 1950's.
Boucher, Marcel - 1937-early 1970's. Earlier mark (1937-1949) is a stylized 'MB' beneath a Phrygian cap, also used 'Boucher', 'Marboux', 'Parisina'.
Designer Reference Pages
(click picture for reference page)
Eisenberg Enamels - c. 1970's