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As the Native American jewelry industry continues to grow and thrive it becomes clear that it has begun to develop a language of its own. In order to help clarify the subject matter on this site for newcomers, this core glossary with define terms from this craft as well as common terms of reasonable relevance. The glossary is in alphabetical order for efficiency. If there is a term that you are having trouble understanding or if you have a term that is not in the glossary please feel free to let us know.| Anneal | A method of softening silver by heating until it glows, shaping and quickly quenching in water. |
| Backed, Backing | When a stone is fine or thin it may be glued to s stronger base to reinforce and increase durability of the structure. After a stone undergoes the backing process it is termed “Backed”. |
| Bangle | A type of bracelet, usually a large piece of wire with designs etched in it by file or stamping techniques. |
| Cabochon | A common shape of a stone used on a piece of jewelry. The stone can be many shapes but is flat on the back side to fit against the base of the jewelry and rounded on the top side so it protrudes outward. |
| Channel Setting | A Zuni technique of setting a mosaic between metal and stones. |
| Coin Silver | Silver jewelry which the base silver was obtained by the melting down of silver coins. |
| Concha, Concho | A type of small silver plaques usually lined up to create some kind of design. Often seen to decorate straps and belts. |
| Dyeing | The use of colored dies to enhance the color of a substance or make it more uniform. |
| Filing | A method of decorating a piece of silver or base metal by creating notches or ridges using a file. |
| Flux | A chemical used to prevent the silver from oxidizing. |
| Forge | A method of shaping metal by hammering it. |
| Host Rock, “Mother Rock” | The host rock also sometimes referred to as the mother rock is the site where a gym is formed. Turquoise is usually forms on igneous rocks. |
| Housing | Normally referred to in jewel craft as the bezel. A ridge of base material on a piece of jewelry such as silver that extends slightly outward to hold a stone in place. |
| Ingot | A sample of silver created from casting. |
| Irradiation | Irradiation is the process by which an item is exposed to radiation used to make turquoise less “chalky”. |
| Matrix | The matrix is the part of the turquoise host rock that can bee seen in a stone between the turquoise vein formations. The color and distribution of the matrix varies widely due to the composition of the host rock and formation time of the turquoise. |
| Museum Quality | Museum quality is a term used to describe a piece of Native American jewelry that is a unique one of a kind piece of jewelry made with high quality materials. These pieces are usually made by skilled artists and are usually more expensive due to it originality. |
| Reconstitution | When fine fragments are to small to be used they are bonded together to form a larger solid mass. Many times other substances are added to the mixture making many “reconstituted” substances artificial. |
| Sandcast | To cast in stone molds. |
| Spiderweb | Spiderweb is highly desired net looking matrix pattern of turquoise jewelry. Also note that the “web” matrix also a matrix of web like design but not quite at precise as the spiderweb style. |
| Stabilization, “bonded” | Also known as bonding, stabilization is the binding of turquoise or other natural substances with plastic or glass to increase the durability. |
| Stamp | A tool used to engrave a specific design or hallmark in metal. |
| Sterling Silver | A silver alloy compound that is 925 parts silver to 75 parts copper. |
| Waxing and Oiling | Waxes and oils can be used as treatments to enhance the color and shine of a stone on a piece of jewelry. |
