Vocabulary

Parts of a Ring:

Head: The head is the center of the ring. That is where your center stone goes.

Side Stones: Side stones are the stones that are on either side of the center stone

Shank: The shank is the rest of the ring, the rounded part of the ring that goes around
your finger. A basic ring usually has three parts: A head, side stones and a shank.

Center Stone: A center stone is the precious stone that is set into the head of a ring,
which is the center of the ring. It can either be a round, a princess, an oval, an emerald cut,
a pear-shape, or a marquise etc.

Gallery: The space underneath the center stone and the side stones. Usually where the
filigree is inlayed

Filigree: Little wirework that is inlayed into the shank of the ring or under the center and
side stones. For example: Hearts or circles etc.

Inlay: The process of setting filigree into the gallery of the ring or in the shank of a ring.

Fitted Band: Also known as a shadow band or a band that is contour to the engagement
ring. Usually only worn with the engagement ring. It fits up to the engagement ring like a
puzzle piece and really can only be worn with the engagement ring.

Straight Band: A band that is straight, not contour to the engagement ring. Can be worn
with or without the engagement ring.

Engraving: A form of art that beautifies the ring, a design that is etched by hand into a
ring by a master craftsman.

Hand-Engraved: Engraving that is done after the ring is cast. It is all done by hand and
is a form of art. Each design is different and takes many hours to complete. No two rings
are exactly the same as they are all engraved by hand. Hand engraving is much more
difficult than cast engraving and each engraver has their own style of engraving.

Cast-Engraved: Engraving that is done before the ring is made (cast from a mold). It is
not nearly as pretty and clean as hand engraving.

Milligrain: Small beading design that is applied to the ring. A row of beads along the
shank of the ring or around the side diamonds of the ring.

Sizing: When changing the size of a ring larger or smaller to fit your finger better.

Two Tone: When a ring has two different metal colors to it. The ring may be either
platinum and yellow gold, or yellow and white gold.

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