RICHARD WISE GEM COLLECTION
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| Peruzzi cut An early brilliant style cut, the first brilliant. phenomenal stone A stone that exhibits a phenomenal effect, such as a star, cat’s-eye, or adularescence. pick A selection from a parcel of gemstones. pink To heat topaz at a low temperature to turn the hue to pink. play of color The iridescent
effect in opal. primary When referring to hue, the dominant hue in a gemstone; a pinkish red gem has a red primary hue. reflection Light reflected from a surface. refraction The bending or deflection of light passing from one transparent media to another; e.g., from air to water, from a gem into the air. refractive index A measure of the angle of the deflection of light as it passes from one substance to another. reinforcement Alternating bands of color in chalcedony (agate). Coined by author to describe a memory aid used to recall the color of a specific gem, i.e. using taste to reinforce sight. rutile A crystal (inclusion) that forms in golden hairlike masses. saturation The quantity of color in a gem which translates into the color’s vividness or dullness. scintillation The breaking up of light into tiny constituents, a function of the facets of a gem. seal stone A gem carved in intaglio producing a design in relief, when pressed into clay, usually the owner’s signature or emblem. secondary When referring to hue, the second or modifying color; an orangy red gem has an orange secondary hue. simpatico An affinity between a certain color pearl and the skin of the potential wearer. skylight Light diffused around the body of the viewer with the back turned to the sun. sleepy Having a fuzzy or misty quality in the brilliance of a gem, a lack ofcrispness. Defining quality in Kashmir sapphire |
smoky
Dirty or sooty looking. Also refers specifically to grayish fancy
color diamonds. star A phenomenal effect in some gemstones, appearing as a six rayed figure. suite Three or more matched gems. super-d A misnomer used to describe an ultra-transparent diamond. A noted characteristic of Golconda diamonds. texture In transparent gems, a description of color zoning visible face up. In pearls, a reference to any indentations or imperfections in the pearl’s surface. tint A hint of color, not sufficiently saturated to be a hue. tissue nucleation The use of mantle tissue from a donor mollusk to stimulate the growth of a pearl. A tissue-nucleated pearl is a non-nucleated cultured pearl. tone The third constituent of color, defined as lightness to darkness. translucent Allowing light to pass through, but preventing the clear viewing of images. transmission luminescence Emission of light effect by a substance caused by the excitation of light rays. transparent Allowing light to pass through so that objects may be clearly seen. treatment, heat treatment The heating of a gemstone to improve its color or clarity. trichroic The breaking up of light into three constituent rays, each containing a portion of the visible spectrum (rainbow). water An archaic term that refers to the combination of color and transparency in gemstones; used hierarchically: first water (gem of the finest water), second water, third water, byewater. window The center of a gem cut too shallow. Produces a read through effect that lacks brilliance; also called lens effect.
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