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Glossary by Letter:
I.D.
BRACELET
I.D. is short for "Identification",
so an I.D. bracelet is simply
a curved plate engraved with
the name or initials of the
person wearing it.
IGI
Stands for the "International
Gemological Institute".
It is the largest independent
gem certification and appraisal
service in the United States.
IGNEOUS
A substance produced under
conditions involving intense
heat, such as that which is
found in volcanoes. Igneous
rock is rock formed by solidification
from molten magma.
IMPERIAL JADE
Imperial jade is another name
for emerald jade. It is a
fine emerald-green color.
IMPERIAL TOPAZ
Imperial topaz is golden orange-yellow
topaz; it is the most valuable
type of topaz.
IMPORT
The act of bringing or carrying
in goods from an outside source
for trade or sale, especially
in regards to goods from a
foreign country.
IMPERIAL MEXICAN JADE
Imperial Mexican jade is not
jade at all; it is calcite
that has been dyed green.
INCA EMERALD
Inca emerald is an emerald
that is mined in Equador.
INCLUSION
A naturally occurring
flaw, (feather, fracture,
fissure, carbon spot, or cloud),
within a diamond or other
stone. The test for clarity
looks for these flaws.
INDIAN AGATE
Indian agate is another term
for moss agate.
INDICOLITE
Blue Tourmaline.
INGOT
Metal cast into a bar or other
shape.
INLAID
Past tense of inlay.
INLAY
A decorative technique in
which part of the surface
of a piece of jewelry, furniture,
or ceramic is cut away and
stone, mother of pearl, or
some other substance is imbedded
into the hollowed-out area
so that it is level with the
surface of the piece. See
also channel inlay.
INTAGLIO
Italian for "carving",
an Intaglio is a carved gem
wherein the design is engraved
or carved into the object
so that it sits below the
surface plane of the material,
as opposed to a cameo in which
the design is raised from
it's background, in relief.
This technique was often used
for seals, which made a raised
impression in wax used to
seal a letter or authenticate
a document. It was commonly
attached to watch fobs, since
the watch fob is a good manner
of carrying a seal. Once seals
fell out of common use, the
intaglio tended to face out
to the viewer rather than
down as on a seal. Some of
the most commonly found Victorian
intaglios were carved in carnelian,
an orange-brown variety of
chalcedony.
INTERGROWN
Intergrown crystals occur
when two mineral crystals
grow together and become one.
INVERALL SAPPHIRE
Inverall sapphires are a type
of sapphire from Inverall,
New South Wales.
INVESTMENT COMPOUND
An investment compound is
a refractory material (it
can withstand extreme heat)
which is slightly porous (so
that gases from molten metal
can escape) and can be formed
into a mold (which will be
used in metal casting). An
example of an investment compound
is plaster of paris mixed
with silica, boric acid, and
graphite.
INVISIBLE NECKLACE
An invisible (or floater)
necklace looks as though the
beads are simply floating
on the skin; the beads or
pearls are strung far apart
from one another on an almost
invisible string (like clear
fishing line).
INVISIBLE SET
A method of setting square
gemstones side by side in
two or more rows within a
metal border or frame so that
they are flush against one
another with no metal separating
them.
IOLITE
(also called dichroite or
water sapphire). A silicate
of alumina, iron, and magnesia
which is usually violet-blue,
but can be deep blue, light
blue-gray, and yellow-white.
Makes a beautiful transparent
gemstone which is remarkable
for its dichroism.
IRIDESCENT
A display of lustrous rainbow-like
colors. The colors seen in
an oil slick or mother of
pearl are good examples of
iridescence. Synonymous with
"Pearlescent".
IRIDIUM
A metal of the platinum family
often alloyed with platinum
to improve workability. Pieces
marked "80% Plat. 20%
Irid" would indicate
that the alloy is 80 % platinum
and 20% iridium.
IRISH DIAMOND
Irish diamond is not a diamond
at all; it is rock crystal
from Ireland.
IRISH DIAMOND
Irish diamond is actually
rock crystal from Ireland.
IRON
The most common metallic
element which usually appears
dark brown, from oxidation
or impurity, but when pure
is silvery-white. Iron is
found abundantly in nature,
usually in combined forms
such as hematite, limonite,
magnetite, and taconite. It
is frequently alloyed in a
wide range of important structural
materials like cast iron,
steel, and wrought iron. It
is easily oxidized (rusted)
by moisture, and is attacked
by many corrosive agents.
IRON PYRITE
A common mineral composed
of iron disulphide with a
pale brass-yellow color used
as an iron ore and in the
production of sulfur dioxide
for sulfuric acid. Also called
Fool's gold and Iron pyrite.
IRRADIATED DIAMONDS
Irradiated diamonds are diamonds
that have been exposed to
radiation. This changes the
diamond's color (as the radiation
changes the crystalline structure
of the diamond). The change
in the diamond is permanent.
Older radiation treatments
involving exposing the stone
to radium; newer treatments
bombard the stone with atomic
particles in a cyclotron (which
accelerates protons, neutrons,
or alpha-partices to high
speeds). The irradiated stones
take on a greenish or an aquamarine
hue. Irradiations of diamonds
was first done in 1904 by
Sir William Crookes, who exposed
diamonds to radium, giving
them a permanent greenish
color; his diamonds are still
slightly radioactive (at the
level of radium-painted watch).
Newer irradiation techniques
bombard the crystal with atomic
particles in a cyclotron,
and then the stone is heated
to about 800 degrees Centigrade,
producing a stone with very
little radioactivity and a
permanent color change.
IRRADIATION
The process of bombarding
a gemstone with X-rays, gamma
rays or streams of subatomic
particles in order to change
the stone's color.
ITALIAN LAPIS
Italian lapis is not lapis;
it is actually blue-dyed jasper
from Italy.
IVORIDE
A plastic produced to simulate
ivory. It was first produced
by the Xylonite Company in
1866. Other names include
Celluloid, Ivoride, Ivorine,
Ivorite and Pyralin.
IVORINE
A plastic produced to simulate
ivory. It was first produced
by the Xylonite Company in
1866. Other names include
Celluloid, Ivoride, Ivorine,
Ivorite and Pyralin.
IVORITE
A plastic produced to
simulate ivory. It was first
produced by the Xylonite Company
in 1866. Other names include
Celluloid, Ivoride, Ivorine,
Ivorite and Pyralin.
IVORY
A hard, smooth yellowish-white
substance made from the tusks
of elephants and walruses.
IVORY, FRENCH
A plastic produced to simulate
ivory. It was first produced
by the Xylonite Company in
1866. Other names include
Celluloid, Ivoride, Ivorine,
Ivorite and Pyralin.
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