Mabe' (Or Mobe'): A Japanese term for
cultured pearls which are cultured
against the shell so that only half a pearl is formed resembling a
half-sphere.
Magnesia: Also called periclase, magnesia is
a light, solid, white earthy mineral composed of
magnesium oxide.
It is a source of magnesium and is used as a
laxative. It takes its name from Magnesia, an ancient city of Asia Minor, and
is a mineral ingredient of the philosophers' stone.
Magnesium: A light, silvery-white,
moderately hard, malleable, ductile, metallic
element which only occurs in nature as a
compound with other elements, as found in
magnesite, spinel and
olivine. In ribbon or powder form
magnesium burns with a brilliant white flame, (the so-called magnesium light),
which is used in signaling, pyrotechnics, incendiary bombs, or in photography
where a strong actinic illuminant is required.
Malachite: A
hydrous
carbonate of
copper, malachite is an
opaque green stone characterized by bands
of light and dark green which have very pronounced contrast and are often
concentric. A source of copper.
Maltese Cross: Named for the Knights of Malta,
a group of knights who bore this symbol on their tabards during the Crusades.
A Maltese cross has four broad arms of equal length with a V shaped notch cut
out of the ends.
Manganese: A gray-white or silvery brittle,
metallic, element
which resembles iron but is not magnetic. It
is found abundantly in the ores
pyrolusite,
manganite, and rhodochrosite
and in nodules on the ocean floor. Manganese is
alloyed with iron to form
ferromanganese, which is used to increase strength, hardness, and wear
resistance of steel.
Manganite: Steel-gray or iron-black crystals
composed of manganese
oxide. Used as a source of manganese.
Marble: A metamorphic rock composed of
calcium
carbonate, (like
aragonite or
coral), or
carbonate of
lime, (limestone
or dolomite, a variety of calcite), which is swirled or clouded with color. It
is most often used for architectural and ornamental purposes. The most common
variety is white, but it can also be yellow, red, or green.
Marbled: A stone, or other object, with two or
more colors swirled together.
Marcasite: A mineral
with the same composition as pyrite,
(fool's gold), and often called "white iron
pyrite", but differing in crystal structure. It can be
faceted like a
gemstone and is often used in
sterling silver
jewelry.
Marina chain: A
chain composed of small, round, diamond
cut links that are designed to lie flat
like a curb link
chain, but are set very close together.
Mariner link: A
chain link resembling a flat oval with
a flat bar in the middle of the ring. A
figogucci chain is a variant form.
Marquise: (Mar-KEYS, also called a navette).
An oval shape gemstone which tapers to a
point at both ends, named for the Marquise de Pompadour, Mistress of King
Louis XV.
Matinee Length: A
necklace which is 30 to 35 inches long.
Matte: With
jewelry which has a matte finish the designer uses either a chemical
process or an abrasive material to scratch the top layers of the piece
creating a dull and non-reflective surface. Also referred to as having a
"brushed finish.".
Melanite: A common black variety of
garnet composed of
iron lime.
Mesh: A sheet of fabric-like woven fine wire,
similar to the kind used for screen doors.
Metal: A solid mineral
element that is able to conduct heat and
electricity and is pliable under heat or pressure. Common metals include
bronze,
copper and iron. Metals used for making
jewelry, such as
platinum,
gold, and silver are called "precious
metals".
Metallic: There are two basic definitions. A
material composed of metal is "metallic", but the term is also used for a
material displaying a reflective, shiny,
lustrous appearance, like a metal would.
Mica: A group of minerals
consisting of hydrous
silicates of
aluminum or
potassium which are common in
igneous and metamorphic rocks. Mica vary
in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black and characteristically
split into very thin leaves. Sheets of mica used in insulation and electrical
equipment because of their resistance to electricity. The
transparent forms are used in
lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc.
Micromosaic. Ancient Roman
mosaic created by using minute pieces of colored glass
or stone called tesserae, up to 1400 per
square inch. Micromosaics were used for
brooches and pins.
Middleman: See
Agent.
Milgrain: A raised, beaded edge on a
ring done with a special engraver's tool;
resembling the edge of a coin.
Milgrain Setting: A milgrain design engraved into the edge of the
metal securing a stone in place.
Millefiori: Glass or clay
beads with imbedded floral designs.
Millefiori means "a thousand flowers" in Italian.
Mine Cut: Differs from the modern
Brilliant cut only in its
girdle shape, which is square instead of
round, a higher crown, smaller
table, deeper
pavilion, and larger
culet, but the number and arrangement of
the facets are the same. It is lumpier than
the form accepted today. This form of cut
surfaced in the early 1800's and began to disappear around the turn of the
20th century.
Mineral: Any inorganic substance; i.e.
anything that is not a plant or an animal.
Mineral crystal: see Quartz.
Mint Condition: A piece of
jewelry having no signs of wear
whatsoever, including no discolored stones. A piece that is in Mint Condition
is in virtually the same condition as it was when it left the manufacturer.
Considering that vintage jewelry is
usually 50 or more years old, and that it likely has been worn, it is
obviously quite rare to find a piece that is truly in Mint Condition.
Mohs Scale: A measure of a
mineral's hardness and its resistance to scratching invented by Austrian
mineralogist, Friedrich Moh. The scale goes from talc (number 1) being the
softest, to diamonds as number 10, being
the hardest substance known by man. Most
gemstones fall in the 6-8 range
Mollusk: An invertebrate animal usually
enclosed in a shell, such as an oyster, mussel or clam.
Monoclinic: A system of
crystallization wherein two crystal
axes intersect obliquely and are perpendicular to the third. See
Amphibole.
Moonstone: A
transparent, slightly
iridescent, milky white variety of
feldspar with white or light blue
opalescent spots. Moonstone is considered a good luck stone, especially for
lovers.
Morganite: A pink variety of
beryl found in California, Brazil, and
Madagascar named after J.P. Morgan.
Morse: A clasp
used by the clergy for fastening garments, such as a cape, in front. It is
usually very large, from 12.5 to 17.5 cm in diameter, of various materials and
shapes, and decorated in religious themes.
Mosaic: A design created by pressing pieces of
stone, glass, or ceramic tile, (called
tesserae), in mortar. See also: micromosaics.
Moss Agate: A type of
agate displaying a variety of green
splotches with a little white or clear. Not much different than
Tree agate.
Mother-of-pearl: The
pearlescent material on the inside of
mollusk shells like
abalone, oysters, and mussels. This material can be scraped off, sliced
thin, and used as inlay on a variety of
jewelry, furniture, etc.
Mothers' rings: A kind of "family
jewelry", Mother's rings are rings
personalized with their children's
birthstones or with birthstones
and names.
Mount: To place or fix a stone in the setting.
See Mounting.
Mounting: A piece of metal
that holds a gem in place.
Mourning Jewelry:
Jewelry worn to commemorate the death of
a loved one, usually in the form of a ring,
brooch, or
necklace; widely worn during the
Victorian era when the death of Prince
Albert plunged Queen Victoria into a lifetime of mourning. See
Filigree,
Jet, and Jabot Pin.
Muff Chain: A long
chain with a clasp used to suspend a
lady’s fur muff.
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