Diamond Cut
In talking about the cut of a diamond, we are referring to the proportions of the diamond as opposed to its shape (round, marquise, pear, princess, etc.). The cut has the greatest influence on the fire and brilliance of a diamond. A well cut stone with the correct angles and number of facets will reflect and refract light back out the top of the diamond for maximum brilliance. A stone that is cut too deep or too shallow may appear lifeless or dark when compared to a correctly cut stone.

Hollow
To reduce cost and weight, either each link or the inside of the item (such as in a woven or mesh style) is hollow. 

Solid
Indicates that the chain links or interior are not hollow.  The term does not refer to the metal purity--all Viridian Gold chains are "solid gold" or "solid platinum", which indicates that no metal is used except the gold or platinum.

Satin Finished
The gold will have a hazy or glazed look to it. Almost like when you breath onto a piece of glass or a mirror, a kind of foggy look.

Brushed
Similar to Matte finish, a brushed finish is composed of tiny striations, or scratches, in the finish as made by a metal brush.  If the striations are very fine, the finish is similar to matte.  The terms are often used interchangeably.

Diamond cut
The surface of the metal is cut into highly polished facets which reflect light at different angles, creating a sparkling diamond-like effect.

Die Struck 
A die is a hard-steel tool upon which an image has been formed.  It is machine-pressed with great force ("struck") onto a precious metal blank, creating a sharp, dimensional design which is polished and further formed into the jewelry piece.

Embossed
The design or text formed in the metal is raised above its surface, the opposite of engraving.

Enameled
The process of fusing colored glass or other very hard compounds onto the metal to provide color that is not usually found in alloys of the base metal.

Engraved
The design or text is cut into the metal, thus being formed below its surface--the opposite of embossing.

Filigreed
Intricate patterns of open work in the metal which are formed by fused gold wire or by cutting through the metal.

Florentine
A cross-hatched engraved design, more coarse than a brushed or matte finish

Hammered
Random indentations in the metal either formed by the mold in which the piece was formed, or by actual hammering.

Highly Polished
All jewelry is polished to some extent in order to remove the rough surfaces which are formed in the manufacturing process.  This is a labor-intensive step and is often compromised in lower-quality jewelry, especially on the underside of the crown of rings and the backs of pins and brooches.  Highly polished metal has a mirror-like finish.

Matte
A non-reflective surface--the metal has been polished, but not to a mirror-like finish.  The effect is often achieved by abrading the surface with fine materials after polishing.  Similar to Brushed finish, though not as coarse--the terms are often used interchangeably.

Mesh
A sheet of woven fine, precious metal or steel wire.

Milgrain
The metal is formed with a texture resembling a string of tiny beads which outlines a design detail or border.

Satin
The metal has a softer shine than a highly polished metal, but not as dull as a matte finish