Glossary of Terms

An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals.

Amethyst is a transparent, semi precious gemstone with a purple hue. Since it is found readily in nature, it is used commonly for jewelry. The color ranges from blue to violet and may include undertones of red, gray or mauve. The deeper the hue, the more valuable the stone is. Amethysts are a crystalline type of quartz.

Ammolite is mined in Canada and is one of nature's oldest and rarest gems. It is formed from the mineralized remains of an upper Cretaceous fossil called the Ammonite Placenticeras. No two gems will exhibit the same luminous pattern and play of color. Ammolite was granted official gemstone status in 1981 by the International Commission of Coloured Gemstones (CIBJO).

A watch that shows the time using hour, minute and second hands.

A watch that shows the time by means of hour and minute hands (analog display) as well as by numbers (digital display).

Small opening or window on the dials of some watches which may indicate date, day, hour, moon phase, etc.

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of gemstones. It is a transparent stone that is typically seen in vibrant hues of blue and blue-green. The most valuable is the desired deep blue "aqua" colored gemstone. This bright and sparkling gemstone is often found with exceptional clarity, even in large carat sizes. The best aquamarines come from Brazil.

A mechanical watch, typically with a balance wheel escapement, whose mainspring is wound by the motion of the wearer's arm, instead of having to be wound manually every day. Whereas a quartz watch is powered by electricity, a mechanical watch is powered by a mainspring which must be rewound for the watch to keep time.