Antique jewelry glossary

Welcome to our extensive antique jewelry glossary with around 1,500 jewelry related entries.If you feel you are missing an explanation, feel free to let us know and we will add it.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z     all

Lustre

The appearance of the smooth surface of a mineral or some other substances due to the reflection that results from light striking the surface. It is a quality of opaque or translucent stones.

There are several kinds of lustre:

• metallic: the most brilliant, as shown by polished metals and many metallic minerals, e.g. crystalline hematite; adamantine, characteristic of diamonds
• vitreous: as shown by ruby, sapphire, and glass
• resinous: as shown by amber and other resins, a greasy lustre and a waxy lustre being rather similar
• pearly: as seen on the surface of pearls and on the cleavage faces of some crystals
• silky: as shown by cat's-eye and other fibrous minerals

Lustre is seen on a smooth surface where ridges are present to reflect the light in many directions. The degrees of lustre, indicating intensity, are 'splendent' (mirror-like), 'shining' (indistinct), 'glistening' (feeble), and 'dull' (almost none).

Lustre should not be confused with sheen.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson