STERLING SILVER: Also known as "Standard Silver," sterling silver is silver alloyed with other metals to increase the hardness and durability. Generally, sterling is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Some sterling silver jewelry is plated with 14kt-18kt gold and referred to as "vermeil," or "gold over sterling."

TOPAZ: Available in a stunning selection of shades, the topaz's sky blue hue is one of the most popular colors for jewelry designs. Once thought to offer protection, today topaz is favored for its durability and affordability. Yellow topaz is the birthstone for November while blue topaz is for December.

MARQUISE: An elliptical shape that comes to a point at the top and bottom. Sometimes referred to as a "navette."

PRINCESS: A multifaceted gemstone cut that has a square or rectangular shape with a facet arrangement that yields a similar level of brilliance to the round brilliant-cut. The princess-cut is known for the distinct "x" shape it renders while looking through the table.

GARNET: the birthstone of January. One glance at the deep red seeds nestled inside of a pomegranate explains why the word "garnet" comes from the Latin word "granatus," meaning "grain" or "seed." This name was given to the garnet because of its close resemblance to the succulent seed.

ASSCHER: A variation of the classic emerald-cut gemstone with a square shape, cutoff corners, and large step cut facets.