Abstract art is nonrepresentational, non-figurative art, often defined by what it is not. Abstraction can be traced back to the 19th century, when artists began to experiment with stylized forms, blurred lines and unusual proportions in lieu of realistic representations. Favored by Minimalists, Conceptual Artists, and Abstract Expressionists, abstract modes of expression are featured in works by many 20th century and contemporary artists.

Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York in the 1940s. Abstract Expressionism built on the Surrealist interest in automatism and subconscious creation, as artists such as Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still and Franz Kline, began to explore the expressive possibilities of pure abstraction. With important advocates, such as critic Clement Greenberg and patron Peggy Guggenheim, the movement quickly began to dominate the art world and define New York as the new center of the Western art.

Agate is a cryptocrystalline quartz. It’s known for its banded pattern. Color: Any color, but typically grey, white, brown, red, orange or yellow. Hardness: 6.5 - 7

A saltwater pearl produced by the akoya oyster. The Mikimoto pearl company was the first to successfully grow round akoya pearls.

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl that displays a color change depending on light conditions and the angle of view. Color: Green in daylight and red-violet in incandescent light. Hardness: 8.5

Slender, slightly tapered watch hands.

Amber is fossilized resin from ancient forests. Color: Various colors, though yellow, orange or brown shades are the most well-known. Hardness: 2.5 - 3

Americana describes artifacts and representations of everyday life in America. These objects are generally portrayed nostalgically and celebrate the American way of life. Baseball, barbeques, and fireworks feature prominently in such representations.

Amethyst is a transparent purple quartz. Color: Pale lilac to deep purple. Hardness: 7

A watch that combines an analog dial and a digital display.

A complication that automatically knows and adjusts for the correct amount of days for every month the year, with the exception of February; the calendar function only needs to be adjusted once every year.

The RealReal believes that great style is era-fluid. That’s why we are proud to accept vintage and antique jewelry. Branded pieces must be at least 20 years old to be considered vintage, while unbranded pieces must be at least 50 years old. Anything older than 100 years is deemed antique. Please note that branding, production standards, materials and wear over time can vary greatly.

A small opening on a watch's dial that reveals a complication; this is typically the date, day, or month.

Aquamarine is a type of beryl. Stones with a more intense or pure blue color have a higher value. Color: Pale blue to light green. Hardness: 7.5 - 8

Aquatint is a form of printing, often used in fine art limited edition prints. Particles of resin are applied to a plate (generally composed of copper or zinc), which then is treated with acid to corrode the metal and create negative space around pigment particles. These particles are then transferred onto paper or the final surface of the print. The effect is softer, and often compared to watercolor painting. Aquatint etchings are favored by many artists such as Sean Scully, and Francesco Clemente. A rare example by Edvard Munch just achieved a price of $3,220,017 in March 2013, which set a new record for the price paid for a print by the artist.

An archival pigment print is a print that was made with pigments that show they have excellent archival qualities. Resilient to environmental elements that can erode, fade and shorten the life of a print, archival pigment printing has become popular amongst photographers and artists in the last few decades.

The Art Deco movement which occurred from approximately 1920 – 1935 ushered in the 20th century with geometric silhouettes and stylized designs. Shortened from art décoratif, art from this period was embraced for its bold designs and modern aesthetic and was synonymous with the luxury and excess of the Roaring Twenties. Unusual materials such as shagreen and ivory were often used, as well as high lacquers and plush velvets. The aesthetic infiltrated all aspects of culture including visual art, dance, industrial design and architecture. Works from this period remain iconic in contemporary culture and include paintings by Tamara de Lempicka, The Empire State Building, and the furniture of Émile-Jaques Ruhlmann.

Art Nouveau developed as a response to mass production and industrialization in the late 1800s. With an emphasis on traditional craftsmanship, the movement sought to combine fine and decorative arts and as such encompassed the graphic arts, architecture, interior design as well as fine art. The style stems from 19th century botanical drawings and is characterized by whimsical stylized organic forms and sinuous patterns.

A type of square emerald cut with cropped corners. It's stepped facet pattern is designed to draw the eye into the stone.

Assemblage is a composition composed of easily recognizable everyday objects. Though a few artists experimented with assemblage in the early 1900s, it was popularized in the 1960s by artist such as Robert Rauschenberg, Joseph Cornell and Louise Nevelson.

A self-winding movement that harnesses energy from both winding the watch and from the wearer's motion. To operate continuously, automatic watches require daily wear or a watch winder. If the watch stops, simply wind the crown clockwise 20 - 30 times, set the watch and resume wear.

A rectangular-shaped diamond with rows of step-like facets. Baguettes can be straight or tapered, and they’re often used as accent stones to a larger center diamond.

A strap or bracelet that fastens the watch to the wearer’s wrist. Bracelets are usually made of metal while straps can be made from leather, rubber or other materials.

A setting using a thin bar of metal to hold a series of diamonds in place on either side.

A diamond cut featuring a traditional step-cut crown and a modified brilliant-cut pavilion.

Pearls with an undefined shape.

Watch hands that are straight with rounded ends.

Founded in Germany in 1919 by Walter Gropius, The Bauhaus was a school dedicated to art, architecture and design. The school was non-traditional and aimed to make equals of fine arts and design, as well as women and men. Classes were structured as workshops rather than studio training, celebrating form over function, humble materials and industrial design. The Bauhaus was built in Weimar and remained there until 1925, when it moved to Dessau (1925 – 1932) and finally Berlin (1932 – 1933) where it was shut down by the Nazis. The legacy of The Bauhaus is survived by the work of Josef Albers, Herbert Bayer, Lyonel Feninger, Oskar Schlemmer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and László Moholy-Nagy, among other former students.

A diamond that is set when beads of metal are raised and pushed over the girdle of the stone by the jeweler.

Small cracks at the outer portion of a gemstone which can sometimes be removed with polishing.

Small cracks at the outer portion of a diamond or gemstone which can sometimes be removed with repolishing.

The top part of the case that holds the crystal in place; bezels can be fixed in place or rotate and are typically of the same shape as the case.

A setting in which a metal rim is placed around the circumference of the diamond or at its girdle.

A rim holding the stone and completely surrounding the gem. Bezels can have straight or scalloped edges, or they can be molded to the stone.

The top part of the case that holds the crystal in place; bezels can be fixed in place or rotate and are typically of the same shape as the case.

Scratches or marks on the external area of the gemstone.

A blue chip artist is an artist who has received such renown that their work is in high demand and very unlikely to lose value.

A diamond's sparkle when light is reflected from the surface and from the diamond's interior.

A diamond cut used to achieve maximum light reflection from within the stone. A round brilliant-cut diamond has 58 facets.

A pear-shaped gem that has been drilled at the top to hang like a bead.

Pearls that are flat on one side. This occurs when an irritant lodges in the mollusk with room to only grow in one direction.

A facetless style of cutting that produces a smooth surface.

The kind of watch movement as it is produced by a manufacturer; for example, Tag Heuer’s Calibre 17.

The unit of measure for a diamond’s weight. There are 100 points in a carat, which is also a unit of weight.

Carat Weight and gemstone measurements are approximate, as permitted by the mounting.

Cartier was founded in 1847 and sits as a leading name in luxury. Although mostly known for their exquisite jewelry, Cartier has been a leading watch maker since the late 1800s; in fact, the Santos, Baignoire, Tortue, and Tank have been in production for a century. With a rich heritage and provence of nobility and pop-culture, owning a Cartier wristwatch is like owning a piece of history.

The frame enclosure that protects the watch movement. Cases are available in many shapes such as round, square, oval, tonneau and rectangular.

The back of the watch case that provides access to the watch movement. Most case backs are solid; however, some provide a crystal display.

Cast-not-set is a process wherein precious gemstones are directly cast into molten gold. This is reverse to standard setting where gemstones are set after the gold has formed. During this method, it is common for gemstones to become susceptible to breakage, inclusions, abrasions and other flaws.

A diamond setting which places stones directly next to one another between bars of metal with no metal separating them. A channel setting is commonly used for wedding and anniversary bands.

A Chromogenic Print, also known as a C-Print, is a full-color photographic print developed from either a positive color transparency or a negative. The film or paper contains three layers of silver halide emulsion sensitized to red, green and blue wavelengths of light respectively. As the print is developed, the dye couplers in each layer are activated and produce a full-color print.

The hand in a subdial that records the minutes that have passed in a timing sequence in a chronograph watch.

A large second hand that records lapsed seconds separately from the true second hand in a chronograph watch.

A watch that displays time and provides stopwatch function.

Citrine is a form of quartz. Its name comes from the French word “citron” meaning “lemon.” Color: Yellow, gold, orange and brown transparent shades. Hardness: 7

A diamond quality affected by a diamond’s natural imperfections, commonly referred to as inclusions or blemishes. A qualified gemologist will evaluate a diamond, categorizing it into one of eleven clarity grades.

A plane between atoms in a gemstone enabling the cutter to make a perfect split.

A diamond setting in which smaller stones surround a larger center stone.

Coated stones have had a surface treatment applied such as lacquer, enamel, ink, foil or film to improve the appearance, provide color, or other special effects. Coatings may be partially or fully removed by physical wear or exposure to chemicals and heat which can alter the appearance of the stone.

Quartz has been coated with an artificial transparent material to enhance appearance and color. Coatings can be easily scratched or worn away with wear and cleaning exposing the colorless material underneath. Coated stones should be washed with soap and water, never cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.

Topaz that has been coated with an artificial transparent material to enhance appearance and color. Coatings can be easily scratched and worn away with wear and cleaning, exposing the colorless material underneath. Coated stones should be washed with soap and water, never steamed.

Collage is a technique that incorporates the use of found materials such as newspaper and magazine clippings, parts of photographs, other elements of material culture onto a two-dimensional surface. The term collage is derived from the French word coller: to stick. The first artwork considered by many that deliberately used collage is to Still Life with Chair Caning (1912), by Pablo Picasso. In it, he included a printed oil-cloth simulating a chair-caning pattern and he surrounded the oval canvas with a “frame” of rope.

Testing description

A diamond’s lack of color, which is evaluated based on how white the stone appears. Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), with “D” being the highest possible score a diamond can receive and “Z” being the lowest. Fancy colors such as pink, blue or yellow are not included in this color scale and are considered extremely rare.

A pearl’s hue. Pearl colors range from white to grey or black. Pearls may also have overtones that vary from yellow and rose to silver and green.

A style of painting embraced in the 1950s – 1960s that was a descendent of Abstract Expressionism. Unlike the gestural, brushy surfaces of Expressionism, Color Field Painting is characterized by large flat fields of solid color, embracing the two-dimensional forms they inhabit. Colors were often subtle and natural as opposed to bright synthetic colors embraced by commercialism. This movement was closely associated with Post-Painterly Abstraction: a movement borne out of the seminal, eponymous exhibition curated by Clement Greenberg for MOCA, Los Angeles in 1964. Notable Color Field artists or its subsets included Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Helen Frankenthaler.

Additional features on a watch other than basic timekeeping. Common examples are day, date, chronograph and moon phase.

Natural low-grade ruby fragments that have been assembled together with glue and glass to create a solid gem that can be faceted. Do not clean in ultrasonic or steam cleaners.

Conceptual Art was formed on the notion that ideas and knowledge are art, rather than formal characteristics. The concept takes precedence over traditional aesthetic and material concerns. This movement called for a paradigmatic shift away from the notion of art as a fetishized and precious object. It rejected the presiding artistic hierarchy. Notable conceptual artists include Sol LeWitt, Lawrence Weiner, Mel Bochner and Joseph Kosuth.

Coral is an organic gemstone formed from the hard skeleton of coral branches and polished to a glossy shine. It's color is typically pale pink to deep red, though some varieties may also be white or black.

Stones formed in a lab, not in nature. Since elements like heat and pressure can be controlled, created stones often have fewer inclusions.

A knob on the side of the watch case used to set the time and calendar. On mechanical watches, a crown is also used to wind the mainspring.

The upper portion or the top of a diamond above the girdle.

A transparent cover that protects the watch dial and reduces glare. Typically made from any clear material, from plastic to natural or synthetic sapphire.

The bottom point of the diamond which may be polished in some stones. Some stones may not have a culet.

A mixed-cut diamond shaped like a square with rounded corners.

The angles and proportions a skilled craftsman creates in transforming a rough diamond into a polished diamond. A well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another, dispersing and refracting it through the top of the stone.

Watch hands which are tapered from a central width to an end point.

A watch function that displays AM/PM.

A watch function that displays depth level by measuring water pressure. Primarily used by divers, a depth sensor is also referred to as a depth meter.

The watch face that presents the time and most additional complications.

Diamonds are a form of carbon. The name comes from the Greek word for invincible. Color: Only very rare diamonds are truly colorless; others come in a variety of colors such as yellow, pink or blue and are known as fancy colors. Hardness: 10.00

Crystallized carbon, the hardest known natural substance. Diamonds are mined in their rough form and then cut and polished to reveal their brilliance.

A report created by a team of gemologists that includes analysis of a diamond’s qualities such dimension, clarity, color or polish. The most well known gemological laboratories that evaluate diamonds are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society Laboratories.

Natural Topaz that has been heated in the presence of other elements to enhance the color on the surface of a colorless gem while the center of the stone remains colorless.

A diptych is an artwork made up of two separate parts or panels that are often hinged together.

The breaking up of white light into spectral colors as it reflects off the surface.

A drawing is a two dimensional image produced with a drawing implement such as graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, or oil pastel.

Pearls shaped like a pear or teardrop.

Dyed gemstones have been treated with a substance to improve or alter their color. The stability of this treatment varies based on the stone and type of dye and may fade over time. Dye can be affected by exposure to water, chemicals, or heat and may transfer to skin or clothing.

The “end of life” for a watch battery. Some digital designs flash when a watch is reaching its E.O.L.; other watches using a dial and hands may signal the E.O.L. using the hands’ movement.

Earth born diamonds naturally form through a geologic process deep within the earth.

Emerald is a valuable beryl that owes its color to chromium or vanadium, which makes it bright green. Colombia produces the most desired emeralds. Color: Green and blue-green. Hardness: 7.5 - 8 Most emeralds have been fracture filled to improve the appearance of the stone. They may require special care and handling and should not be exposed to harsh chemicals or extreme temperature changes to extend life and preserve the beauty of this stone.

A rectangular or square-shaped cut-cornered diamond.

An artist who is in the early stage of his/her career who has created a modest independent body of work and has caught the eye of an art critic and/or gallery, but has not yet established a solid reputation in the industry.

An international modernist movement in the arts that emerged in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Expressionist artists specifically sought to express meaning or emotional experience rather than physical reality, but the term is commonly applied more widely to various avant-garde movements. Notable Expressionist artists include: Wassily Kandinsky, Georg Grosz, Paul Klee, Max Beckman and Otto Dix.

Any flat, polished surface of a gemstone.

Any flat, polished surface. The placement, angle and shape of each facet are carefully planned and executed to show the stone’s inherent beauty, color, and brilliance.

Diamonds that have been exposed to certain elements in nature causing them to appear yellow, pink, orange, blue or other colors.

A diamond cut other than round. Examples of fancy cuts are marquise, princess, cushion, etc.

The first of the avant-garde movement that flourished in France at the beginning of the twentieth century. Fauve painters were the first to break away from older traditional methods of perception (i.e. Impressionism), and their style of depicting nature was characterized by bold, undistinguished brushstrokes and vibrant colors directly from the tube. Notable Fauve painters include: Henri Matisse, André Derain, Henri-Charles Manguin, Othon Friesz, Jean Puy, Louis Valtat, and Georges Rouault.

A type of inclusion or blemish within a diamond often described as a small crack or fissure.

Feodor Alexeievich Afanasiev was a Russian jeweler who ran a small workshop for Fabergé specializing in miniature Easter Eggs, small articles made of silver-gilt and guilloché enamel and hardstone objects mounted with enameled silver-gilt mounts.

Describes the exterior of the diamond. Finish has four categories: excellent, very good, good and poor.

The variety and intensity of color seen when light is reflected from a diamond. Fire is also sometimes described as dispersion.

Fire opal is a bright orange variety of opal primarily found in Mexico. It’s often referred to as Mexican fire opal. Color: Transparent to translucent yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red. Hardness: 5.5 - 6.5

Diamond shows no inclusions or blemishes of any kind when examined under 10X magnification.

When a diamond exhibits a whiter, yellower or bluer tint when exposed to ultraviolet light.

An international group of avant-garde artists active from the early 1960s to late 1970s who worked in a wide range of media that often required the participation of a spectator in order to be completed. Their activities included public concerts or festivals and the dissemination of innovative publications, including scores for electronic music, theatrical performances, ephemeral events, gestures and actions constituted from the individual’s everyday experience. Notable artists of the movement include Joseph Beuys, Yoko Ono and Nam June Paik.

The term for any approach to the arts that emphasizes the autonomy or primacy of formal qualities—most commonly, compositional elements such as line, color and texture.

A process that injects a substance such as oil or resin into surface-breaking cavities or fractures to hide inclusions and improve appearance or durability. Stones with this type of treatment may require special care and handling and should not be subjected to harsh chemicals or extreme temperature changes.

A process that injects a substance into a diamond to hide inclusions or blemishes.

A pearl produced by a freshwater mollusk. China is now the primary resource for freshwater pearls, though the first cultured freshwater pearls originated in Japan.

Garnets are a group of silicon minerals. The name is derived from the Greeks since the garnet’s red color reminded them of the pomegranate seed or “granatum.” Color: All colors, though reddish shades are the most well-known. Hardness: 6 - 7.5

A seal placed inside the crystal, crown and caseback to protect the watch from outside moisture during everyday wear. In watches with greater water resistance, gaskets prevent water from entering the case up to indicated depth pressures.

The gelatin silver process was introduced in 1885 and is still the most common process for making black and white photographs. Prints are created when silver salts are suspended in gelatin, an animal protein, and coated onto glass, flexible plastic or film, baryta paper, or resin-coated paper.

A nonprofit teaching institute considered the standard in the grading of diamonds and colored gemstones.

A nonprofit teaching institute considered the standard source for diamond grading reports, which are produced through the institute’s laboratory.

A combination of sterling silver and 24K gold, specific to Yossi Harari jewelry.

The outer edge of a diamond.

The outer edge of a cut stone and the dividing line between the crown and pavilion.

A process that injects glass into surface-breaking cavities or fractures to hide inclusions and improve appearance or durability. Stones with this type of treatment may require special care and handling and should not be subjected to harsh chemicals or extreme temperature changes.

Natural Ruby that has been injected with glass to hide cracks & fractures, enhancing durability and transparency. Glass filled materials should never be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Natural Sapphire that has been filled with glass to enhance durability, transparency, and potentially color. Glass filled materials should never be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner.

A naturally yellow metal that does not rust, tarnish or corrode. Gold is soft in its purest form, so alloys such as silver, copper or nickel are sometimes added to enhance the metal’s durability. Pure gold is 24 Karat. 18 Karat gold is 75% gold (18K jewelry may be marked with the number 750). 14 Karat gold is 58.5% gold (14K jewelry may be marked with 585). Adding different alloys like nickel or palladium can alter the color of gold, changing it to rose, green or white. Throughout history, gold has been associated with gods and rulers as the ultimate status symbol. The Incas referred to it as the “sweat of the sun,” Egyptians used it in ceremonial jewelry, and today jewelry designers are even acting as alchemists by creating their own colors and types of gold.

A naturally yellow metal that does not rust, tarnish or corrode. Gold is soft in its purest form, so alloys such as silver, copper or nickel are sometimes added to enhance the metal’s durability. Pure gold is 24 Karat, 18 Karat gold is 75% gold (18K jewelry may be marked with the number 750) and 14 Karat gold is 58.5% gold (14K jewelry may be marked with 585). Adding different alloys like nickel or palladium can alter the color of gold, changing it to rose, green or white. Throughout history, gold has been associated with gods and rulers as the ultimate status symbol. The Incas referred to it as the “sweat of the sun,” Egyptians used it in ceremonial jewelry, and today jewelry designers are even acting as alchemists by creating their own colors and types of gold.

Grade 0 watches are new or unworn, with no signs of wear or damage.

Grade 1 watches may possess any of the following aspects: • Imperfections that are superficial and consistent with handling • A single point of light marking • A bracelet that has been sized • A case that has been engraved.

Grade 2 watches may possess any of the following aspects: • Imperfections that are superficial and consistent with light use • Multiple points of light markings • A Single point of moderate marking • A bracelet with light stretching • Minor cosmetic alterations to external components.

Grade 3 watches may possess any of the following aspects: • Markings and wear that are consistent with moderate use • Multiple points of moderate markings • Light discoloration to metal, dial or hands • A bracelet with moderate stretching • Blemishes at crystal or embellishments • Cosmetic alterations to external components.

Grade 4 watches may possess any of the following aspects: • Markings and wear that are consistent with heavy use • Moderate wear at case and attachment • One or more points of heavy markings • Moderate discoloration to metal, dial or hands • A bracelet with heavy stretching • Moderate wear at crystal • Significant cosmetic alterations to external components.

Transparent lines that resemble rings in a puddle or planes within a diamond.

Decorative engraved patterns on a watch dial.

A setting in which the diamond is embedded into the metal, so the top of the diamond is nearly flush with the metal’s surface.

Indicators that move or graduate over the dial to point to the hour, minute or second. Hands are also used in chronograph, GMT, power reserve and other complications.

A gemstone’s resistance to scratching or abrasion, which is measured using the MOHS scale.

A pear-shaped stone that has a cleft at the top to resemble a heart.

A setting with a plate of metal at the bottom designed to make the stone appear larger.

A movement in painting that originated in France in the 1860s and is characterized by a concern with depicting the visual impression of the moment—most notably the shifting effect of light and color—rather than specific details. Impressionist painters were viewed as radicals in their time and their independent exhibitions were initially met with harsh opposition since their free and visible brushstrokes violated the rules of academic painting. Notable impressionist artists include Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas and Berthe Morisot.

Diamond contains inclusions that are obvious under 10X magnification.

An impurity which is trapped inside a diamond or was created as the diamond formed, e.g. crystal or mineral inclusions, feathers, internal graining.

A mark on an analog watch that indicates the hour in lieu of numbers. Index markers are sometimes referred to as “tick” markers.

An art form that was popularized in the late 1950s. Installation involves the creation of an enveloping aesthetic or sensory experience in a particular environment and often time involves active engagement by the viewer.

Diamond shows no inclusions when examined under 10X magnification, however may have some minor surface blemishes.

A watch representing time with visible hands and other non-digital indicators. Analog is the opposite of digital.

Iolite is a blue silicate mineral that occurs as crystals or grains in igneous rocks. Iolite changes colors depending on which angle it is viewed from. Color: Transparent shades of blue. Hardness: 7.5

Jade is comprised of either Jadeite or Nephrite — tough, compact gemstones dating back to prehistoric times when they were used as tools. Of the two, Jadeite is more rare. Color: Green, lavender, red, yellow, white and black. Hardness: 6

Jasper is cryptocrystalline quartz created from very small grains. Color: Dark green, yellow, brown, green, yellow, red and white. Hardness: 6.5 - 7.5

Jet is a hard gem variety of lignite. It is a type of brown coal, a fossilized wood of an ancient tree similar to cypress trees. Color: Black or dark brown. Hardness: 2.5 - 4

The bearings in a mechanical or automatic (and in some cases, quartz) watch that help all essential rotating parts turn smoothly. In older watches, jewel bearings were made from natural gemstones, but today many watches use synthetic ruby or sapphire.

Hour displayed through an aperture in the dial instead of a hand.

Pearls made of 100% nacre. Keshi pearls are formed when the oyster rejects the bead nucleus but still creates nacre. Because of its lack of a nucleus, the Keshi pearl can vary greatly in shape.

Watches that use motion from the wearer’s arm to create electricity for the watch to run. Kinetic watches are similar to automatic watches, except automatic styles use motion to wind the watch’s mainspring.

Diamond that has the same chemical, physical, and visual properties as natural diamond, but has been manufactured in a laboratory.

Laboratory-grown diamonds are chemically and optically the same as natural diamonds, but are created in a controlled laboratory environment rather than being mined from the earth.

Labradorite is an iridescent feldspar mineral which is found in many igneous rocks. Color: Grey or black, but when viewed at a particular angle it reveals a spectrum of shades like red, blue or green. Hardness: 6 - 6.5

The depiction of natural scenery of a region, including mountains, trees, rivers, valleys, and forests. Landscape artworks can be oil paintings, watercolors, gouache, pastels, or prints of any kind. Commonly the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition.

Lapis lazuli is an opaque to translucent precious gemstone composed mainly of lazurite and calcite. The most desired shade is an intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. Color: Deep azure blue to light blue to blue-green. Hardness: 5.5

All watches require a full service every 4-6 years.

In the history of printing, the original methods of lithography were based on the repelling qualities of oil and water. In modern lithography, the design is drawn with a polymer coating onto an aluminum plate and then the image is transferred directly onto the printed page. A lithograph print of an artist’s work is an authorized copy of an original work created either by the artist himself or by a skilled craftsman appointed by the artist.

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A small magnifying glass used to view gemstones or jewelry.

Protrusions on a watch case that hold the strap or bracelet.

The quantity and quality of the light reflected from a pearl’s surface. Luster is affected by the amount of nacre deposited to form the pearl. Saltwater pearls are generally believed to have more luster than freshwater types.

The primary power supply for a mechanical watch. When a watch is wound either manually or automatically, the mainspring tightens. The release of this tension, regulated by the balance wheel, is what drives the watch functions.

Malachite is a bright green mineral formed from copper hydroxyl carbonate. Color: Green. Hardness: 3.5 - 4.0

Indicators on a watch that denote time or other information, often in lieu of numbers.

A double-pointed, canoe-shaped diamond that is long and thin with gently curved sides. Marquise diamonds are part of the brilliant-cut family.

A watch movement that uses a mainspring to store energy rather than a battery and must be wound by hand and/or by physical motion.

Small, typically round diamonds less than .10 points or a tenth of a carat in size.

A watch feature that indicates GMT (Greenwich Mean Time or World Time) in the 24-hour format. GMT can be displayed as an additional hand, a subdial or digitally.

As the term minimalist refers to anything stripped to its essentials, Minimalism refers to the movement in America in the 1960s and 1970s that emphasized art in its pure, pared-down form and often used industrial materials. In the aftermath of World War II, Minimalism developed out of the simplified rebellious spirit that emerged among artists in response to Abstract Expressionism. The term was used to describe the work of painters such as Frank Stella, Yves Klein and Robert Rauschenberg. However, the analyses of Clement Greenberg and Michael Fried swiftly moved the focus of minimalism to the monumental forms of sculptors like Richard Serra, Dan Flavin and Robert Morris.

A diamond cut incorporating both step-cut and brilliant-cut facets.

Mixed-media refers to artwork in which more than one medium is used in its production. A two-dimensional artwork can be mixed-media if an artist uses a combination of pencil, inks, paints and collage and other materials. A three-dimensional work is often described as mixed-media when various forms of sculpture, visual, or audio sources are combined.

A watch feature that tracks and displays the lunar phases throughout the month. The moonphase dial is typically displayed by an occluded aperture.

Moonstone is the most well-known gem variety of orthoclase feldspar. It’s famous for its adularescence, the soft blue light that shines from the interior of the moonstone. Color: Blue, but it also occurs in grey, white, pink, green and brown. Hardness: 6 - 6.5

The inner mechanism of a watch that keeps time and powers the watch’s functions like an engine. Watches can have a mechanical (manual wind), automatic (self-winding) or quartz (battery powered) movement. There are also hybrid watches with more complex functionality that combine mechanical and battery power.

The secretion that makes up the outer coating of pearls. Nacre is released by the mollusk to protect its flesh from irritants like shell fragments, parasites or beads.

Narrative refers to artwork that tells a story, often as a sequence of events. Narrative art is seen in the early primitive cave-wall drawings, the Greek and Roman reliefs depicting the tales of Gods and heroes, and the traditional Renaissance paintings documenting historical scenes. It can be one part of a larger series of works, offering a segment of a larger whole, or it can present a story in its entirety.

A characteristic that is part of the natural surface of a finished diamond that was not cut or polished during the cutting process.

Spinels are composed of magnesium aluminum oxide. They are a durable gemstone formed from the intense heat of volcanic activity. Color: Cobalt blue, mauve, dark green, brown, black green, pink, etc. Hardness: 8

A technique commonly used on emeralds in which the stone’s fine cracks are filled with oil to strengthen the color.

Onyx is a chalcedony that occurs in bands of different colors. Onyx refers to a black and white banded variety of Agate; brown varieties are named sardonyx and are often seen in cameos. Color: Black and white or brown. Hardness: 7

Shortened from Optical Art, Op Art was a movement in the late 1960s that placed an emphasis on the viewer’s perceptual experience. The compositions and artists’ intentions of Op Art were similar to those of the Pop Art movement, including the use of flat colors, hard edges, and geometrical shapes and the ability to state and restate the same themes and variations. Bauhaus master Joseph Albers gained a reputation as father of the Op Art movement with his Homage to the Square. In 1965, The Responsive Eye exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art helped define the Op Art movement and featured Frank Stella, Ellsworth Kelly, and Bridget Riley among others.

Opal is a silica containing up to 30% water. Color: White opals are the most common, also known as jelly opals. Fire opals have shades of orange, yellow or red, and black opals feature shades of green and blue or red-orange. Hardness: 5.5 - 6.5

Oblong pearls. These can sometimes form when two pearls combine inside the same mollusk.

An elongated round diamond shape.

Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, or color as derived from another medium to a holding surface. Types of paints include oils, acrylics, watercolor, gouache, tempera, and spray paint. Additional tools and specific instruments are used depending on the pigment and surface. For example, tempera painting requires a binding element, traditionally egg, for the pigment to adhere to the surface and is often guided with a brush.

Paraiba tourmaline is a rare and valuable type of tourmaline bearing the elements copper and manganese. These elements are responsible for the stone's remarkable color which can range from greenish blue to violet. The name "paraiba" comes from the Brazilian locality where this gem was first mined, however today it may come from several localities. This stone is accompanied by a report from a reputable laboratory stating that it is a paraiba tourmaline.

The bottom of the diamond from the girdle to the point at the bottom of the diamond.

A setting style in which the entire surface of the metal is covered with small diamonds.

A diamond with a girdle outline resembling a pear.

Pearl is a smooth, lustrous, chiefly calcium carbonate organic material, which is created when a mollusk secretes a protective coating called nacre over an irritant. Color: White to grey to black with varying overtone colors such as yellow and rose or silver and green. Hardness: 3.5 - 4.0

Pearls Pearls

Pearls have been a symbol of refined taste for centuries from Johannes Vermeer’s renowned Girl With a Pearl Earring painting to Coco Chanel’s signature look. There several types of pearls used in fine jewelry, South Sea, Tahitian, Akoya, and freshwater pearls. Each is produced by a different species of mollusk native to a particular geographic region under varying environmental conditions.

Peridot is the gem quality variety of the mineral olivine. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that come in only one color. The depth of green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure. Color: Varies from yellow-green to olive to brown-green. Hardness: 6.5 - 7

A complication that takes leap year into account and automatically adjusts the date for the every month throughout the year.

A photograph is an image created by casting light onto a light-sensitive surface. They are often made with a camera which focuses an image onto the light-sensitive surface. Photography is the process of making photographs.

Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking process in which a positive transparency of a photographic negative is transferred onto a light sensitive gelatin coated copper plate. The plate and transparency are then exposed. The gelatin coating which did not receive light during the exposure is washed away, leaving a gelatin image that acts as a resist when the plate is etched with acid. Ink is then worked into the etched areas of the copper plate, and the plate can then be used to make high quality prints.

Photorealism refers to the style of painting meant to look like a photograph. A popular movement that spread throughout the United States in the late 1960s, Photorealism combines characteristics of the American Realists along with Pop Art references to American culture. Artists Chuck Close, Richard Estes, and Charles Bell led this movement with their large-scale paintings that so closely resemble a photographic print. The word Photorealism was coined by Louis K. Meisel in 1969 and appeared in print for the first time in 1970 in a Whitney Museum catalogue for the show “Twenty-two Realists.”

An inclusion in a diamond. A gathering of pinpoints is called a "cluster" or "cloud."

A pure, white colored metal that’s one of the rarest and most coveted found in jewelry. Because of its purity, platinum is hypoallergenic. It also has a high resistance to heat and is denser and heavier weight than white gold. Platinum's density gives it extreme durability against regular wear and tear. Platinum has been used throughout history for royalty — King Louis XV reportedly claimed it was the only metal fit for a king. Platinum later reached widespread popularity during the Edwardian and Art Deco periods with the influence of jewelers like Cartier and Tiffany & Co. who incorporated it into their designs.

A pure metal that’s one of the rarest and most coveted found in jewelry. Because of its purity, platinum is hypoallergenic, but it also has a high resistance to heat and extreme durability against regular wear and tear. Platinum has been used throughout history for royalty — King Louis XV reportedly claimed it was the only metal fit for a king. Platinum later reached widespread popularity during the Edwardian and Art Deco periods with the influence of jewelers like Cartier and Tiffany & Co. who incorporated it into their designs.

Platinum printing is a delicate, lengthy photographic process that requires hand-coated printing paper, an image-size negative and exposure to sun or UV light. The deep tonal range from cool gray-blacks to split tones of brown coupled with the archival properties of the precious platinum metal make this process truly unique. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a favorite among the Pictorialists, such as Edward Steichen and Gertrude Käsebier, admired for its romantic and painterly qualities. In 1937, the rising cost of metals led to a combination of platinum with palladium, a metal of similar characteristics and properties. Mastery of these elaborate processes is difficult; perhaps the most successful of the platinum-palladium artists is the Vogue photographer Irving Penn.

Pochoir is a stenciling technique characterized by crisp brilliant color and clean lines that was popular in both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Each piece would use from 20 to 250 unique stencils to apply color to a black and white collotype print from a photograph. This labor-intensive process eventually gave way to simpler printing techniques such silk screening. Many influential artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Henri Matisse used this stenciling technique in their work.

A unit of weight that equals one-hundredth of a carat.

The quality of care given to each facet to make a stone its brightest. Every facet has different polishing angles.

A diamond that is cut too deep or too shallow, causing it to lose or leak light through the side or bottom. A poor cut results in less brilliance and diminished value.

Pop Art emerged in the 1950s as a challenge to the dominant ideas of Abstract Expressionism at the time. Recognizable for its graphic style and bold colors, Pop Art subverted the idea that art should be pure self-expression by suppressing the artist’s hand. Taking objects and imagery from banal consumer culture, such as comic books and advertisements, Pop Art became an unrelenting mirror for mass culture.

A portrait is often a staged representation of a person that is designed to capture their likeness, personality and mood.

During World War II many influential European artists fled the continent seeking asylum and new beginnings in New York City. This meant that in the Post-War years, New York became the bustling center of artistic development. European artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst were now able to create with the support of vibrant institutions and patrons such as Peggy Guggenheim. Meanwhile, American artists were exposed to European modernism. Influenced by Surrealism’s focus on the unconscious mind, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline began the Abstract Expressionism movement which would dominate the art scene for years to come.

Postmodernism is used to define the group of movements such as Conceptual Art, Fluxus, Pop Art and Performance Art that emerged as a reaction to the concerns of purist and formal concerns of Modernism. Rather than seeking purity, Postmodern artists sought to destabilize the ideas of authenticity, hierarchy and progress in art. In defiance of Mies van der Rohe’s modernist mantra “less is more,” one of the leading postmodernists, Robert Venturi, declared “more is more,” immediately embraced as the tagline for postmodern art and design.

The amount of energy stored in a watch before it stops running. Some watches feature a power reserve indicator on the dial. Common mechanical movements typically have a power reserve of 36-48 hours, however in some more complicated watches the power reserve can range up to several days.

A square or sometimes rectangular-shaped modified brilliant-cut diamond.

A fine art print is an image produced by pressing a unique inked surface, such as an engraving, etching or woodcut, to a support such as paper of fabric. Though reproductions of the same image, each print is considered an original and will have slight variations due to the inking and printing process.

A setting in which a metal tip holds the stone in place. It’s also referred to as a claw setting.

The angles of the shape of a gemstone.

Button(s) located outside of the watch case that control specific functions. Pushers are most commonly found on watches with chronograph.

Quartz is a crystalline rock or mineral composed of silicon dioxide. There are 49 varieties, a number of which are gemstones. It’s the most common mineral on Earth. Color: Colorless, white, gray, yellow, violet, pink, brown, or black. Hardness: 7

Watch movement powered by a battery, which needs to be changed roughly every one and a half years.

A watch feature allowing the wearer to change the date on the watch without moving the hands.

A cut-cornered rectangular or square shaped diamond with a modified brilliant cut crown and pavilion.

Also referred to as naturalism, Realism is the attempt to represent the world as precisely and truthfully as possible through an artistic medium. This style is exemplified by the works of 15th century Dutch painters such as Johannes Vermeer and Jan van Eyck. In the mid-19th century, the Realist movement began as rejection of the drama and stylization of Romanticism. In this movement, the demystification of art became a tool to draw attention to the hardships and way of life of the common man. American realism began in the early 20th century as artists such as Thomas Eakins and Edward Hopper began capturing the evolving American landscape. These works reflected the shortcomings of the developing landscape with often harsh clarity.

The return of light passing back out of a diamond.

Another word for a subdial on a watch.

A pearl characterized by circular ridges that are created when the pearl rotates inside the mollusk during formation.

By far the most recognizable name within the watch industry, Rolex traces its origins back to 1905. Rolex is well known for manufacturing the first waterproof wristwatch, as well as commercializing the self-winding movement. In addition to being the world's largest luxury watch brand, Rolex is considered to produce some of the most robust timepieces available and carries one of the highest value-retentions in the luxury market.

The pendulum inside an automatic mechanical watch that winds the mainspring. The rotor moves on a pivot with motion from the wearer’s wrist.

Uncut diamonds or gemstones that are fashioned into a shape.

Uncut diamonds or gemstones that are fashioned into a shape.

Perfectly round pearls. These are incredibly rare.

A circular shaped diamond. Because a round diamond can be divided evenly throughout the stone, its proportions allow for maximum brilliance.

Ruby is the red variety of the mineral called corundum which is composed of aluminum oxide. The red color is caused mainly by chromium. Color: Pinkish red or deep red color. Hardness: 9 The majority of rubies have been heated to improve their color and/or clairty.

Literally meaning “reserve of time.” On more complicated watches these words might be seen next to the power reserve indicator.

Sapphire is any color of the mineral corundum other than red (which is then considered a ruby). The most desirable sapphires are generally those with an intense blue color and without a secondary color. Color: Shades of blue, though they can also be pink, yellow or a variety of colors. Hardness: 9 The majority of sapphires have been heated to improve their color and/or clarity.

The degree to which a colorful gem is void of grey or brown. Saturation is also referred to as color purity.

The sparkling white flashes that occur when light reflects on a diamond’s facets.

A large subdial sweeping or ticking hand which indicates the passing of seconds. Sweeping is most commonly seen in mechanical watches while ticking is usually present in quartz or battery powered timepieces.

Pearls that appear round with only a slightly oval or flattened shape.

The form a pearl takes. Pearl shape can vary greatly depending on factors such as the temperature and chemistry of the water where the mollusk was farmed. Pearl shapes are typically described as ringed, baroque, oval, drop, button, semi-round or round pearls, which are very rare.

A diamond’s form. Popular diamond shapes include round, square, pear or oval.

Shells are organic protective exteriors for ocean life, composed of calcium carbonate. They receive their iridescent mother of pearl finish when mollusks secrete nacre to strengthen and smooth the inner surface of the shell. Shells are often used whole and drilled so that they can be threaded. Color: Various. Hardness: 2 - 3

Refers to the watch’s durability. A watch is considered shock resistant if it can withstand being dropped onto a wooden floor from a height of three feet. However, shock resistance is a precautionary feature and not meant to test.

A pearl’s proportions measured in millimeters.

A watch dial design that exposes the internal movement. A skeletonized dial allows the wearer to observe some or all of the working parts inside of the watch. It may also be referred to as an “openwork” design.

Diamond contains noticeable inclusions that are easy or very easy to see at 10X magnification.

A single diamond set by itself.

Pearls produced by the white-lipped or gold-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster. South Sea pearls are found throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, in areas including Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. They are typically silver or gold in color.

A diamond cut in which rows of facets resemble the steps of a staircase. Emerald cut diamonds and baguettes are examples of the step cut.

A white metal frequently used in jewelry due to its lustrous finish and malleability. Most sterling silver jewelry is stamped with the numbers 925 to denote the metal’s purity. Sterling Silver has been a precious metal mainstay for centuries. Native Americans melted down European coins to form sterling silver jewelry in the 17th century, Tiffany & Co. silverware became a dining essential in wealthy homes of the 1800s, and the metal maintained popularity into the Art Deco period, the 1950s and today.

A white metal frequently used in jewelry due to its lustrous finish and malleability. Most sterling silver jewelry is stamped with the numbers 925 to denote the metal’s purity. Sterling Silver has been a precious metal mainstay for centuries. Native Americans melted down European coins to form sterling silver jewelry in the 17th century. It was a dining essential in wealthy homes of the 1800s, and the metal maintained popularity into the Art Deco period, the 1950s and today.

Popular stone shapes

The art of securing stones to jewelry.

A smaller dial or register on the main dial. Subdials are most common in chronograph and/or calendar registers.

Diffused stones have been heated to high temperatures in conjunction with the use of chemicals to produce artificial colors or other effects. Although the color induced by diffusion treated gemstones is permanent, it may not permeate the entire gemstone, therefore recutting or repolishing is not recommended.

Sapphire has undergone a treatment process that uses heat and chemicals to diffuse an element into a gemstone, artificially changing its color at the surface of the gem while the center of the stone remains the original color.

A watch that has been assembled in Switzerland. The Swiss government’s standards for quality in watchmaking are the highest in the world.

The arrangement of facets and finished angles created by the diamond cutter. Diamond grading reports will often classify the diamond's symmetry as Excellent, Very Good, Good or Poor.

Ruby that has the same chemical, physical, and visual properties as natural ruby, but has been manufactured.

Sapphire that has the same chemical, physical, and visual properties as natural sapphire, but has been manufactured.

The top facet of a cut diamond.

The top surface of a cut gemstone.

The largest facet of a diamond located on the top of the diamond. The table facet is sometimes referred to as the "face."

The width of the table facet, often expressed as a percentage of the total width of the diamond.

Pearls produced by the black-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster. Tahitian pearls are typically characterized as black but can range from jet black to green.

Tanzanite is part of the zoisite mineral species and is only found in East Africa. Tanzanite crystals are typically heat treated to enhance their color. Color: Blue-violet to violet-blue. Hardness: 6.5

A setting that uses pressure from the band’s metal to squeeze the diamond in place.

Tigers Eye is a chatoyant stone made of quartz colored by iron oxide, which acquires fine golden luster when polished. Color: Yellow to brown. Hardness: 5.5 - 6

The depth of color in a gemstone, from colorless to black.

A watch case shape featuring convex sides.

Topaz is an aluminum fluorosilicate often used in jewelry due to its durability. Color: Various colors. The most common shade shades are blue or yellow, while the most valuable is pink topaz, which is also referred to as Imperial Topaz. Hardness: 8

Tourmaline is one on the most complex gemstones of the silicate group. There are 10 different varieties created by the dozen or more elements they contain. Color: Various colors including red, green, blue, purple or a combination of green and pink which is referred to as watermelon tourmaline. Hardness: 7 - 7.5

A gemstone treatment refers to a process that improves or alters the durability, appearance, color, or clarity of a stone. Today most gemstones have undergone some level of treatment that can either be readily detected by a trained gemologist, or may require advanced equipment to be accurately identified.

A triangular-shaped diamond formed by three equally straight or curved sides. Trillant cut diamonds are commonly used as side accents to the primary stone.

Turquoise is composed of aluminum phosphate and copper. Color: Blue, blue-green and green. Hardness: 5 - 6 Turquoise if often coated or impregnated with colorless materials such as waxes or resins to improve durability and appearance. Avoid contact with harsh chemicals to extend life and preserve the beauty of this stone.

A stone that has not undergone any type of treatment may be considered more rare and desirable. This stone is accompanied by a report from a reputable laboratory stating that there is no evidence of treatment.

Diamond contains minor inclusions that range from difficult to somewhat easy to see at 10X magnification.

Diamond contains minute inclusions that range from extremely difficult to very difficult to see at 10X magnification.

The RealReal believes that great style is era-fluid. That’s why we are proud to accept vintage and antique jewelry. Branded pieces must be at least 20 years old to be considered vintage, while unbranded pieces must be at least 50 years old. Anything older than 100 years is deemed antique. Please note that branding, production standards, materials and wear over time can vary greatly.

Water resistance determines how much pressure a watch can withstand; water resistance is a measure of pressure, not depth