Teach Yourself American (For the British Beader)

British to American American to British

Sometimes we're separated by a common language! Here are a few jewellery-related terms that we've found may differ from one side of the Atlantic to the other. This list is mostly for fun. Rest assured, many jewellery and crafts terms are the same in both countries!

British to American
Aiko	seed beads / Toho
catches	clasps / clutches
bolt-ring	spring ring
bouillon	bullion
brooch/broach backs	pin backs
calottes	clamshell / fold-over
catalogue	catalog
centre	center
colour	color
cross-drilled	corner-drilled
despatch / dispatch	shipment / shipping
drop	teardrop
earnuts / scrolls	earring backs / earring nuts / butterfly nuts
earstuds	posts / post earrings
fan	bib
fish-hook ear wire	French hook ear wire
fob clasp	toggle clasp
galvanised	galvanized
gilt-lined	gold-lined / gold-luster lined
hair grip	bobby pin
hair slide	barrette
jewellery	jewelry
Kirby grip	bobby pin
lobsterclaw	lobster
lustre	also luster
matt	matte
Miyuki	seed beads / Toho
mobile phone	cell phone
moukaite	mookaite
parrot clasp	lobster clasp
polythene (sometimes)	plastic
ring bases	disk rings
rocailles	also seed beads
shepherds crook ear wire	French hook ear wire
spectacle ends	eyeglass holders
stations	pendants
string (of beads)	strand
thonging	cord (single-strand)
torque (torq/torc)	neck ring
trigger clasp	lobster clasp / spring ring

American to British
barrette	hair slide
bib	fan
bobby pin	hair grip, Kirby grip
bullion	bouillon
butterfly nuts	scrolls / earnuts
catalog	catalogue
cell phone	mobile phone
center	centre
fold-over	calottes
clasps / clutches	catches
color	colour
cord (single-strand)	thonging
corner-drilled	cross-drilled
disk rings	ring bases
earring backs / earring nuts	earnuts
eyeglass holders	spectacle ends
fold-over	calottes
French hook ear wire	fish-hook or shepherds crook ear wire
galvanized	galvanised
gold-lined / gold-luster lined	gilt-lined
jewelry	jewellery
lobster	lobsterclaw
lobster clasps	parrot clasp / trigger clasp
luster	also lustre
matte	matt
mookaite	moukaite
neck ring	torque (torq/torc)
pendants	stations
pin backs	brooch / broach backs
plastic	polythene (sometimes)
posts / post earrings	earstuds
seed beads / Toho	Aiko / Miyuki / rocailles
shipment / shipping	despatch / dispatch
spring ring	bolt-ring / parrot clasp
strand	string (of beads)
teardrop	drop
toggle clasp	fob clasp
Toho	see Aiko / Miyuki