Annealing
Heating metal to soften it after working, so it can be bent further without cracking.
Hammering, drawing and bending make metal harder and more brittle, an effect called work hardening.
Annealing heats it to a set temperature and lets it cool, which resets the crystal structure and restores workability.
It is why a cuff can be shaped in the workshop but should not be flexed repeatedly at home: there, nothing resets the metal.
Cuff
A rigid bracelet with an opening at the back, slipped over the wrist rather than fastened.
Solder
The alloy used to join two pieces of metal with heat. Every join in a piece of jewellery is a solder seam.
Lost Wax Casting
Carving a design in wax, encasing it in plaster, melting the wax out and filling the cavity with metal.
Filigree
Lacework made from fine twisted wire, soldered into openwork patterns. Light for its size.