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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
Aikoseed beads / Toho
catchesclasps / clutches
bolt-ringspring ring
bouillonbullion
brooch/broach backspin backs
calottesclamshell / fold-over
cataloguecatalog
centrecenter
colourcolor
cross-drilledcorner-drilled
despatch / dispatchshipment / shipping
dropteardrop
earnuts / scrollsearring backs / earring nuts / butterfly nuts
earstudsposts / post earrings
fanbib
fish-hook ear wireFrench hook ear wire
fob clasptoggle clasp
galvanisedgalvanized
gilt-linedgold-lined / gold-luster lined
hair gripbobby pin
hair slidebarrette
jewelleryjewelry
Kirby gripbobby pin
lobsterclawlobster
lustrealso luster
mattmatte
Miyukiseed beads / Toho
mobile phonecell phone
moukaitemookaite
parrot clasplobster clasp
polythene (sometimes)plastic
ring basesdisk rings
rocaillesalso seed beads
shepherds crook ear wireFrench hook ear wire
spectacle endseyeglass holders
stationspendants
string (of beads)strand
thongingcord (single-strand)
torque (torq/torc)neck ring
trigger clasplobster clasp / spring ring
American to British
barrettehair slide
bibfan
bobby pinhair grip, Kirby grip
bullionbouillon
butterfly nutsscrolls / earnuts
catalogcatalogue
cell phonemobile phone
centercentre
fold-overcalottes
clasps / clutchescatches
colorcolour
cord (single-strand)thonging
corner-drilledcross-drilled
disk ringsring bases
earring backs / earring nutsearnuts
eyeglass holdersspectacle ends
fold-overcalottes
French hook ear wirefish-hook or shepherds crook ear wire
galvanizedgalvanised
gold-lined / gold-luster linedgilt-lined
jewelryjewellery
lobsterlobsterclaw
lobster claspsparrot clasp / trigger clasp
lusteralso lustre
mattematt
mookaitemoukaite
neck ringtorque (torq/torc)
pendantsstations
pin backsbrooch / broach backs
plasticpolythene (sometimes)
posts / post earringsearstuds
seed beads / TohoAiko / Miyuki / rocailles
shipment / shippingdespatch / dispatch
spring ringbolt-ring / parrot clasp
strandstring (of beads)
teardropdrop
toggle claspfob clasp
Tohosee Aiko / Miyuki
Jan 1st 2013 Dave Robertson

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