C1 · 50 words
The goldsmith's craft in Spanish
Alloy, setting, cut, hallmark — how a piece is made and what it is checked against.
La garra del engaste is the claw that holds a stone, and la garra is first of all an animal's: the claw of a bird of prey or a lion, the thing that grips and does not let go. The jeweller's prong is named after it because that is exactly what it does. And Spanish uses the same word for a quality in people: tener garra is to have grip in the other sense, force and presence, what holds an audience. English has claw, prong and grit, three words that never meet; Spanish keeps one, and the ring holds on like an animal.
The words
View
Phrase (40)
el metal noblethe precious metalPhraseC1
El metal noble no se oxida al aire.A precious metal does not tarnish in the air.
la ley del metalthe fineness of the metalPhraseC1
La ley del metal se expresa en milésimas.The fineness of the metal is given in thousandths.
el quilate de orothe carat of goldPhraseC1
El quilate de oro cuenta partes de veinticuatro.The carat of gold counts parts out of twenty-four.
la aleación de platathe silver alloyPhraseC1
La aleación de plata lleva cobre para endurecer.The silver alloy carries copper to harden it.
el oro blancothe white goldPhraseC1
El oro blanco se recubre de rodio.White gold is plated with rhodium.
el punzón de contrastethe assay mark for finenessPhraseC1
El punzón de contraste va escondido en el cierre.The assay mark hides in the clasp.
la marca del fabricantethe maker's markPhraseC1
La marca del fabricante identifica el taller.The maker's mark names the workshop.
el ensayo del metalthe assay of the metalPhraseC1
El ensayo del metal decide la ley real.The assay decides the true fineness.
la piedra de toquethe touchstonePhraseC1
La piedra de toque sigue sirviendo en el mostrador.The touchstone still earns its place on the counter.
la fundición a la cera perdidathe lost-wax castingPhraseC1
La fundición a la cera perdida copia cada detalle.Lost-wax casting copies every detail.
el modelo de cerathe wax modelPhraseC1
El modelo de cera se talla o se imprime.The wax model is carved or printed.
el revestimiento de moldethe investment round the mouldPhraseC1
El revestimiento de molde se cuece antes de colar.The investment is fired before the pour.
la colada del metalthe pouring of the metalPhraseC1
La colada del metal dura unos segundos.The pouring of the metal lasts seconds.
el trefilado del hilothe drawing of the wirePhraseC1
El trefilado del hilo pasa por agujeros cada vez menores.Drawing the wire takes it through ever smaller holes.
la soldadura de platathe silver solderPhraseC1
La soldadura de plata funde antes que la pieza.Silver solder melts before the piece does.
el grabado a burilthe engraving with a graverPhraseC1
El grabado a buril deja una viruta continua.Engraving with a graver leaves one continuous curl.
el esmalte al fuegothe fired enamelPhraseC1
El esmalte al fuego se cuece varias veces.Fired enamel goes through the kiln several times.
el pulido a manothe polishing by handPhraseC1
El pulido a mano se nota en la luz.Polishing by hand shows in the light.
el acabado matethe matt finishPhraseC1
El acabado mate esconde los arañazos.A matt finish hides the scratches.
el baño de rodiothe rhodium platingPhraseC1
El baño de rodio se renueva cada pocos años.Rhodium plating is renewed every few years.
el engaste de la piedrathe setting of the stonePhraseC1
El engaste de la piedra decide si aguanta.The setting of the stone decides whether it holds.
la garra del engastethe claw of the settingPhraseC1
La garra del engaste se dobla sobre la piedra.The claw is bent over the stone.
el engaste cerradothe rubover settingPhraseC1
El engaste cerrado rodea la piedra por completo.A rubover setting surrounds the stone completely.
el engaste en granothe grain settingPhraseC1
El engaste en grano cubre la superficie de piedras pequeñas.Grain setting covers a surface with small stones.
la talla brillantethe brilliant cutPhraseC1
La talla brillante tiene cincuenta y siete facetas.The brilliant cut has fifty-seven facets.
la mesa de la piedrathe table of the stonePhraseC1
La mesa de la piedra es la cara más grande.The table of the stone is its largest face.
la pureza de la gemathe clarity of the gemPhraseC1
La pureza de la gema se mira con lupa de diez aumentos.The clarity of the gem is judged with a ten-times loupe.
la inclusión internathe inclusion insidePhraseC1
La inclusión interna identifica la piedra como una huella.An inclusion inside identifies the stone like a fingerprint.
el color de la gemathe colour of the gemPhraseC1
El color de la gema se juzga con luz neutra.The colour of the gem is judged in neutral light.
el certificado gemológicothe certificate for the gemPhraseC1
El certificado gemológico acompaña a la piedra suelta.The certificate goes with the loose stone.
la piedra sintéticathe man-made stonePhraseC1
La piedra sintética tiene la misma composición.A man-made stone has the same composition.
el tratamiento de la gemathe treatment given to the gemPhraseC1
El tratamiento de la gema se declara siempre.Any treatment given to the gem is always declared.
la perla cultivadathe cultured pearlPhraseC1
La perla cultivada se ensarta con nudo entre perlas.A cultured pearl is strung with a knot between pearls.
el cierre de la pulserathe clasp of the braceletPhraseC1
El cierre de la pulsera lleva seguro doble.The clasp of the bracelet has a double catch.
la talla del anillothe ring sizePhraseC1
La talla del anillo cambia con el calor.The ring size changes with the heat.
el ajuste del anillothe change of ring sizePhraseC1
El ajuste del anillo se hace por la parte de abajo.A change of ring size is made at the underside.
la reparación de la joyathe repair of the piecePhraseC1
La reparación de la joya se presupuesta antes de tocar nada.The repair of the piece is quoted before anything is touched.
la tasación de la piezathe valuation of the piecePhraseC1
La tasación de la pieza se firma con fecha.The valuation of the piece is signed and dated.
la compraventa de oro usadothe buying of scrap goldPhraseC1
La compraventa de oro usado se registra por ley.The buying of scrap gold is recorded by law.
el afinado del metalthe refining of the metalPhraseC1
El afinado del metal recupera el oro de la limalla.Refining the metal wins the gold back out of the filings.
Noun (f) (4)
la joyeríathe goldsmith's craftNoun (f)C1
La joyería trabaja con muy poco material y mucho tiempo.The goldsmith's craft uses very little material and a great deal of time.
la laminaciónthe rolling outNoun (f)C1
La laminación adelgaza la chapa poco a poco.Rolling out thins the sheet little by little.
la filigranathe filigreeNoun (f)C1
La filigrana se hace con hilo torcido.Filigree is made from twisted wire.
la facetathe facetNoun (f)C1
La faceta devuelve la luz al ojo.A facet sends the light back to the eye.
Noun (m) (6)
el platinothe platinumNoun (m)C1
El platino pesa más de lo que aparenta.Platinum weighs more than it looks.
el recocidothe annealingNoun (m)C1
El recocido devuelve la docilidad al metal.Annealing gives the metal back its willingness.
el decapadothe pickling after solderingNoun (m)C1
El decapado quita el óxido de la soldadura.Pickling takes the oxide off after soldering.
el repujadothe raising of the design from behindNoun (m)C1
El repujado levanta el relieve desde atrás.Raising the design pushes it up from behind.
el cinceladothe chasing of the design from the frontNoun (m)C1
El cincelado remata el detalle por delante.Chasing finishes the design from the front.
el culetthe culetNoun (m)C1
El culet es la punta de abajo.The culet is the point at the bottom.
This list belongs to Art and culture — 29 lists and 1450 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.