Is it pronounced pear i dot, or pear i dough?

[kenny]

This is an interesting thread, because people here are knowledgeable about jewelry. I was all set to talk about how I had researched it years ago and had seen that Pehr-ih-dott was how to pronounce it (that's how I've always pronounced it, and the research I did at the time supported that version, go figure). I am astounded, actually, to learn here that GIA stands by the "dough" pronunciation, because I have a strong aversion to the dough version! I once had a heated argument about this with a salesgirl in a jewelry store and I totally thought I was right. My takeaway from this is that I am just going to accept that my version is wrong, and continue to use it anyway, because I want to throw up every time I hear the dough version. Sigh.

"I am just going to accept that my version is wrong, and continue to use it anyway"

Love it!

 

[chatoyancy]

I once called a spinel a “spinal” in a jewelry store and I was quickly corrected. I still don’t know if it’s termaleen or tormaleen for tourmaline. My husband is from South Africa though, so I do know how to pronounce tsavorite, Umbalite and Mahenge. I just got a Mail garnet and he keeps correcting my pronunciation. I think I need practice.