collet

American  

[kol-it] / ˈkɒl ɪt /

noun

• collets
  plural

1. a collar or enclosing band.

2. the enclosing rim within which a jewel is set.

3. a slotted cylindrical clamp inserted tightly into the tapered interior of a sleeve or chuck on a lathe to hold a cylindrical piece of work.

4. Horology. the tiny collar that supports the inner terminal of a hairspring.

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verb (used with object)

colleted, colleting

1. to set (a gem or other stone) in a collet.

collet British  

/ ˈkɒlɪt /

noun

1. (in a jewellery setting) a band or coronet-shaped claw that holds an individual stone

2. mechanical engineering an externally tapered sleeve made in two or more segments and used to grip a shaft passed through its centre when the sleeve is compressed by being inserted in a tapered hole

3. horology a small collar that supports the inner end of the hairspring

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verb

1. (tr) jewellery to mount in a collet

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• collets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of collet

1520–30; < French, equivalent to col neck (< Latin collum ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

collet collets colleting

He pulled the bolt and bored out the collet with a hand drill and resleeved it with a section of pipe he’d cut to length with a hacksaw.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Original truing of the hairspring is made necessary by the fact of attaching the collet to its center.

From Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches by Walter J. Kleinlein

The old "table diamonds," once so highly prized, may be described as having the table and collet greatly enlarged at the expense of the beasil and pavilion.

From Stories about Famous Precious Stones by Mrs Goddard Orpen

If it develops to the left as the springs of all fine Swiss watches do, the proper point of attachment is on the left side of collet as shown at "F" Fig.

From Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches by Walter J. Kleinlein

Fernandez still wore his ribbon and orders; the Señorita, as I have already observed, was in evening dress with a collet of diamonds round her neck.

From The Kidnapped President by Guy Newell Boothby

I have these weird lumps — flanges, or collets — behind my ears.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 8, 2017

To make one costume seem like many, women are buying in vast quantities dickies, jabots, fichus, gilets, ruches, berthas, bibs, piccadillies, collets, modesties and ruffs.

From Time Magazine Archive

He set jewels, and adorned them with marvellous collets and with little figures so well wrought, and at times so bizarre and fantastic that it is not possible to imagine anything finer or better.

From Lives of the most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects Vol 10 (of 10) Bronzino to Vasari, & General Index. by Giorgio Vasari

To this may be added an endless variety of small bench tools, micrometers, protractors, arbors, collets, box tools and scrapers.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by James Slough Zerbe

I counted about a hundred and eight pale rubies in collets about this throne, the least whereof weighed a hundred carats.

From A Holiday in the Happy Valley with Pen and Pencil by T. R. Swinburne

The broken lines illustrate a condition after colleting and before truing.

From Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches by Walter J. Kleinlein