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Guilloché enamled box with a plique à jour rosette in the lid

À jour (from French: jour = day) is a term used to describe openworked backgrounds, either by sawing or piercing, leaving the stone back open "to the day." À jour settings for gemstones set in fine jewelry became popular around 1800. In enamelling the term plique à jour is used to describe an item with an open background which is filled with transparent enamel. This creates a myriad of colors when held to the light.