Cabochon Cut | |
Cabochon Cut The shape of a cabochon may vary. Ovals, rounds, and teardrops are common and popular shapes. Some jewelers cut their cabochons in irregular shapes which are designed to showcase certain features of the individual rocks. The cut may also vary in size from quite small, for use in earrings and rings, to very large, in the form of a centerpiece on a necklace or brooch. A rock which has been cut into a cabochon may be described as en cabochon, or it may just be called a cabochon. The cut is not suited to all gemstones. Diamonds and other highly translucent stones, for example, tend to look dull and plain when they are cut into cabochons, since there are no facets to reflect light, creating a sparkle. Other stones look excellent in a cabochon cut, such as those with banding or eyes. The cut will highlight these natural features, rather than hiding them behind facets, and the stone will really stand out as a result. To cut cabochons, jewelers cut a rough form from the rock and then use a saw to trim it to shape. The shaped stone is mounted on a dop stick so that it can be curved and polished. The part of the stone which is attached to the stick will become the flat back of the finished stone. Once the stone has been shaped and polished to satisfaction, the jeweler removes it from the dop stick and gently breaks away the hard wax used to attach the stone.
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