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Cabochon Jewelry and Rings
The Earth's Treasure style cut breakdown:- Cut name: Cabochon gemstone
- Generally used for: Opaque gemstones
- Characteristics: polished with a flat, convex curved surface and a flat back
- Common shape(s): Oval
- Different from: Faceted and other rougher cuts
Softer translucent gems with a Mohs hardness scale of 7 or less are easily scratched by silicon dioxide in dust and other airborne particles. This results in a faded and unattractive look. These gems are instead cut and polished using the cabochon gemstone cut technique, which leaves the cuts and scratches on the gemstone less visible. A cabochon cut can be paired with any gemstone one could desire.
Cabochons are cut from a piece of rough rock which is stenciled into a unique shape using a template. The rock is then cut along the stencil (usually using a trim saw) with a diamond tipped blade. After the rock is cut it is then "nibbled" along the line. Nibbling is used to help speed up the shaping of the opaque gemstones and after the rock is trimmed and nibbled it is then "dropped." This "dropping" is when the piece is forcefully mounted onto a handle to begin shaping. The dropping occurs when the stone is attached to a dop stick using hot wax. A dop stick is a long wooden dowel that has been used for decades for a variety of cabochon gemstone jewelry purposes.
After the stone has been attached to the dop stick, it is then grounded along the template line. The stone is finally polished and sanded into a dome shape. although it is a long and arduous process, it is a key step in producing the elegant and beautiful cut of cabochon.
Cabochon cuts can exhibit a unique star like effect. When looked at from a certain angle using a light source with a single point, opaque gemstones such as sapphire and ruby will exhibit a six pointed star across the top of the stone. This phenomenon also occurs in other stones like spinels and gamets. This star effect is the caused by the high amount of titanium dioxide in the mineral.
Another illusion exhibited by cabochon cuts are the "cat's eye." The "cat's eye" is an effect in which a line, resembling that of a cat's eye, is present down the center of the gemstone. The cat's eye has been described as having a bright and silky effect. This effect is most common in the tiger's eye stone.
Cabochons are usually cut into an oval shape, mainly due to the fact that the human eye has a harder time detecting small asymmetries in an oval type shape as opposed to a more rounded one. Oval Cabochon gemstone jewelry, along with a dome, is seen as highly attractive and is very popular here at Earth's Treasures. In addition to this you can also expect the highest quality customer service per usual! It's why we're the people's jeweler!
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All original material copyright © Earth's Treasure 1998 - 2009. Reproduction of material is forbidden.
HandcraftedWith Love "My jewelry is handcrafted by me at time of order. Custom requests are welcome." Michelle the jeweler :-) |
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