A cabochon is made by shaping and polishing a stone instead of faceting it. Opaque and translucent stones are better suited to this type of treatment than transparent ones. Diamonds, for example, need facets to create their sparkle. The top of a cabochon is convex and the bottom is left flat for setting. It is possible to find unique, hand-cut designer cabochons for sale.
These designer items differ from tumbled stones that are mass produced and sold cheaply. The raw material is sourced all over the world from countries like Brazil, the United States, Africa, Eastern Europe and China. It is then cut by hand using specialized tools. Some items are becoming very rare as sources are depleted. Fine jasper is highly prized for its finish that looks almost like porcelain and fossils like petrified coral and wood are desirable for their unique patterns. Opals offer a lovely glassy finish and other materials like agates and quartz are commonly used.
The first step is for the slab of rock to be cut into slices. A thicker slice is better for a large cabochon and a thinner slice for a smaller one. If the material has a pattern, then an orientation with the most eye appeal is selected. The next step is to mark out the preferred shape and size and templates are normally used for this.
All materials have a different hardness and require different cutting techniques. Several grinding and sanding process are used. A saw is used to trim the rock and a diamond wheel is usually used for grinding. Once the material is trimmed right up the the line of the template, it is stuck with wax onto a stick called a dop stick in order to complete the shape and apply polish.
A cabochon may be cut in any shape, though oval is by far the most common. An ellipse tends to be more forgiving than a circle when it comes to symmetry. When examining the shape, the contour should have an even curvature. No area should be thicker than its opposite and there should be no bulging. Today a shape is often chosen to enhance a particular color or pattern in the stone.
The enjoyment of these stones comes not from facets that sparkle but from pure enjoyment of color and pattern. They offer a feast of different colors in every hue imaginable and intricate patterns. There are ancient treasures like petrified palm trees and coral fossils that are full of color and texture. Ammonites, the shells of marine creatures, are also favorites.
Many of these stones are sought after by jewelers who set them in different ways. A super simple setting can set off a spectacular stone that speaks volumes. More intricate settings may have fancy scroll work or designs. The setting chosen depends on the type of jewelry being made as well as the size and shape of stone.
A number of online stores have unique designer cabochons for sale and this offers an easy way to compare products and prices. Prices vary according to weight, clarity and color. Some companies even offer customization of shape, size or material. Many companies offer free shipping.
These designer items differ from tumbled stones that are mass produced and sold cheaply. The raw material is sourced all over the world from countries like Brazil, the United States, Africa, Eastern Europe and China. It is then cut by hand using specialized tools. Some items are becoming very rare as sources are depleted. Fine jasper is highly prized for its finish that looks almost like porcelain and fossils like petrified coral and wood are desirable for their unique patterns. Opals offer a lovely glassy finish and other materials like agates and quartz are commonly used.
The first step is for the slab of rock to be cut into slices. A thicker slice is better for a large cabochon and a thinner slice for a smaller one. If the material has a pattern, then an orientation with the most eye appeal is selected. The next step is to mark out the preferred shape and size and templates are normally used for this.
All materials have a different hardness and require different cutting techniques. Several grinding and sanding process are used. A saw is used to trim the rock and a diamond wheel is usually used for grinding. Once the material is trimmed right up the the line of the template, it is stuck with wax onto a stick called a dop stick in order to complete the shape and apply polish.
A cabochon may be cut in any shape, though oval is by far the most common. An ellipse tends to be more forgiving than a circle when it comes to symmetry. When examining the shape, the contour should have an even curvature. No area should be thicker than its opposite and there should be no bulging. Today a shape is often chosen to enhance a particular color or pattern in the stone.
The enjoyment of these stones comes not from facets that sparkle but from pure enjoyment of color and pattern. They offer a feast of different colors in every hue imaginable and intricate patterns. There are ancient treasures like petrified palm trees and coral fossils that are full of color and texture. Ammonites, the shells of marine creatures, are also favorites.
Many of these stones are sought after by jewelers who set them in different ways. A super simple setting can set off a spectacular stone that speaks volumes. More intricate settings may have fancy scroll work or designs. The setting chosen depends on the type of jewelry being made as well as the size and shape of stone.
A number of online stores have unique designer cabochons for sale and this offers an easy way to compare products and prices. Prices vary according to weight, clarity and color. Some companies even offer customization of shape, size or material. Many companies offer free shipping.
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