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 raw material often takes millions of years to produce, is sometimes found only in one particular location and many times deposits are depleted. Sourcing the rarest items is not easy. Once the rough material has been sourced, it is cut out of the rock in slabs. The cutter chooses the best orientation for pattern, color and to avoid any obvious flaws. A custom template is usually used to stencil a shape onto the piece.
Specialized tools like diamond grinding wheels are used. A trim saw is used to roughly cut out the general shape of the cabochon from the slab. The remainder of the excess material is then ground off. At this point in the process, many people will attach the stone with wax to what is known as a dop stick, which is basically a piece of dowel. This is important with smaller pieces to save fingers from abuse. Final shaping and polishing is then done to produce the finished product.
The most common shape for cutting a cabochon is an oval. The eye is not as sensitive to lack of symmetry in an oval as it is in a round shape. However, there is an increasing desire for more intricate shapes, chosen to enhance a particular feature of a stone. Some companies allow buyers to request a particular shape.
The subtle hues of every color under the sun as well as intricate patterns are the biggest attraction of these stones. Agates, for example, have unique colors and patterns according to where they are found. Crazy Lace Agate and Moss Agate are just two of these. Petrified fossils of coral, wood and others are desired for their beautiful patterns.
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 raw material often takes millions of years to produce, is sometimes found only in one particular location and many times deposits are depleted. Sourcing the rarest items is not easy. Once the rough material has been sourced, it is cut out of the rock in slabs. The cutter chooses the best orientation for pattern, color and to avoid any obvious flaws. A custom template is usually used to stencil a shape onto the piece.
Specialized tools like diamond grinding wheels are used. A trim saw is used to roughly cut out the general shape of the cabochon from the slab. The remainder of the excess material is then ground off. At this point in the process, many people will attach the stone with wax to what is known as a dop stick, which is basically a piece of dowel. This is important with smaller pieces to save fingers from abuse. Final shaping and polishing is then done to produce the finished product.
The most common shape for cutting a cabochon is an oval. The eye is not as sensitive to lack of symmetry in an oval as it is in a round shape. However, there is an increasing desire for more intricate shapes, chosen to enhance a particular feature of a stone. Some companies allow buyers to request a particular shape.
The subtle hues of every color under the sun as well as intricate patterns are the biggest attraction of these stones. Agates, for example, have unique colors and patterns according to where they are found. Crazy Lace Agate and Moss Agate are just two of these. Petrified fossils of coral, wood and others are desired for their beautiful patterns.
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.
