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.
A designer cabochon is not tumbled like many mass produced gemstones. Rare materials are often difficult to source as they are found in many different parts of the world from Africa to China and deposits often run out. There are fossils of coral, wood and bone that are highly sought after. Fine jaspers are rare and have an exquisite almost porcelain finish. Popular materials are opals, agates and quartz.
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.
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.
These items are supplied to collectors, jewelers, lapidarists and hobbyists. Jewelers set these stones into different settings to make beautiful jewelry. Settings are chosen according to the item being made and to flatter the shape and color of the individual stone. Some stones need no more than a simple setting as they make such a statement.
There are a number of online stores displaying designer cabochons for sale. This offers the opportunity of seeing photographs of many different shapes, colors, patterns and sizes of stones. Prices can also be compared so as to get the best value for money.
A designer cabochon is not tumbled like many mass produced gemstones. Rare materials are often difficult to source as they are found in many different parts of the world from Africa to China and deposits often run out. There are fossils of coral, wood and bone that are highly sought after. Fine jaspers are rare and have an exquisite almost porcelain finish. Popular materials are opals, agates and quartz.
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.
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.
These items are supplied to collectors, jewelers, lapidarists and hobbyists. Jewelers set these stones into different settings to make beautiful jewelry. Settings are chosen according to the item being made and to flatter the shape and color of the individual stone. Some stones need no more than a simple setting as they make such a statement.
There are a number of online stores displaying designer cabochons for sale. This offers the opportunity of seeing photographs of many different shapes, colors, patterns and sizes of stones. Prices can also be compared so as to get the best value for money.
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When you check out designer cabochons for sale take a look at Designs by Shirl at www.designsbyshirl.com. To see our wire wrapped pendants and handmade jewelry, visit us on the Web today at http://www.designsbyshirl.com.
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