What are Cabochons? How Are They Used in Jewellery?

En Cabochon is a term which describes a particular way of shaping a gemstone without faceting it. Gemstones which have been shaped into cabochons most commonly have a convex top and flat base. Cabochons are conventionally dome-shaped and are known - unsurprisingly - as domes.

Cabochons which are taller with a narrow base are referred to as bullet cabochons. As well as having a round or oval base, cabochons may also have a square, rectangular or octagonal base.

As gemstone symmetry and colour cosistency are not prerequisites for cabochons, stones with imperfections or scratches may be used without detracting from the beauty of either the stone or the jewellery in which it is set. Often cabochons are oval shaped as this - in comparison to a perfectly round base - creates an optical illusion so as to better mask the imperfections and assymetries of the gem stone.

Opaque gemstones such as onyx make excellent cabochons when set into a pendant or bangle. Shaping en cabochon is also a good method of working gemstones whose Mohs hardness means they are too brittle to be faceted, such as amber. Gemstones with optical effects, such as opal and moonstone, are especially good candidates for cabochoning as this creates an excellent display for such effects. Asteriated stones such as sapphire, when cut en cabochon, display a star-shape. This star-shape would not be visible if any other cut were applied to the sapphire.

Jewellery cut en cabochon can be found at Mochishop - Gem Stone & Silver Jewellery.

James Garry is based in London and works for Mochishop Jewellery & Accessories. Mochishop is an online boutique which features jewellery and accessories made from gem stones and silver. Mochishop can be visited at http://www.mochishop.com

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