What is a cabochon gemstone?

A cabochon gemstone features a polished domed surface in contrast to a faceted cut. The dictionary definition describes a precious stone of convex hemispherical or oval form polished but not cut into facets. Citrine cabochon gemstone, shown here set into a Citrine and diamond ring, one of our special ‘Next Day’ offers.

Is a diamond a cabochon stone?

Fully transparent stones, such as diamonds, suit faceting very well, because of the desirability of light reflection and refraction, and so are rarely seen as cabochons. Because of this, stones rating lower than 7 on the Mohs Scale of hardness are rarely faceted and almost always polished into cabochons.

How are cabochon stones made?

Cabochon stones (often shortened to “cabs” in the jewelry-making world) are shaped using a handcrafting technique called dopping (pronunciation: DAHP-ping). Dopping involves adhering the cab to a dowel or rod with a hard wax, creating the curved or beveled edges, then sanding and polishing the top into a uniform dome.

What are ruby cabochons?

Ruby Cabochon, also called cabochon cut Ruby, is an immensely admired cutting style of the precious gemstone Ruby that belongs to the Corundum mineral family. Unlike faceted Rubies, Ruby cabochons have a smooth and polished, dome-shaped surface and appearance and are generally found in round and oval shapes.

Are cabochons drilled?

Cabochons frequently need holes drilled in them for all sorts of reasons. We can drill all types of gemstone materials except for diamonds. You can see more about our drilling service on our page on gemstone Drilling.

What is a cabochon sapphire?

The term cabochon refers to one of the oldest cutting styles for gemstones and sapphires. Rather than faceting a gemstone, the stone is cut to have a smooth, glasslike polished surface. The most common cabochon cut is an oval with a rounded dome.

What is an emerald cabochon?

Emerald Cabochons are cut with a domed top, generally in a round or oval shape. This type of cut shows off the amazing colour while giving you a large stone for a fantastic price. Color is the most important property of an Emerald, not the clarity.