Cabochon

Under a cabochon (French for " nailhead " ) refers to a unfaceted, round or oval cut form of jewelry stones in the bottom flat and the top is curved outward. A double Cabochon is however also at the bottom of a convex polished (see lens).

The cabochon (also: mugeliger cut ) emphasizes and enhances the stone 's inherent structure through its shimmer ( adularescence, chatoyancy, Iridescent ) and is primarily used in cats eye quartz, hawks and tiger's eye, moonstone and opal. For stones that stand by a particular pattern or shade of color, the cut is also beneficial.

Cabochons can also be guided by the natural shape of the raw stone but if this comes to meet the optics of the gemstone, such as star-shaped rutile needles embedded in quartz or animal inclusions in amber. Even fashion aspects determine the shape of the cabochon.

In movements valuable quality gemstone cabochons are incorporated as axle bearings to reduce the friction between the parts.

Moonstone with adularescence

Amber with inclusions

Ammolite Necklace