A cabochon is a gemstone cut with a smoothly rounded face rather than a pattern of flat facets.
GIA distinguishes a simple cabochon, with a domed top and a flat base, from a double cabochon, which curves on both sides. The outline can be oval, round or another shape. The cut can help display a particular optical effect. A star sapphire, for instance, may show a star across its dome as the light falls on it. Cabochon identifies the way a stone was shaped. It tells a jeweller neither the mineral species nor whether a particular stone will show a star.
In job listings
This word belongs to jewellery sales, design and gemmology. An advisor may be asked why a stone was cut this way, and how its smooth face calls for different care from a faceted stone. Search local jobs for “jewellery”.
