Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Cabochon sapphires?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
Miranda

Miranda

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 18, 2006
Messages
4,101
Or cabochon stones in general. What do you know about them?

I don''t even know enough to know what questions to ask. Are they less durable than faceted stones? What would the best setting choice be for earrings and a ring. I have seen some square cabochons that I like. Here''s an example. http://www.ajsgems.com/cpage/products/details?pid=2049210818&cid=2046340412&page=1&sessionID=z6s-qed-PVervL9I
I''m not necessarily interested in those particular stones, but, I just love the shape and rustic looking cut. I was thinking of setting the earrings in yellow gold leverbacks (with a short wire) bezels. And the ring in a YG bezel, probably east west.

Thanks!
 
i love cabs.......my understanding is that rough is cabbed because it is unsuitable for facetiing. doesn''t mean it isn''t a good stone, just means too much of the rough would be lost and/or imperfections exposed that would not show well with a faceted stone, or make a faceted stone more fragile.

i believe that with rubies one must be careful that they aren''t filled.

this blue sapphire cab sings: http://www.ajsgems.com/cpage/products/details?pid=2049213548

movie zombie
 
Oh lala! What a pretty stone. Thanks for your input MZ!

OK, dumb question alert......Are cabs flat on the bottom like rose cuts?
 
yes, they are flat on the bottom.....unless quite unusual: i''ve seen some that were flat but carved so that the design showed through the domed top.

and, yes, that cab does sing! they have another slightly larger one that also sings loudly......

movie zombie
 
Cabs are one of my favorite cuts.I have a gents pinkie ring that has a carat and a half oval cabochon cut blue sappire.The light hits it and it glows...I would like a ring with a cab cut ruby...i would also like a sapphire or emerald in a suger loaf cut.
 
Cabs are done for gemstones what have too many inclusions and cannot be faceting the traditional way (too much weight loss). I love cabs and think they would be wonderful for earrings. They are quite hardy as their faceted friends and you should have no problems in earrings. A ring should be all right too, especially a bezeled one. Yes, they are flat on one side.
 
Thanks everyone for your help!

jewelerman - Is a sugar loaf a square or rectangular cabochon? Like the one I posted a link to?

Are there visible inclusions in cabs usually? I don''t think that is a bad thing as they can add quite a lot of character to some stones, I think.
 
I personally don''t have an issue with some fine inclusions in cab - I think it gives it a lot of character.
 
I think so, too, Chrono. Some stones can carry it off. I''m not a ''mind clean'' type, though. I''ve seen plenty of I1 diamonds that look great to me.
 
I love cabs - sadly I don''t see that many today from really fine stones, as they''re all probably turned into faceted ones.

In the past they used to produce hollowed out cabs from pyrope garnets - it made the colour lighter...
 
Yes, the sapphire you are looking at is identified as a suger loaf cut...flat on the bottom and cut so its four sides come to a rounded point at the top.They are popular when jewelry has a deco or modern look.The 1920s-30s and the 1970s-80s show examples of precious color being cut into sugar loaf cabs.Keep in mind that all cab cuts are not heavily flawed and when cut properly they can make a gemstone look like its glowing when the light hits it...example...liz taylors famous Bulgari sapphire necklace and ring pictured in her book "my love affair with jewelry" i would take these sapphires over a faceted cut any day!
 
many color stones....faceted or cabbed.....have inclusions. its all a matter of one''s tolerance. there used to be a poster here who loved inclusions because it gave the stone personality. i''ve read that those in the business strive for the high grade crystal and then get bored with it and start collecting included stones because they''ve got that personality thing going. also, an inclusion or two makes it easy to identify your stone. i would love to have a really nice sapphire cab rather than a really fine faceted cab.....but that''s me.

movie zombie
 
Pandora - I wonder why they are not in high end stores? I think they are very pretty. I think people just like the sparkly bling today.

Jewelerman - Thanks so much for your help. You''re heading me in the right direction.

MZ - haha! You just described me! I happen to love a juicy inclusion. And it must be visible to the naked eye to be interesting, of course! I''m just loving these cabs. Every stone is so interesting. Thanks for your help!
 
Ah, what a fun project! I love the look! I saw one awhile back ago that PS''er bought for a pendant and it was lovely. Let me see if I can find the link. hehe
 
I hope I didn''t start anything!
31.gif
It''s beautiful MZ!
 
Miranda,
You are very welcome!The reason you dont find them often in jewelry stores is that fashion is fickle and the last time that I sold anything with a cab cut in it was the late 1980s/early 1990s...at that time mixing multi-colored combinations just began to be popular...ruby,sapphire and emerald cabs with pave diamonds or cab cut semi-precious stones in all the colors of the rainbow surounded by pave diamonds...of course all in yellow gold.
Have you seen the great citrine or raspberry tourmatine sugar loaf cuts in 18kt yellow gold rings designed by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany?They are very pricey but a style that will always be un-usual and attractive.A sugar loaf cut citrine looks like honey and is a favorite of mine.
 
I've seen them in Moussieff in London, but that is super-high end. They had an amazing HUGE emerald one. It was very included - but then most emeralds are...

It's on my list for hunting down in Sri Lanka. You can buy a bit of rough there and take it to be cut pretty much on the spot. I'm going to have a shot at buying one piece that is inexpensive and having a cab cut from it just for fun.

The reason you can't get very fine sapphire cut en cabochon is that demand isn't high. A vendor will be more likely to sell it as a faceted stone. Therefore the cabs you do find tend to be material which is very included and won't make a good faceted stone. Or at least that is my guess.
 
Date: 6/4/2008 1:38:31 AM
Author: jewelerman
Miranda,
You are very welcome!The reason you dont find them often in jewelry stores is that fashion is fickle and the last time that I sold anything with a cab cut in it was the late 1980s/early 1990s...at that time mixing multi-colored combinations just began to be popular...ruby,sapphire and emerald cabs with pave diamonds or cab cut semi-precious stones in all the colors of the rainbow surounded by pave diamonds...of course all in yellow gold.
Have you seen the great citrine or raspberry tourmatine sugar loaf cuts in 18kt yellow gold rings designed by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany?They are very pricey but a style that will always be un-usual and attractive.A sugar loaf cut citrine looks like honey and is a favorite of mine.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have seen those at Tiffany''s. I do think they are a bit pricey. But, it IS Tiffany and there is a name to pay for. I was thinking of something along those lines, though. Only bezeled...If the stone is not too large.

It would make sense that the last time you sold these was in the 80s. With the resurgence of 80s style influencing fashion today, I think you may be selling more. I''m seeing a lot of yellow gold again. Usually it is 18k or 24k.
 
Date: 6/4/2008 7:42:58 AM
Author: Pandora II
I''ve seen them in Moussieff in London, but that is super-high end. They had an amazing HUGE emerald one. It was very included - but then most emeralds are...

It''s on my list for hunting down in Sri Lanka. You can buy a bit of rough there and take it to be cut pretty much on the spot. I''m going to have a shot at buying one piece that is inexpensive and having a cab cut from it just for fun.

The reason you can''t get very fine sapphire cut en cabochon is that demand isn''t high. A vendor will be more likely to sell it as a faceted stone. Therefore the cabs you do find tend to be material which is very included and won''t make a good faceted stone. Or at least that is my guess.
Click to expand...
Oh I am jealous of your trip to Sri Lanka! What fun to pick out a stone and have it cut right there! Will you set it then, too?
 
Miranda,
My friend! I love cabochons.
27.gif
 
Harriet,
Do you have any? What do you know about them. Anything I haven''t already been told?
 
Not technically. Nothing that hasn't already been said. What gem are you eyeing?
31.gif
 
Not one in particular, YET. I''m just trying to do my homework right now. In the May In Style magazine, a photo shoot of Anna Friel was done. She''s wearing gorgeous sapphire bezel set earrings. I love them. I believe they are faceted in the layout, but, I instantly thought of cabochons for these particular earrings. Then, after a bit of looking I am forever going back to the sugar loaf cuts. I love their organic nature. And I''m just loving yellow gold right now.
 
The sugarloaves are my favourite too. Leon set one with shield-cut sides. Gorgeous.
 
I''ll bet it was!
 
Because of this thread i am going to wear my cab cut sapphire ring today and yesterday i went to my book case and looked at the 2 pieces in Liz Taylors book "my love affair with jewelry" the Bulgari 50 carat suger loaf sappire necklace and the 22 carat matching ring...they are the best examples ive ever seen.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP

Featured Topics

Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top