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, 16:35, December 5, 2008
'''Cabochon''' (also pronounced Cabachon) are [[gemstone]]s that have been shaped to a rounded finish and polished instead of [[facet]]ed. Usually [[oval]] in shape and with a flat bottom, cabochons are usually preferred for gemstones that have a low hardness rating on the [[Moh hardness scale]] and have many [[inclusion]]s that would otherwise make the stone unattractive or even more brittle if faceted, due to having many sides that could expose a crack or imperfection to be easily damaged if struck. Instead, cabbing exposes a larger portion of the gemstone, while [[polish]]ing increases the attractiveness and fills any gaps, cracks, or scratches.
Some gemstones, like [[star sapphire]]s, have natural "star"-like inclusions that require cabbing in order to show the full effect.
[[category: Gems]] [[category: Crafts]]