re: How to Choose Gemstone Cabochons for Jewelry Making

crystalmagic — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 16:50:06 GMT

Hi Everybody - I am a "lapi-artist" and make my own cabs. The face of the cab does not have to be flat, I like mine domed and sometimes will create faceted surfaces on a solid colour. I like to make puffy hearts from stones and experiment with shapes. Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist is inspiring and taught me silversmithing, but the best way to feed one's stone addiction is to join a local rock club preferably with a shop wherein you can get hands on experience - cabbing is not that hard a skill to learn. Rockhounding clubs have their own shows and pow-wows wherein slabs are not too expensive and you can trade. I recently traded 6 slabs of "flower rock" (similar to chinese-writing) and antigorite for a slab of pietersite, and small chunks of larimar and turqouise. Yum! Because of the high cost of metals these days I have learned to make beaded bezels and bails and use the luscious colours of niobium and titanium for chain. The thrill is in the hunt for sure, at these gem and bead shows but if one is on a budget making your own cabs is a fun alternative.

"Smitten by stones and now beadazzled by beading"