Top 10 Gemstones that Are Always or Often Left Unfaceted (Cabochon)
Faceting is usually applied to transparent stones with a hardness higher than 7/10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Softer gems get scratched easier but scratches show much less on an unfaceted than on a faceted stone.Opaque gems, softer than 7/10 gems, gems with special optical effects and inclusions are always or often just shaped and polished as opposed to faceted. The resulting form is usually a convex (rounded) obverse with a flat reverse. These gems are called cabochons (aka cabs). A cabochon may be cut in any shape, though oval is the most common.
Cutting "en cabochon" (French) means "in the manner of a cabochon".
Sapphire is the 2nd hardest gem after diamond but Star Sapphire is always cut "en cabochon" - the reason is to enable seeing the star better. Facets would ruin the star effect.
All of these look awesome.
Rubies are very hard and ordinary rubies without a star are faceted. But the rarer Star Rubies (3% of all rubies) are not because you can see the star better without facets.
Opal is always cut "en cabochon" - to keep the play of light effect and to conceal possible scratches because opal is pretty soft, only 5.5-6.5 /10.
The 3rd hardest stone but it's not faceted in order to keep the Cat's Eye effect.
Awesome gemstone
Lapis Lazuli is actually rock with a nice deep color and golden shimmer.
I thought that said Logan Paul for a second
I absolutely love this gemstone!
Moonstone looks beautiful!
It's always cut "en cabochon"
Not always cut "en cabochon" but often - the most important thing is to see better the beautiful rutile needles inside.
Because it's soft and has objects inside, such as plants and insects
It's cut "en cabochon" because 1) it's very soft, and 2) you see better the patterns resembling angel's wings and feathers.
It's always cut "en cabochon" - it's soft and has objects inside that must be visible
It's soft and opaque so no point to facet it. Just polish it to show its unique colors.
