Cabochon Workshop | Friday, January 8, 12:00 - 4:00pm
Location: 205C York St., Nevada City, CA 95959 Workshop Description: A cabochon, pronounced cab-uh-shon, is defined as a gemstone that has been shaped and polished rather than faceted. The term comes from the French word “caboche,” which means head or noggin. Cabochon gemstones generally have a smooth, domed top surface and a flat base. Learn how to cut, shape and polish your own cabochons with us! We will demonstrate and guide you through the entire process of using trim saws, grinding wheels and cabbing machines to transform a slab or uncut stone into a finished cabochon that's ready to be set into a finished piece of jewelry. You will leave with at least one of your own hand-cut cabochons.If you have a stone in mind that you want to cut, bring it along and Leora will work with you on the best way to cut it - every stone is different, and it’s not guaranteed that your stone will work out, but Leora will guide you through the process. To complete your experience, consider signing up for one of our Fabricate a Stone Ring Workshop on Friday Sept 25th to set your cabochon into a sterling silver ring, made entirely with your own two hands. Considerations: We will provide protective aprons and masks, but please wear clothing that can take a beating, as stone cutting can be messy. Please bring whatever snacks, drinks and other provisions you need to get through the day, as you will be processing lots of new information and we want your mind and body to be well-fueled. We will be working with some teeny-tiny details, so if you wear glasses, please bring them so you can see! If you have long, manicured nails that you'd like to protect, this may impact your ability to engage with some of the techniques that you'll be learning in this class. Shorter nails make this craft a whole lot easier.