The term 'cabochon' comes from the French word 'caboche', meaning 'head.' Cabochon rings include a gemstone that has been polished or shaped rather than faceted.
The result is jewellery with a gemstone that has a round, flat appearance.
Cabochon jewels were the default method of preparing gemstones before gemstone cutting was invented. Prior to the 14th Century, all gemstones were polished into cabochons. Much of our ancient jewellery features cabochon jewels. Cabochon ring cutting is one of the original ways diamond cutters created stunning antique jewellery. Vintage cabochon rings display the art of historical jewellery making.
Cabochon rings have been found in jewellery dating back to the Ming Dynasty and other ancient cultures, including ancient civilisations of Egypt. Cabochon stones have also been found in ancient Mexican, Persian, and Tibetan cultures. Polishing stones such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds and rubies were very popular and can be seen in ancient royal jewellery collections. Many vintage cabochon rings include these gemstones.
Throughout history, cabochon rings have always been in style. They are a traditional way of preparing jewellery, and vintage jewellery enthusiasts have always wanted cabochon rings. Cabochon rings were well known for being able to display a gem's excellent colour and saturation. The unique cut can display the beautiful optical properties of the stone, such as asterism and iridescence. This cutting method is excellent for gemstones like sapphires, as the smooth surface shows off its stunning natural colour.
Cabochon rings became popular during the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s. Exotic jewellery styles were in high demand due to the innovative atmosphere of the time. However, this historic cutting method has not fallen out of popularity completely. There are a couple of beautiful examples of vintage cabochon rings in our collection of Art Deco engagement rings.
If any of our stunning cabochon rings catch your eye, don't hesitate to contact us online or visit our Hatton Garden showroom.
Our team of jewellery experts are on hand to answer your questions online or in-store.