Freeform cabs

I'm a noob to cabbing, and have thus been sticking to the usual ovals, rounds, and teardrop shapes so far. Freeform cabs are a great way to get the max out of expensive rough, or small and highly variable rough like turquoise nuggets, opal, or top-notch labradorite.

The problem is that it takes a good eye to make good freeforms. The majority of the freeforms I see are sort of jarring to my eye. I look at them and see a beautifully smoothed, nicely polished piece that is just cut totally wrong. And it can be as little as a millimeter between right and wrong, the eye will catch it. If I'm going to put hours of work into expensive rough, I want the end product to be symmetrical, balanced, and very pleasing to the eye.

SirRoxalot

Good question,
i think there are many factors as to why one goes with one shape over the other. wether it really works or not. Often a person like me asks if its a marketable stone, let alone the quality of the cut or finish. And all too often i personaly go with the natural shape that the stone dictates.

I would define the term as any shape not calibrated. For example; a freeform shape that one seeks out by using a template, or a giving set of measurement rules to fit a giving setting, or desired setting wouldnt be a freeform shape.

A freeform shape comes from letting the stones fall were they lie. Often when i have a fractured slab, i drop it on concrete or another hard surface and use the peices{if usable} to preform the shapes from what came of the natural breaks.

Other times i can see theres an more attractive part of the slab, and using a protactor and similar drafting tools, i will gage preprotions by drawing out lines or barriers i know i dont want in the cabochon. And as i trim the waste away, a new shape or giving shape arises.

And though the do enjoy from time to time, drawing out a final shape on the slab. These are often still rough drafts and the final shape emerges during the preforming stage.

composition like balance is important. And if you cutting cabochons as a hobby, then taking each picee you cut into this mentale is important. As i find ones who do this often want to travel into the jewelry relem, so having better balacnced cuts makes for better balanced jewelry.

I find more than offen everyone is different. And being a full time cutter, offering cabochon that one may not get, is gotton by someone else. Often i myself think what the heck did i cut? and a customer jumps on it and states how perfect it is for what they are doing.