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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 2, 2021 17:55:13 GMT -5
Actually not too hard to narrow it down. While they all seem to fit this month's theme, only a handful have the required "dome and flat back."  I added a new emoticon for you ... heehee You know, I'm not that feeble. I know that emoticon has been available for some time now. Not new. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Feb 2, 2021 19:00:50 GMT -5
Looks like they all have domes from here.
None of the tops are parallel to the backs (flat) and there is no requirement for how high the dome must be. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 2, 2021 19:16:40 GMT -5
I disagree. I don't think all of them have domes.
I know there was no requirement for amount of doming, and I realize some of them have higher domes than others.
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Feb 2, 2021 19:28:13 GMT -5
You know I love you Jean but I think they all look great  This last year we tightened up the contest rules quite a bit from where it was - AND there are a couple of contest rules that I need to "adjust" when I post the new contest probably by tomorrow morning ... butt ... I never want this contest to get so complicated to where we have to measure girdle angles and heights - or the radius of a dome. I sold a lot of rocks by taking what the rock gave me which included doing a lot of grinding in from end cuts etc. and my basic test of my own work - and if I had any of these pieces in hand - was always to lay them on the side opposite a visible dome and see if they wobble. If they wobbled I would let it be known in the listing and go from there. |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Feb 2, 2021 19:31:52 GMT -5
BTW ... speaking of the upcoming contest it is going to be GREAT! I'm pretty excited about the theme chosen by oldschoolrocker and can't wait to get a piece started. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 2, 2021 19:55:32 GMT -5
I never said they didn't look great. And I am not talking about uber critical measuring of angles, girdles, etc. Just so they don't look like bufftops, which is just putting a slight radius along the edge.
I'm sure you remember John Sands? He made many of them (I have some of them), you might say it was his signature style. But he knew they were not cabs, and so did not call them "cabochons."
No, he came up with his own name, for his own style. He called them "Cabojohns," LOL. Gotta love that guy. I miss him.
In John's own words, posted on Feb 7, 2005 -
A cabochon with a dome is ten times more the effort than a flat top.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 2, 2021 19:56:18 GMT -5
BTW, I love you too, Tommy.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,011
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Post by Tommy on Feb 2, 2021 20:14:10 GMT -5
BTW, I love you too, Tommy. Heehee thanks. And no I would never call you feeble - I think that smiley looks like he's schooling a bunch of knuckleheads who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground as my dad used to say. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 2, 2021 21:04:47 GMT -5
And all this time I thought it was a feeble old codger with a cane, pontificating. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Feb 3, 2021 9:00:23 GMT -5
rockpickerforever - I totally understand your comments on dome profiles, and see more of what you were addressing after looking at all the photos.
When I started cutting, everything other than opal was cut to the strict definition of "en cabachon" as it was originally coined. Than a college instructor who had been a successful professional lapidary for 40 years showed me how his top sellers were cut.
Only then did I accept that some material, and some jewelry, require something other than a "cabbage" top on the stone. I started cutting both ways, depending on the type of stone or the intended usage after that.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 3, 2021 9:44:57 GMT -5
You know what I really despise? Those rounded bottoms you almost always get with Indian cabs. Drives me crazy.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 3, 2021 9:57:54 GMT -5
The Aussies do that with opal also to increase the carat weight of the stone.
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Post by stephan on Feb 3, 2021 10:05:02 GMT -5
rockpickerforever - I totally understand your comments on dome profiles, and see more of what you were addressing after looking at all the photos.
When I started cutting, everything other than opal was cut to the strict definition of "en cabachon" as it was originally coined. Than a college instructor who had been a successful professional lapidary for 40 years showed me how his top sellers were cut.
Only then did I accept that some material, and some jewelry, require something other than a "cabbage" top on the stone. I started cutting both ways, depending on the type of stone or the intended usage after that.
Out of curiosity, what is the strict definition of "en cabochon?" What I've seen says "polished but not faceted." Also, just a note. I see maybe one or two that might not have an obvious dome, and part of that might be the angle of photography. Also, I think many people (myself included) have lowered their domes lately because wire-wrappers and some other members have expressed their preference for these. I've been cabbing for years, and I'm now feeling confused. I imagine that those newer to the hobby feel it even more. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 3, 2021 10:20:22 GMT -5
The Aussies do that with opal also to increase the carat weight of the stone. Devious. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 3, 2021 10:24:29 GMT -5
There was an in depth discussion of domes a while back. More flat domes seem to be vogue right now AND they allow you to get more slabs from a rock since the slab can be thinner. I'm happiest with abt a 5-5.5mm slab, but 6 will do. I know many silversmiths, esp the more old school ones, seem to prefer a scant to no girdle and a higher dome.
I think there should be a dome, no matter how high, and a flat back.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 3, 2021 11:22:25 GMT -5
The original term, I believe, involved cutting a stone without a "girdle" as we know them. Most were cut with higher domes. The closest examples are Gary's opalpyrexia 's cabs. Take a look at his side view for his entry in this contest (#10). Here is an example of a high dome Chrysoprase cab Vince cut.
From entymonline.com: "a polished but uncut precious stone," 1570s, from French cabochon (14c.), augmentative of caboche (12c.), itself an augmentative or pejorative formation, ultimately from Latin caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Essentially the same word as cabbage.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Feb 3, 2021 12:11:04 GMT -5
Meanwhile, the Burro Creek brothers are kicking arse and taking names :-) Note to self, when in doubt bust out the BC.
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Jahic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2020
Posts: 139
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Post by Jahic on Feb 6, 2021 13:15:50 GMT -5
Very interesting watching the voting for this months contests.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,011
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Post by Tommy on Feb 8, 2021 11:41:25 GMT -5
Okay, here we go. My first contest entry. No fancy photo backgrounds. Nuthin' but a rock I cut after Robin invited me to join the fun. I think it's suitable for jewelry. We're in Arizona, so a belt buckle with a rock in it counts, right? This one is Burro Creek Pastelite, and it's 76.8 x 50.8 x 7 mm.  And the winner is .... the absolutely gorgeous Burro Creek Pastelite submitted by hummingbirdstones2! That is such a beautiful cabochon and I hope you will show off the belt bucklet when you finish it  Congratulations again Vince on a well-deserved win and please have a look through the RTH Store and let me know if something catches your eye. I'm kind of on a roll adding new items and there are hopefully a few more to come soon so no rush, there is no expiration date on your prize. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 8, 2021 12:10:15 GMT -5
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This last year we tightened up the contest rules quite a bit from where it was - AND there are a couple of contest rules that I need to "adjust" when I post the new contest probably by tomorrow morning ... butt ... I never want this contest to get so complicated to where we have to measure girdle angles and heights - or the radius of a dome. I sold a lot of rocks by taking what the rock gave me which included doing a lot of grinding in from end cuts etc. and my basic test of my own work - and if I had any of these pieces in hand - was always to lay them on the side opposite a visible dome and see if they wobble. If they wobbled I would let it be known in the listing and go from there.
Maybe you can post some pictures here