A round precious stone or gemstone cut to a smooth, convex surface without facets; also called a cabochon.
From Old French 'caboche' meaning head, from Latin 'caput'. The rounded shape resembles a smooth head in profile, which inspired the name for this gem-cutting style.
Cabochon cutting is actually the oldest gem-cutting technique—ancient peoples just polished stones smooth—and it's still preferred for opals because it protects their delicate structure.
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